The Perfect Shot

Brian arrives at school for the big game against Jackson. He learns that Warren got Julius’s suspension lifted so that he can play. When he goes to the locker room to get ready, he can feel that the team’s energy is completely off. Everyone is lost in their own thoughts and disconnected. Coach Guilford is trying to give them a pep talk, but no one is listening.

The game gets off to a bad start—Julius continues hogging the ball and ignoring the coach and everyone else who tells him to pass it. At halftime, they are losing 48–22. Brian’s father comes up to him from the bleachers, angry that Brian went to the courthouse to intervene during Mr. Daine’s sentencing. Mr. Fortner tries to step in and defend Brian, but Mr. Hammet won’t listen. Brian heads to the locker room, feeling like he can’t trust his instincts anymore.

The locker room is quiet, and Coach Guilford doesn’t know what to say to get them to start playing as a team again. He tells them to really see each other and remember what it’s like to play with each other again. Then, he leaves. The guys start pointing fingers and blaming each other for how badly they are playing.