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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1: Kelsey’s Secret

  Chapter 2: The New Center

  Chapter 3: Basketball Wizard

  Chapter 4: An Extra Practice

  Chapter 5: Less Basketball

  Chapter 6: Meeting Marian

  Chapter 7: Basketball Problems

  Chapter 8: Playing with Fire

  Chapter 9: Use It!

  Chapter 10: The Peters Legacy

  About the Author

  About the Illustrator

  Glossary

  Fun Basketball Games You Can Play

  Discussion Questions

  Writing Prompts

  Other Books by Jake Maddox

  Copyright

  Back Cover

  Chapter 1

  KELSEY’S SECRET

  BEEP! As the buzzer sounded, the ball dropped through the basket for the last time. Girls jumped off the bench and poured onto the court. They were all cheering. At one end of the gym, the scoreboard read, “Tigers, 45 – Raiders, 43.”

  The tall girl who had made the final basket stood in the middle of the court. She smiled as the Tigers quickly surrounded her. The Raiders filed off the court.

  Kelsey Peters, still panting from the game, stood by herself. She watched her teammates celebrate, her hands hanging limply at her sides. Then she turned and slowly walked toward the locker room.

  “Hey, Kelsey, where are you going?” one of the girls shouted. “Your sister just won the game for us! We’re going to the regional championships!”

  Kelsey looked back and gave the group a little wave. Then she pushed open the door of the locker room and let it swing shut behind her.

  The room was quiet. She could hardly hear the noise from the gym. Kelsey sat down on one of the benches and rested her head in her hands. She knew that her sister, Erin, would wonder where she was, but she didn’t care.

  Kelsey was just glad the last regular game of the season was over.

  Just one more game, Kelsey told herself. One more. No one knew that she was going to quit basketball forever after the regional championships were over. It was her secret.

  Kelsey opened her locker. Wham! The locker room door slammed open so hard that it banged against the wall. Kelsey started stuffing her things into her gym bag. Then a girl with dark curly hair bounded into the room.

  “Hey!” Kelsey’s best friend, Liz, said. “I was looking for you. Why are you in here all by yourself?”

  “Oh, um, I had to go to the bathroom,” Kelsey mumbled. She couldn’t tell Liz her secret. Not yet.

  Liz gave Kelsey a long look. Then she asked, “Wasn’t Erin’s shot at the end incredible? Your sister is so good, Kels. We’re going to kill them at regional championships next week.”

  “Yeah,” Kelsey said, hitching her bag over her shoulder. “It’ll be great.”

  “Come on,” Liz said. “Coach Heck is taking us all out for pizza to celebrate our win.”

  Kelsey hesitated. “I don’t know if I really feel like it,” she said.

  “What?” Liz asked. “How can you not feel like pizza?”

  Kelsey stared down at her shoes. Then she looked up and managed to smile at Liz, who was still staring at her. “You’re right,” Kelsey said. “Let’s go celebrate.”

  Chapter 2

  THE NEW CENTER

  The pizza restaurant was noisy and crowded. All the players gathered around a long table at the back of the room. When everyone was seated, Coach Heck stood up.

  “Players!” he called. “Can I have your attention, please?”

  Everyone stopped talking. The coach went on. “As you know, today was our last game of the regular season. Thanks to our center, Erin, the game was a great success.”

  All the girls cheered.

  “We’re also going to have to say goodbye to Erin after the regional championships,” Coach Heck said.

  “Don’t leave us!” yelled Liz. She was the team’s clown, always trying to get a laugh.

  Coach Heck smiled. “She’ll be graduating and heading off to high school,” he said. Everyone groaned.

  Kelsey watched her tall sister, seated at the head of the table, smiling modestly. Erin had been the star player on the Tigers for the last three seasons. She was famous for her speed and jumps.

  Liz leaned over. “I can’t even imagine the Tigers without Erin,” she whispered to Kelsey. “What are we going to do without her?”

