The Final Four

MJ checks the game clock. The Spartans lead by five points with 2 minutes and 43 seconds left to play. He switches positions with McBride and is surprised by their on-court understanding. MJ tries to recover a loose ball, but he slips and flies into the Trojans’ bench, knocking into Bacic. He gets up as quickly as he can and returns to the court.

Four months earlier, MJ and McBride continue their sprints up and down the bleachers. McBride waits until the coach leaves and then sprints ahead, leaving MJ to finish the punishment alone. Afterward, they return to their shared room. MJ talks about a reaction paper he has to write for a sociology class. He intends to write about the social qualities of street basketball. He talks about the topic with McBride. Their conversation drifts to their childhoods, their heroes, and their names. Malcolm McBride reveals that he is named after the civil rights leader Malcolm X. MJ jokes that he even shares a middle name with the famous Michael Jordan.

Back at the game, the announcers praise MJ’s hustle, even though he failed to recover the ball. The announcers reiterate that the winner of the game will go on to face either Duke or North Carolina in the tournament final. The Duke and North Carolina players are in the stadium, waiting for this game to finish before they can begin their own semi-final, which has been delayed more than 20 minutes by the two overtime periods. Play continues. McBride misses a shot, and the announcers wonder whether his views on college athletes are weighing heavily on him. Rice scores to cut the deficit while a reporter who is positioned courtside describes Bacic’s desperate attempts to re-enter the game, even though he may have a concussion. The game clock ticks by as the teams jostle for the lead. With only seconds left, the Trojans level the score and send the game into a third period of overtime.

The Troy players celebrate wildly. McBride refuses to leave the court. Coach Barker has to come to McBride, who questions his teammates’ desire to win the game. The coach implores McBride to understand that he cannot do everything alone.

Sixteen months before the game, McBride is recruited to the Michigan State Spartans by Coach Barker. The meeting with McBride’s parents eventually turns to the subject of Trisha. Barker offers his condolences and praises McBride’s tribute tattoo. Of all the coaches who tried to recruit McBride, Barker leaves the best impression on the player, his family, and even the local community. Conversation turns to basketball. Barker praises McBride’s game and assures the youngster that coaching will make him an even better player. He reminds McBride that he will need to attend classes even if he plans to turn pro early. By the end of the meeting, McBride is confident that he will sign up for Michigan State. Barker tells the family to ignore all the lavish, flashy offers they will receive from prospective agents over the coming years. McBride’s parents insist that they want to safeguard their son’s future.

Bacic’s head begins to clear. He assures the coach that he is ready to re-enter the game, but one of the trainers is still wary. Bacic is disappointed but puts on a brave face for his teammates.

The announcers provide a recap of events so far. As the third period of overtime begins, the scores are level at 82-82. Both Rice and McBride have only one foul remaining before they are expelled. The announcer cuts to an interview with the two coaches, Eddie Barker of the Spartans and Alvin Kennedy of the Trojans. An interviewer asks them about their coaching philosophies. Barker praises Kennedy’s eloquent answers and defends the high salaries paid to college basketball coaches. Barker is one of the highest-paid coaches in the country, while Kennedy is an up-and-coming prospect. He will likely receive many lucrative job offers soon, but he insists that his focus is on Troy and the current tournament. Both coaches talk about their belief in their players and say that their attention is tuned only to the upcoming game.

Rice chases after a loose ball. He halts at the edge of the court and finds Hope immediately in front of him. The ball is in her hands. She slips backwards, and Rice catches her. The crowd cheers for the couple, and play resumes.

Three weeks before the game, Rice leaves hope in the strange man’s apartment and finishes his shift. He returns to his room to find his teammates Aaron Boyce and Bacic hanging out in the room Rice shares with Boyce. Boyce and Bacic play videogames while Rice receives a text from Hope, who tells him that he should have more faith in her. He does not reply. Later, as Bacic leaves, he advises Rice that “it’s better to face stuff than pretend it’s not happening” (90). Bacic leaves to study but offers to be available if Rice needs to talk. The next day, Rice tries to talk to Hope, but she blames him for their argument. She insists that he needs to trust her. Rice replies that, if she wants more room, she can have it. They walk away from each other.

MJ protects McBride with a physical screen on Boyce. After the play, Boyce confronts him. Their argument intensifies, and the other players have to pull them apart. McBride gives MJ a look of approval then scores to put their team in the lead.

MJ’s sociology reaction paper explores the meaning of basketball as it is played on the street. He writes that the street version of the sport “helps to build many of the qualities you need to excel in life” (92). Without a referee, players come to an unspoken agreement about the rules of the game, and they enforce these rules on one another. MJ believes that the social lessons he learned on a court shaped his character and helped him to develop as a person. However, for all the people who thrive in the social order of the street basketball court, there are those who fail. MJ references Barack Obama’s autobiography, which speaks about lessons learned on a basketball court. MJ hopes to become a broadcaster one day, and he hopes the social skills he learned on the court will help him in his career.

McBride fumbles an interception out of court and curses his own hand for failing him. Within 20 seconds, he intercepts another ball and dashes up the court. McBride ignores an open teammate and takes the shot himself, scoring and putting his team ahead. The Spartans lead by four points with less than two minutes remaining.

Sixteen months before the game, McBride and his father visit Trisha’s grave. They ride the bus to the cemetery, and they struggle to find the right spot. At last, McBride notices that the small, modest gravestone has been replaced by a large, lavish memorial. McBride suspects that someone has spent a great deal of money on the gravestone to somehow influence his future basketball career, possibly a potential agent or a sponsor. McBride agrees to keep quiet about the new grave.