Across the court, Brielle stood very still with her hands on her hips. Harper tried to speak to her. Brielle shook her head and looked toward her coach. For the first time, Imani saw the Mariner star as someone carrying an entire school’s expectations on a clock that was nearly empty. The realization did not make Imani want to lose.

It made her want to finish properly. During the stoppage, Ward made one more assignment. Brielle was the likeliest receiver, but South Dock could not leave another shooter free. Zora would protect the middle without abandoning the rebound. Mina would deny the easy return pass.

Imani would contest Brielle’s catch and stay down on fakes. There was no room for a theatrical steal or a reach that gave away free throws. Mariner inbounded from the side. Harper set a screen to free Brielle toward the right wing. Imani anticipated the route and followed over the screen, arriving as the pass did.

Brielle caught and turned. Two seconds remained. She jabbed left, tried to step back, and lifted the ball toward the hoop. Imani kept both feet beneath her, raised an open hand, and stayed close enough to take away Brielle’s clean view. She did not foul.

She did not touch the ball. She forced a difficult shot to remain difficult. Brielle released. The ball struck the far rim and sprang back toward the free throw line. Zora stepped into Harper’s path, secured the rebound with two hands, and hugged it to her chest as the final horn sounded.

For one beat, nobody seemed to move. Then the South Dock bench burst onto the floor. Mina wrapped her arms around Imani. Marisol came running from the baseline. Zora lifted the ball overhead like a prize she’d rescued from the bottom of the sea.

Their students screamed until their voices broke. Coach Ward stood beside the scorer’s table, one hand over her mouth, her other hand pressed against the silver watch at her wrist. She had told the girls not to make the game into a single player’s legend. The way they came together now proved she had meant it. Imani felt someone seize her shoulders from behind. She turned, startled, and found Denise crying openly and laughing at the same time.

Her mother had reached the court after the horn. “You placed it.” Denise whispered. “You finally placed it.” Imani held her.