  Coach Heck was still talking. “Luckily, we have someone else on the team who can continue Erin’s legacy. Someone who shows the same commitment and dedication to her team.”

  All the girls glanced around the table and whispered to each other.

  Kelsey and Liz looked at one another. “Who’s he talking about?” Liz whispered. Kelsey shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea.

  “Kelsey Peters! Please stand up!” Coach Heck declared.

  What? Kelsey thought. Not me! Anyone but me!

  She looked around the table. Everyone was smiling and clapping. Slowly, she got to her feet. Erin gave her a big grin.

  “Kelsey, starting next season, we’re moving you from guard to center, just like your sister. We’re glad you’re here to take her place,” said the coach.

  All the Tigers cheered. Liz put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. Erin stood up and came around the table.

  “You’ve got to carry on the Peters legacy, sis,” Erin said, hugging her sister.

  Kelsey stood completely still. Her heart felt like it had fallen right out of her chest and into her shoes. To her horror, she felt tears starting in her eyes.

  She broke out of her sister’s grasp and ran to the restroom. Behind her, she could hear the clapping stop.

  Chapter 3

  BASKETBALL WIZARD

  Kelsey leaned against one of the sinks in the empty restroom. She watched in the mirror as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. She could hear Liz and Erin talking just outside the door.

  Why can’t they just leave me alone? she thought.

  “What’s up with her?” Erin asked.

  “I’m not sure, but I think I should go in by myself,” Liz said.

  Erin was quiet for a second. “Okay, if you think so,” she said finally. “Just come get me if she needs me.”

  “Okay,” Liz said. Then she pushed the door open. “Kels, what’s the matter?” she asked. “Why are you crying?”

  Kelsey stared down at the sink. She’d never told anyone her secret before. But now she felt like she was going to burst if she didn’t say something. She looked at her friend and took a deep breath.

  “Liz, I have something to tell you,” Kelsey said.

  “What?” Liz asked. She put her arm around Kelsey’s shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

  “I . . . I don’t want to be center next season. Actually, I don’t want to play basketball ever again,” Kelsey said.

  She looked down at her feet. She couldn’t stand to see Liz staring at her.

  “Why, Kels? Is it Coach Heck?” Liz asked.

  “No, Coach Heck is fine,” Kelsey said. “I guess I’m just sort of sick of it.”

  Liz was quiet for a minute. “Wow,” she finally said. “I’m confused. I mean, you’re really good. Why don’t you like playing basketball anymore?”

  Kelsey sighed. “I’m not sure I ever liked it. It just always seemed like something I was expected to do,” she explained.

  “You mean, because your sister always played?” Liz asked.

  “Yeah,” Kelsey said. “So everyone, including Coach Heck and my parents, just expected that I would play too.”

  “But you’re an awesome player,” Liz said.

  Kelsey slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. She looped her arms around her knees and laid her head on th
em. “Thanks,” she said. “But you have to believe me, Liz, whenever I’m playing, it doesn’t feel like fun. It just feels like some kind of chore I have to do.”

  Liz sat down on the floor next to her friend. “I think you should tell Coach Heck you don’t want to play next season,” she said. “He’s already talking about how we might make it to the championship again with you as the new center.”

  “No!” Kelsey yelled, sitting up straight. “I can’t tell him. I can’t disappoint everyone like that. They all think I love basketball as much as Erin does.”

  Both girls were quiet for a minute, thinking. Then Liz held up her finger. “Hey!” she said. “I just thought of something to help you.”

  “A permanent vacation in Jamaica?” Kelsey asked gloomily.

  “No, look,” Liz said. She fished a wadded piece of paper out of her pocket. “Coach Heck handed these out right after the game, when you were in the locker room.” She handed the paper to Kelsey.

  Dr. C, Basketball Wizard! proclaimed huge letters at the top of the flyer. Cures for all your basketball woes! Dribbling, passing, shooting, speed, agility, and jumping. Let Dr. C diagnose you, treat you, and cure you!

