South Dock stopped throwing ambitious passes into crowded spaces and began making small, stubborn decisions. Zora screened to free Marisol instead of expecting the ball every time. Imani gave up a clean three-pointer because a teammate had a cleaner, too. The score stayed close, and by the final minute North Pier had used its last timeout. South Dock led by one.

North Pier’s guard attacked the middle, drew Zora off her feet, and passed to a shooter in the corner. Imani rotated so hard that her shoes squealed. She could not block the shot. She could close enough space to make the shooter hurry. The ball struck the front rim.

Zora boxed out two blue jerseys, and South Dock owned the rebound. With 20 seconds left, Imani carried the ball over half court. A defender tried to trap her against the sideline. Imani kept her chin up and threw a diagonal pass to Marisol, who returned it immediately. The crowd expected a drive.

Imani instead waited for the defense to spread, then found Zora cutting behind her smaller opponent. Zora caught, scored, and drew a foul. The free throw made the lead four. North Pier’s Predes last shot missed, and South Dock’s opening game ended in a clean, difficult victory. Her teammates rushed into a knot of embraces.

Imani smiled, but her first look went to the other bench. North Pier’s captain was bent over with her hands on her knees. Imani walked toward her, offered a hand, and said, “Good game. That press made us work.” The girl straightened and shook it.

“You kept finding the corner. She kept getting open.” There was something satisfying about being known for a pass instead of a fall. Imani held on to that feeling as long as she could. It lasted until she reached the corridor.

Two students stood beside the vending machines watching Lily’s video. The clip showed Imani staggering backward into the ball rack. A freeze-frame of her open mouth and a caption claiming she had rushed Mariner players before falling over herself. Someone had added a laugh track. There was no audio from the beginning, no picture of Harper’s hand, and no hint that the teams had been assigned the same floor.

The students didn’t know Imani was behind them. One imitated her stumble. The other tried not to laugh and failed. Imani could have corrected them. She could have told the whole story in enough detail to make both boys uncomfortable.