Travel Team

The next night, Danny hosts some of the players at his house. Tess is the last to leave. As they stand in his driveway, she remarks that the driveway is his own basketball world. She holds his hand as they talk, suggesting that it’s going to be a big day when they play the Vikings, as big as his dad’s time playing on the travel team. He comments that it won’t be that big. She kisses him on the cheek and says, “Don’t be so sure it won’t be that big, little guy” (241). He thinks it’s okay for her to call him ”little guy” because she makes him feel like “the biggest guy in town” (241).

After Tess leaves, Richie calls to wish Danny luck. He tells Danny to go for it the next day because he never knows when his best day will be. When his dad hangs up, Danny goes outside to practice, making shot after shot until he slips on ice.

He doesn’t tell anyone about his shoulder hurting, afraid he won’t be allowed to play.

The morning of the game, his mom has a box waiting for him. It’s full of jerseys, all of them from his dad’s team. It was his mom’s idea, and when he tries on his dad’s jersey, it fits perfectly. They had come from Coach Hayes’ wife. Hayes had been the one to coach when Richie played.

The doorbell rings, and the newest Warrior appears: Ty Ross. It was his idea after his dad had yelled at him. Ali asks Ty’s mom Lily how things are at home, and she explains that she tried reminding Mr. Ross that it’s just a game and that it’s about the players. Lily had given Ty permission to play with the Warriors. Only a few of the players knew.

When Ty and Lily told Mr. Ross, he yelled, but Lily fought back. Mr. Ross tried asking Ty how he could leave his own team, but Ty had said, “It was never my team” (250). He felt better helping Danny coach.

Lily says to Ali: “It’s funny, I was never interested in being a team mom until it was somebody else’s team” (251). She notes that Ty and Danny should always have been playing together.

After Ty puts his jersey, they instant message the rest of the team, telling them that they’ve got a new player.

As they get ready for the game, Will playfully hits Danny on the back and sees him double over in pain. Danny asks him not to tell anyone, and Will is skeptical.

Before they go out to play, Danny reminds them that it’s going to be a tense game but that they should try to “win the championship of all guys like us who ever got told they weren’t good enough” (253). They run out to play.

The Vikings seem huge to Danny. The bleachers are packed, and the local news is there. Danny tries to calm his nerves as the team warms up. When a stray ball gets away, Danny goes to get it and encounters Teddy, who taunts him and says that Ty should “watch himself today” (256). Danny tries to appear calm and walks away. Then, the gym goes quiet, and Ali appears with Ritchie on crutches. Everyone applauds. Richie mouths one word at Danny: “Play” (257).

Danny gathers his teammates, explaining their strategy. Ty will start on the bench and help coach. Danny admits he doesn’t have a pregame speech when Will says, “You’re the biggest kid here” (259). The team cheers, and Danny suggests that they make this the best day of their lives.

The Warriors start off behind, but they still score several points. Ty comes in and Danny tells him to cover David Rodriguez. As they wait for the referees to reset the clock after a ball rolls away, Danny looks at Mr. Ross, who looks curious. Then, he gives the assistant coach the clipboard, leaves the court, and sits down next to Richie to watch the rest of the game.

Ty is a little rusty but warms up. He and Danny soon run a play together, with Danny passing and Ty scoring like “this was a move they’d spent their whole lives practicing” (262).

Danny says he knows they’ll win because if Richie and Mr. Ross can make some peace “anything’s possible” (263, italics in original).

By halftime, there is bad news. Teddy has figured out that Danny is injured, and Ty, Colby, and another player had three fouls each.

Still, the Warriors are excited, having proved that they could hold their own against the Vikings. Tess points out that if they win, they can definitely win the tournament. Danny tells everyone that they too are coaches and is open to suggestions on what to do.

In the third quarter, the Vikings take a 10-point lead, but Danny keeps Ty on the bench. Will and Colby play extra well, and the Vikings focus on them.

With three minutes left in the game, the Warriors are only down by four. Ty is in, though two other players—one of them Colby—have fouled out. Will scores, bringing the score to where the Warriors need two points to tie.

Danny calls a timeout. Ali asks about his shoulder, having noticed that it hurts. He says that it’ll be okay.

Teddy knocks Danny, and he falls directly onto his shoulder. Ty helps him get up, and Teddy is thrown out of the game. Danny shoots the free throws, scoring on the first and missing the second, making for a one-point difference.

Danny calls his last time out and goes over to his dad, asking if he has a play suggestion. Richie says to run his play.

Danny knows Richie’s signature play, but everyone expects him to pass. Instead, he runs down the center of the court before moving outside. He holds onto the ball, dribbling to run out the clock. He wonders if his mom recognizes it. Moving back to the middle, he does a double crossover, just as he does in his driveway. David Rodriguez comes to guard him, leaving Ty open. Danny passes. Ty runs the layup and scores, beating the Vikings.

Tess hugs him, and then he and Ty shake hands. Before he knows it, he’s up on his team’s shoulders, getting a tall view for once.