  Clinic: 9-12, Saturday, June 1, Longbranch Middle School Gymnasium.

  “It’s at our school!” Liz said. “On Saturday.”

  Kelsey stared at the paper for a minute and then shoved it back to Liz. “This guy isn’t going to help me,” she said. “This is just a basketball clinic. We have them all the time, remember? These coaches just come in and help you work on your free throw, or whatever.”

  “I know, but this Dr. C seems different. He’s an expert on basketball problems,” Liz said, pointing to the flyer. “You need some help, Kels. Maybe this guy can cure you.” She reached over and stuffed the paper into Kelsey’s pocket. “You should go.”

  Kelsey heaved herself up from the floor and pulled Liz up too. “Thanks,” Kelsey said. “But I think the only thing that can help me is quitting basketball forever.”

  Chapter 4

  AN EXTRA PRACTICE

  All week, whenever Kelsey thought about the upcoming championship game on Monday, she felt like she was going to throw up. Even seeing a game on television sent her stomach churning.

  When Coach Heck called an extra practice on Friday afternoon, Kelsey felt like hiding under her bed. Instead, she got out her basketball shoes and forced herself to head for the gym.

  Erin was already there, and so was the rest of the team. Coach Heck set everyone up to practice passing. As Kelsey passed the ball to her partner over and over, she kept telling herself, Just one more game, just one more game.

  “All right, players, let’s get ready for a scrimmage,” Coach Heck called out. “We need to be in top form for Monday.”

  Erin raised her hand. “Coach, do you mind if I sit this one out?” she asked. “My knee is bothering me a little. It’ll probably feel better if I rest it.” The coach nodded, and Erin trotted over to the bleachers.

  During the scrimmage, Kelsey tried to concentrate on passing and dribbling. But all she could think about was finishing practice so she could get out of there, off the court and away from the gym.

  She passed and blocked like a robot, barely listening to Coach Heck’s shouted instructions. But then, near the end of the scrimmage, someone passed her the ball, and it thumped into her hands with a solid thwack!

  For a minute, everything around her disappeared. All Kelsey saw was the basket, open in front of her.

  Without thinking, she dribbled the ball up the court, fast. The basket was open. She jumped high and shot. The ball slammed through the net.

  The players around her cheered as Kelsey’s sneakers landed back onto the court. Coach Heck was clapping from the sidelines. “Nice work, Erin!” he yelled. “Sorry, I meant Kelsey!”

  No one else seemed to notice Coach’s slip-up, not even Erin. But Kelsey felt a weight thump down on her stomach.

  Bam. Just like that, the good feelings from making the basket were gone.

  Chapter 5

  LESS BASKETBALL

  After the practice, Coach Heck called everyone into a huddle. The girls crowded around him, panting and tired. He flipped to a new page on his clipboard.

  “All right, Tigers,” he said. “I need to know who’s coming to the special Dr. C clinic on Saturday. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with this world-famous coach, so I’d encourage you all to show up.”

  He raised his pen over his clipboard. “So, who’s in?” he asked.

  Hands shot up, and the coach started scribbling names down. Kelsey kept her arms at her sides.

  Coach Heck looked up. “Who else? Kelsey?” he asked.

  “Um, I have a dentist appointment,” Kelsey mumbled. She felt Liz elbow her in the ribs.

  “Oh, Kelsey,” Liz said loudly. “I just remembered. Your mom wanted me to tell you that your dentist broke both his arms, so your appointment is canceled!”

  Kelsey glared at her friend who gave her an innocent smile. Coach Heck looked confused. “Okay, so Kelsey’s in, is that right?” he asked.

  “That’s right!” Liz said. Kelsey kicked her friend’s ankle.

  “Great!” the coach said, scribbling on his clipboard. “That’s it. Get a good night’s sleep, girls, and we’ll see you all tomorrow.”

  The team scattered to the locker room, but Kelsey pulled Liz to a quiet spot under the bleachers. “Why did you do that?” she asked angrily.

