A Lucky Break

Elizabeth was clearly showing now, but that wasn't what had her excited tonight. It was the first game for Jamaal's team. Elizabeth sat in the row behind the commentators, reasoning, as a non-sports nut, it'd help her to digest basketball. She wore garnet and black, the colors of Jamaal's team.

She looked at Jamaal, towards the end of the bench. He looked a little forlorn at the tipoff, and she knew how much he wanted to be out there. At halftime, the team was down by seven.

"This team needs a spark," Jimmy, the play-by-play announcer said. "Jones down to Waldrop, Waldrop fouled hard ... and he's down. This looks bad, Bobby."

"He's in a lot of pain, looks like an ankle injury," Bobby agreed. "He can't put any weight on it. And power forward is the leanest spot on the entire team."

Elizabeth waited anxiously as the player was taken off the court.

"It looks like Coach Dale Hawkins is calling in Jamaal King, Bobby."

"Walk-on local freshman, Jimmy. Interesting life story, dropped out to take care of his mom and siblings, had a terrible drive-by shooting injury, it's a miracle he's out there. But to put a guy like that in for the opening game ... I would have thought Coach Dale would have gone guard heavy. This is a mistake." Elizabeth frowned.

It wasn't a mistake.

"King with the rebound and the putback ..."

"King with another blocked shot,that's three on the night ..."

"He reminds me of a young Mason, Jimmy, a real attitude on the floor and take no prisoners ..."

"And the home team wins by three. Jamaal King with 6 points and 12 boards, all in the second half. Big performance by a true freshman out of the game so long."