We Are Family

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, bullying, child abuse, physical abuse, addiction, and gender discrimination.

In the girls’ bathroom, Tamika continues to cry, and she scolds herself for crying in front of the boys. Tamika used to go to Austinberg—a prestigious school 100 miles away from Lorain. She felt comfortable at Austinberg and made the fifth- and sixth-grade travel basketball team. She became captain in her second year and, along with Charlene Bailey, led Austinberg to a 22-2 record. She wanted to lead Austinberg to a title, but her family made her come back to Lorain.

Tamika’s father, Coach Beck, has Parkinson’s disease, and his condition is worsening. Though he won’t coach Hoop Group, he agrees to supervise the Day One Court Run, where teams of three face off in an elimination tournament. Coach Beck names Chris, Jayden, and four other boys as captains. Tamika is one of the last kids picked. She’s on Chris’s team, and after letting Chris try to be the star, she takes over, brings her team back, and rattles Jayden, who’s on the opposing team, with a tough foul. Jayden’s team loses, and Coach Beck tells Jayden that he needs to remain composed.