Night Hoops

The first game occurs on a cold December day, and the weather impacts the Bothell players. During the warmups, Nick sees his “beaming” Dad. He wonders why Mom isn’t next to him, and then he realizes that she and Scott are probably sitting on the other side of the gym.

The game starts, and Nick has selfish thoughts about Carlos Fabroa, who plays the same position as Nick and gets most of the minutes. Juanita’s lead grows to seven points, and O’Leary puts Nick and Luke in the game. They’re nervous, but they play well, cutting the lead to four before halftime.

Nick gets into foul trouble, and he and Luke sit on the bench as Juanita’s lead grows to 10. Back in the game for the final minutes, Luke gets hot, and Bothell grabs the lead. O’Leary wants Nick to guard Matthew Jefferson (Juanita’s best player) closely. If Matthew gets by Nick, he wants Bothell to double-team (even triple-team). However, Nick gives Matthew breathing room in case there’s no double team, and Matthew makes the jump shot, giving Juanita the lead.

Remembering what Dad said about embracing the clutch moment, Nick doesn’t pass it to Luke or Darren. When he shoots it, Matthew easily blocks it. Nick believes he blew the game. His teammates don’t speak to him. Dad is also upset, telling Nick to play smarter.

During practice, the Bothell players continue to treat Nick like he’s a “contagious disease.” Nick struggles, and O’Leary blames himself for putting Nick in a situation that he wasn’t ready for. He reminds Nick to let the game come to him, and he promises to give Nick another chance.

O’Leary believes teammates support each other on the court and off it, so O’Leary wants Nick to check up on Trent. Authorities charged Zack with killing geese and baby ducks, but O’Leary believes Trent wasn’t involved. O’Leary asks Nick to tell Trent that the Cougars need him, so he should come to practice and the next game. O’Leary compares a team to a jigsaw puzzle. Trent is a key piece, just as Nick is.

That night, after trying to listen to the Sonics game, Nick goes to Trent’s house in the rain. He tells Trent what O’Leary told him to say, and Trent mumbles a confirmation before his mother screams at him to “close the damn door!” (185).

Back at home, Mom wonders what will happen. She’s glad Steve is still there, as Steve is a “stable influence.” Later that night, Nick hears Trent playing basketball by himself. Nick thinks Trent is playing an imaginary game, and Trent’s opponent is “the world.”

Trent comes to the game against Eastlake, and the players and O’Leary look at him like he’s a ghost, with the players wondering if he was guilty of killing the geese and ducks. The game is close, and when Nick plays, he is cautious: He doesn’t have much of an impact—positive or negative. In the second half, Carlos plays poorly, and Nick shoots an airball. Dad reminds Nick to “think,” Mom tells him he did his best, and Trent tells him that he’ll do better next time.

Before school on Monday, Luke tries to encourage Nick, but the conversation backfires. Nick feels like Luke calls him a selfish player, so Nick says that Luke counts his points more than anybody.

Nick doesn’t eat lunch with the other players, and he rushes through his history midterm. During practice, O’Leary tells him he’s “pressing.” The coach moves Nick to the third string with Trent, so Brian Chang moves up to the second string. As a backup to the backups, Nick doesn’t think he’ll play against Redmond, so he tells Dad not to come. Dad will work instead.

Nick doesn’t play the next two games, and Bothell wins them both. The other two point guards—Carlos and Brian—aren’t great, but they don’t make mistakes.

The juvenile detention authorities release Zack, who hangs out on his front porch, blasting music and smoking cigarettes, until Steve comes home. Zack and Steve fight, and Zack drives off in his mother’s Corolla. Katya has dinner with Scott, Nick, and Mom, and she’s upset that Zack is free.

Steve drops by to tell Mom that he and Ericka broke up. He doesn’t blame Ericka. He doesn’t think there’s much hope for Zack, but he feels Trent has a chance. Mom and Nick agree to let Trent use the backyard court whenever he wants.

The Cougars play a three-day Christmas tournament in Victoria, British Columbia. Nick is excited about riding the boat to Canada and hanging out with his teammates in the hotel, watching R-rated movies. Nick plays poorly in practice, and the tight school budget means O’Leary can only bring 10 players. Dad offers to pay, but Nick doesn’t want to go that way, so he stays home and has a melancholy Christmas.

Christmas dinner is somber, too, with Nick remembering boisterous Christmases with Dad and when two of his grandparents were still alive. Scott and Mom are going to Monterey for the jazz competition, and Mom invites Nick, but Nick stays home alone. Nick notices the strange silence until the gate creaks open, and Trent starts playing basketball. Though it’s Nick’s court, Nick asks if he can join Trent, and the boys play tough but fair games. They don’t keep score, and they promise to play again the next night.

Uplifted by Trent, Nick paints the downstairs bathroom and then rides his bike. By the railroad trestle, he sees Michael, and they have a quick conversation about Scott—whom Michael likes. Back at home, Nick gets his grades: two C+s, three Bs, and an A in gym. His mom won’t be ecstatic, but Nick will remain eligible to play.

At night, Nick hears screaming at the Dawson house, and then Trent comes to the basketball court. They play one-on-one. Trent says Nick rebounds well. He also says he passed his classes, so he can play now. Trent’s never played in an official basketball game, and he wonders if he can keep his uniform. Nick says the school will fine him if he doesn’t return it.

The next night, Trent is “edgy,” committing hard fouls. Zack arrives, patting his pockets. He wants to take Trent somewhere, but Trent doesn’t want to go. Zack claims Trent promised to come, but Trent says he didn’t promise. After Zack leaves, Trent departs.

While eating a peanut butter sandwich in his kitchen alone, Nick hears police sirens and sees police cars drive up to the Dawson house. One officer has his hand on his gun, and another officer screams, “Open up!” Ericka answers and lets the police in. Later, one police car drives off, but the other drives up the block and stays.

Scott and Mom return from California. The jazz band finished third and received two encores. Nick says Dad didn’t come by, and Scott calls Katya. Nick reads the local newspaper, Eastside Journal, which features a headline about a young person from Bothell shot on the bike trail. Nick reads the article and learns the young person is Michael.