  Liz widened her eyes. “What are you talking about? You mean your dentist didn’t break both arms?” she asked.

  Kelsey gritted her teeth. “Drop it, Liz,” she said. “You know I don’t want to go to the clinic. I need less basketball in my life, not more.”

  “I’m sorry,” Liz said. “I just think that this guy could help you.”

  “Well, he can’t!” Kelsey snapped. A hot wave of anger rushed over her. “I told you, I don’t want to play anymore. Not tomorrow, not next season. Maybe not ever!” She picked up her bag and stormed away, ignoring the hurt look on Liz’s face.

  Chapter 6

  MEETING MARIAN

  Kelsey pushed through the heavy double doors of the gym and rushed into the bright, blinding sunlight. Her chest felt tight, and her head was pounding.

  She wove her way through the cars in the school parking lot, fighting to keep the tears from rolling down her face. She was trying so hard not to cry that she ran right into the tall woman getting out of a car in front of her.

  “Ooof!” Kelsey said, stumbling. She dropped her stack of books and her gym bag flew off her shoulder. It hit the ground, and the zipper split, spilling her uniform, socks, and basketball shoes all over the ground. The tall woman caught her by the shoulders before she fell.

  “Sorry about that!” the woman said. “Are you okay?”

  Kelsey looked up — way up. The woman towered over her. She was smiling down at Kelsey through round glasses. “I was looking at my directions instead of watching where I was going,” the woman said. She was holding a piece of paper in her hand.

  “Oh. It’s okay,” Kelsey told her. She crouched down and started collecting her books.

  “Your stuff went everywhere!” the woman said, kneeling and gathering up Kelsey’s gym socks. “Here you go. I’m Marian, by the way.”

  “I’m Kelsey,” Kelsey mumbled without looking up. She concentrated on collecting papers from her math binder, but she could feel Marian looking at her.

  “If you don’t mind my saying so, you seemed pretty upset a moment ago,” Marian said.

  Kelsey looked up, startled. She was surprised that an adult had noticed how she was feeling. She hesitated a moment and then shrugged. “I’m okay,” she said.

  Marian picked up the last few scattered papers. She turned one over and studied it for a minute before handing it to Kelsey.

  It was the clinic flyer. “Basketball clinic tomorrow, huh?” Marian asked. “Who’s Dr. C?”

  “I don’
t know,” Kelsey said. “Some kind of basketball doctor. He says he can cure all your problems. But I’m not going.” She stuffed the paper into her backpack. “He can’t cure the kind of problems I have.”

  Marian paused for a moment and then nodded. “Yeah,” she said. “It probably wouldn’t be worth the time. Hey, I have an appointment here at the gym, and I’m a few minutes early. Would you mind showing me the way?”

  “Sure,” Kelsey said, rising to her feet. She didn’t really feel like going back into the school, but she knew the other Tigers would already be gone. She’d show Marian where the gym was and then go home.

  “It’s through those doors and down the hall,” Kelsey said.

  Kelsey led Marian into the building. The big, echoing gym was deserted. But the lights were still on, so Kelsey knew Coach Heck was around somewhere. He always turned the lights off as he was leaving.

  “Here you are,” Kelsey said.

  “Thanks, Kelsey,” Marian replied. “I appreciate it.”

  Kelsey turned to go. She stopped when she heard the squeak of shoes on the court behind her. She turned around.

  Marian had picked up a basketball and was dribbling up and down the court. Kelsey caught her breath. She’d never seen anyone run like that before. It was like she was flying above the floor.

  As Kelsey watched, Marian jumped into the air and flew toward the basket. She dropped the ball through the net as if the basket were only three feet off the ground.

  Kelsey couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She stood rooted to the ground as Marian dribbled down to the other end of the court. This time, she leaped toward the net and dunked the ball from under and around the basket.

  “Wow!” Kelsey blurted out. Marian stopped and turned toward her. She looked surprised to see Kelsey still standing there.