The shot mattered because it was worth two points, not because it had revealed a secret identity. Orchard responded with a disciplined possession that ended in a corner three. South Dock’s work had not frightened them into forgetting how to play. At the next timeout, Ward told her team that Orchard was protecting the paint and daring South Dock to win from outside. Imani suggested drawing the center up to the free throw line and using Zora as a passer.

Zora frowned. “You want me out of the lane. Just for a possession. You don’t have to shoot from there. Look behind you.

The play worked once, yielding an open cut for Mina, and failed the next time when Orchard stayed attached. Ward changed the alignment before the defense could settle. By the start of the fourth quarter, the gap was four points. South Dock had earned the smaller number one decision at a time. And Imani’s teammates had not stopped being important when she checked into the game.

With 4 minutes to go, Zora collected her fourth foul while trying to hold position against Keisha. Ward brought in a reserve forward who lacked Zora’s height, but moved her feet well. Orchard attacked inside. Imani dropped down to help, leaving her own guard open for a jumper. The shot fell.

She looked toward Ward expecting criticism. Ward raised one finger and pointed toward the corner she had abandoned. Imani understood. Helping did not mean leaving the first danger unattended just because the second looked larger. She On the next possession, she stayed disciplined, forced Orchard toward the baselines, and trusted the reserve to contest the layup.

The shot missed. Marisol secured the rebound. Imani pushed the ball, slowed when the lane closed, and passed to Mina for a jumper. South Dock was within two. Orchard called timeout.

The crowd was standing now, not because of the eligibility protest, but because a semifinal had become a real contest. Keisha spoke sharply to her teammates, pointing at the scorer’s table as though she wanted them to ignore it. Imani admired that. Orchard had nothing to do with the protest. They deserved an opponent who was playing with their whole attention, not an enemy distracted by unrelated grievances. The score was 60 to 58 with 41 seconds left. South Dock trailed.

Ward gave Imani the ball on a sideline inbound and told her to look for Zora under the basket if Orchard switched the screen. Orchard did switch, but the passing lane closed. Imani drove left, gathered under pressure, and found Marisol alone on the far side. Marisol had missed two outside shots that half. She caught this one without hesitation and made it.