Zora, don’t set the screen in the paint. Move it higher. Imani, they want you to force the left drive. Make them guard a pass first. On the next possession, Imani started left, stopped two steps before the lane and found Zora at the elbow. Zora quickly sent the ball to Marisol in the corner.

Marisol shot and the ball dropped cleanly through the net. The South Dock bench jumped. Three points did not erase six, but it forced Mariner to acknowledge that someone other than Imani could hurt them. Brielle answered with a pull-up jumper. Imani responded by feeding Zora under the basket.

Harper stepped into the passing lane and intercepted the next attempt, driving hard for a layup. She was fast, disciplined, and physically tough, the sort of Winward had told them not to underestimate. When Imani recovered down court, Harper said under her breath, “Still falling behind?” Imani offered no reply. On the next play, she stayed in a legal defensive stance and took away Harper’s preferred angle.

Harper had to pass instead of shoot. The ball went to Brielle, who made a three from well beyond the free-throw circle. Good offense could beat good defense. South Dock would have to live with that fact if it wanted to survive. By the end of the first quarter, Mariner led 18 to 12.

Imani had two assists, one missed layup, and an unpleasant awareness that Brielle seemed comfortable, no matter what South Dock tried. On the bench, she drank water and looked down at Ward’s card. “Watch her lead shoulder, not her eyes.” She had been watching the eyes. Brielle liked to stare toward the corner just before driving.

Imani had followed the stare once and been a full step late. Zora nudged her. “Stop telling yourself what you should have done. Tell me what you’re doing next. Make her take the second option.

Good. Her second option is probably better than mine, but make her take it anyway.” Imani laughed. Their captain could find humor in almost anything short of a serious injury and even then she would probably make a joke when she knew everybody was safe. The second quarter became a contest over space.

Mariner pressed after made baskets trying to force Imani toward the sideline where Harper could close from behind. Imani broke the first trap with a bounce pass through the middle. The second time she misread Harper’s angle and lost the ball. Brielle converted the turnover into another layup. Mariner’s supporters began chanting her name.