Susanne Novan - Driven

"But this is different."

"Not really. It isn’t, Catherine. The only thing you’re lacking is professional experience, but that’ll come with every play, and every game. You have the skills. You have the heart. Now let’s see you use ‘em, alright?"

Not breaking Dylan’s gaze, Hodge took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She felt something within herself center and become calm. A smile came up

from somewhere and she let it bloom on her face. "Okay."

Dylan allowed her own smile to broaden, and she slowly rose to her feet. "Go back in for Mackay. And when you do, I want you to use 43 Block 27."

Hodge’s eyes widened. "Coach?"

"Just do it."

"Okay, Coach."

The whistle blew, and Hodge ran back onto the court, wiping her hands on her jersey. Chaney greeted her with a grin and a slap on the behind. "Get ‘em, Shortchange."

Hodge nodded, then took her place behind the endline. With a sure pass, she rifled the ball to Chaney, who tossed it back to her on the run. Side by side they made it past half court. McKinney came in for a lazy steal, but Hodge drew the ball between her legs in a scissors dribble and easily evaded the other woman’s attempt.

She passed the ball to her left to her small forward, allowing King to use her body in a pick as Hodge eased behind her and onto an open spot in the corner, unguarded. The ball flew into her hands and left just as quickly, arcing through the air and through the net for a three point play.

The crowd cheered and Hodge pumped her fist as she backpedaled, then stepped in, returning a favor by stealing the ball from McKinney and dishing it off

to a speeding Chaney for an easy lay-up.

The crowd cheered again, and Hodge shouted happily.

She was back.

******

"And that wraps up our coverage of the Birmingham Badger’s opening game, with the Badgers loosing a hard fought battle, 94 – 88. Any parting thoughts,

Melinda?"

"Well, Todd, after a somewhat rocky start, Catherine Hodges showed flashes of why she was chosen by Coach Lambert as the first pick in the draft. With twelve points and nine assists, she was responsible for almost half of the Badgers’ offence, and she was a defensive dynamo as well, managing three steals against McKinney, arguably the best point guard in the league."

"I agree, Melinda. Her teammate Shaniqua Chaney, who led all scorers with twenty two points is also going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming weeks. If they can just work on their defensive scheme and foul-shooting, I think Badgers fans could be in for quite a ride this season."

"Can’t say much more than that, Todd."

"Then I guess that about wraps it up. From all of us here at Southern Sports Network, here’s bidding you goodnight from Horace Johnson Arena where the Birmingham Badgers lose to the New York Thunder 94 - 88."

******

Cat stood at the top of the key bouncing the ball slowly, back and forth between her hands. She looked around the mostly dark arena. Everyone was gone

now, and the only sound in Cat’s ears was the roar of a ghostly crowd that did its best to cheer the team to a victory.

"Sorry, guys," she offered to the net as she shot the ball at it like a missile. "Guess I blew it this time."

Her teeth bared in an expression that was half growl, half grimace as she caught the ball on the rebound. She hated losing. Hated it with every fiber of her being. And to know that the loss rested on her shoulders made an intolerable situation even worse.

"Shit. What a joke."

"What makes you say that?"

Cat’s head dropped when she heard the voice behind her.

"Well." Coach Lambert drew steadily closer, her steps resounding softly on the court floor. "What makes you think you’re a joke, Catherine?"

"Come on Coach." Hodge turned around to face the tall woman. "We should have won that game."

"Why? Those were last year’s champions. What makes you think we could have beaten them?"

"We’re better than they are."

"Are we?"

"Yes," Cat shifted on her foot. "Well the team is better than they are. I’m not sure I am. I choked."

"We already had this conversation. You did not choke. You lost your stride." A corner of Dylan’s mouth curved up. "Actually you didn’t lose it; you just had a hard time finding it." Dylan moved to where the ball had come to rest near the wall. She bounced it a couple times, enjoying the feel of it against her hand.

She pulled it to her chest and fired it at Cat, who caught it smoothly.

"Why were you staying away from the ball, Cat?"

"I wasn’t."

"Yes, you were. Every play you called, put you as far away from the ball as humanly possible without you playing in another arena. Why?"

Hodge narrowed her eyes. "I’m the point guard. It’s my job to create opportunities for my teammates."

"Mm." Dylan pretended to consider Cat’s statement.

Hodge tried again. "The other players have more experience."

"And you’re going to get your own experience….how, again?"

Sighing, Hodge bowed her head, well and truly caught out.

"So, can I count on you being in the game and giving it one hundred percent next time around?"

Hodge felt her cheeks flush at the gentle reprimand. She nodded. "I promise."

"Good."

Cat passed the ball back to Dylan who stepped back to the perimeter and sunk a three pointer that seemed as effortless as breathing.

"How did you know I’d be here?" Hodge asked, curious.

"Because," Dylan passed the ball back and pointed at the net, indicating Cat should shoot, "when I was a rookie and a game didn’t end the way I wanted, this is always where I ended up. Running it through my mind and trying to figure out what I did wrong."

Cat shot the ball; it bounced off the rim and landed directly in Dylan’s hands. The Coach sent it back to the blonde. "Do it again."

"So when you were running it through, did you ever find the spot were you screwed up?" Cat inquired as she fingered the ball, twisting it in her hands.

"No." Dylan shrugged. "I found spots where I could have been a stronger player, but never where I messed up so much it cost us the game."

"So my little imitation of an ice cube in the first half didn’t cost us the game?"

"Do you think it did?"

Hodge sighed and shot the ball, rattling the rim several times before it slipped through. "That’s just the point, Coach. I don’t know."

Dylan’s gaze softened. "Trust me. If you had cost this team the game, I would have been the first to tell you. You had first game jitters, it happens. Hell it may happen again. Just don’t let it get you next time."

"Yes, Coach." Cat smiled and took another shot. The ball went in with the sweet sound of nothing but net.

"That’s more like it. So are you exhausted?"

"Actually believe it or not, I’m not. I’m kinda charged."

"Little one on one?"

"Against you?" Cat grinned and shrugged. "Sure why not, I’ve already had once ass whipping tonight, another one won’t kill me."

Dylan chuckled as she stripped off her sweat jacket. Cat noticed for the very first time, now that she was coming out of her funk, that the Coach had

changed clothes. She swallowed hard when she got a good look at well-toned arms under the tank top.

Oh shit! Cat, don’t go there. Don’t do this to yourself. This is your coach, your hero. Your basketball idol. You cannot have those thoughts about her. Stop it!

"Earth to Catherine. Head out of the clouds please. Let’s go." She fired the ball at Cat and took up a defensive position under the net. "Come on Shortchange. Let’s see what you got against this old war horse."

*******