The zebras stood majestically in the field, grazing the lush green grass.

But, unbeknownst to
them, a pack of hyenas eyed them hungrily. The stealthy hyenas approached the zebra herd slowly.
Suddenly, the leader of the hyena pack sprung out, startling the zebra herd into a gallop. The hyena
kept chasing a single zebra, diverting and separating it from the rest of the herd. Quite quickly, the
spotted hyena was tired out, and it fell behind. The distance between the predator and prey
increased, before another the whole pack of hyenas was after the single striped beast. It galloped
onwards, trying to ignore the occasional hyena bites on its rear. Finally, the zebra could gallop no
further, and the hyena pack quickly surrounded and overwhelmed it. The zebras cries were
unheard. The hyenas left, with nothing remaining behind but an empty blood-stained carcass.
I say! We are definitely a good partnership, you and I! I tossed the ball back to Josh. Come
on, one more, we need to perfect the one-two tactic. I ran along the side of the three-point zone
marking, signalling when I was ready. Josh passed the basketball. Holding the ball confidently, yet
cautious, I feigned to the right, took a step back, and then made a roulette around an imaginary
opponent before dribbling in towards the net. I leapt, pretending to make the shot, and then quickly
let it gracefully fly out of my hand. Josh caught it midair and went for the alley shot. Swish!
Yes! We perfected it! Do it in the semi-finals against Brownfield Secondary and we should
be through to the finals! We may even be able to defeat the five-time champion Blackburn
Secondary! He shook hands with the air, then after receiving an imaginary trophy, he continued, I
would like to thank my coach for supporting me during my training, my parents for cheering me on,
and my best friend Nate for assisting me in that final shot! Oh yeah! He made a few fist pumps.
We are going to win this! For Greenwood, for our parents, and for our never-ending friendship!
Just dont get cocky, Josh. I picked up my bag, waved goodbye to Josh, and then headed
home.
The crowd roared in excitement. They stamped their feet and cheered my name. I jogged
into the basketball court with the grace of the swan and the hunger of a hyena. Hunger for victory.
The ball goes up, and my team gains possession of it immediately. Josh skilfully dribbles the ball up,
carefully evading the four players charging at him. One lone defender stood between us and the net.
One-Two NOW! Josh yelled out. I ran along the perimeter of the three point zone,
stopping at the forty-five degree point. Josh tossed me the ball, luring the defender out of his
position. I feigned left, sidestepped right, feigned another left, and then dribbled up to the goal. The
poor defender stood there dazed. I saw Josh running into position. I leapt up, but instead of making
a pass, I slammed the ball into the net. The crowd goes wild!
Knock knock, anybody home? Josh lightly knocked my forehead, disrupting my day-
dreaming. Seems like little Natey Watey has gong with Alice to Wonderland! So how was it?
Knock it off, Josh, I laughed, I can have ambitions, cant I?
Yeah, sure, sure. He said sarcastically. Call me when you achieve it alright?
Come on, lets just practice. I grabbed the ball and took a shot. It hit the backboard and
dropped into the hoop.
Number nine has made the shot! Greenwood is in the lead by one point! There goes the
buzzer! The crowd goes wild! Josh mimicked a sports commentator. Now, lets go to star player
Nate Wells! Tell us, Nate, what were you thinking when you made the winning goal?
I didnt think, actually. You dont have time to think. You only have time to act, mostly on
your instincts. I playfully joined in. We burst into laughter.
Man, you crack me up! Well, I got to go! See you tomorrow! Tomorrow we crush
Brownfield! He picked up the ball and waved goodbye.
Most of Greenwood and Brownfield Secondary had gathered to watch the play-off. The
whistle blew, and the ball was in play. Brownfield started out strong, grasping and early ten-point
lead. I looked over to Josh. He wasnt even tensed up. He signalled to me, and we were off! The
opponents came strong again, but Josh quickly intercepted the ball and, with most of Brownfields
team behind, we ran up towards the lone defender. I quickly screened the defender while Josh ran
closely around me, and he ran in for a beautiful layup. The lead was quickly closed up, and very soon,
we were leading by fifteen points. The teamwork I had with Josh was too strong to be countered,
but it was in the last five minutes did everything start to go wrong. I started to become anxious, and
mistakes started to occur. I stumbled, fumbled and tumbled, and quickly, the fifteen point lead was
closed up to a narrow one point lead, with Brownfield winning.
Half a minute left, Nate. Focus. We can win this. We cant spare anymore mistakes.
I tossed the ball to Josh who skilfully manoeuvred the ball forward. Brownfield played very
defensively, not wanting to concede a goal.
One-two! Josh screamed out. I ran to the forty-five degree point on the three point
perimeter and received the past. Adrenaline was pumping through me. I did not follow the plan. I
just took the shot. The ball soared through the air. Time seemed to slow down as the ball headed
straight to the hoop. I couldnt bear to look. The fate of this match depends on this shot which I had
made. It was too much for me to handle.
Greenwood won! My teammates gathered around me and shouted, celebrating the
victory over Brownfield. But Josh stayed a distance away, not wanting to join in.
Hey coach?
Yes, Nate?
I think Josh is angry with me. I think he wanted to take the buzzer-beating shot. What
should I do? We need the good partnership that he and I fostered to win Blackburn next Friday.
Well, Im not sure what the best thing to do now is, but you had better patch up your
friendship fast! You understand, dont you?
Yes...

The week flew by and quickly, I found myself standing on the basketball court, facing the
formidable Blackburn basketball team. The first half of the game was just pathetic. Josh would never
pass the ball to me, yet he lacked the spirit to do well on his own. No longer could he escape the
wrath of the approaching defenders. Blackburn kept regaining possession of the ball and ended up
scoring. By the end of the first half, Blackburn was winning us by thirty points.
I pulled Josh aside.
Hey Josh, Im sorry I did not pass you the ball the last match. But can you please stop acting
like this?
Okay. He shrugged.
Josh. Serious.
Anything.
Josh, knock it off. How do you want this match to end? Are you going to leave this match,
defeated just because you worked alone? Or would you prefer to leave this match satisfied,
defeating Blackburn because we worked together? There are two options laid right out for you now.
Work together and win, or work alone and be cruelly defeated. Which do you pick?
I didnt even wait for his reply.
The second half kicked off, and the partnership we once had was revived. Quickly, the thirty
point lead was narrowed down to a one point lead, with Blackburn still in the lead. There was only
half a minute left. The Blackburn team was getting nervous, and when they attacked forward, they
kept making mistakes. Josh took the opportunity to intercept the ball and quickly dribbled up. There
was only one defender standing between Greenwood and victory. Josh didnt even have to shout
out, and we both mutually knew that it was time for the famous one-two tactic. He tossed me the
ball, attracting the defender out of hiding. Instead of throwing in skill moves to get pass him, I just
waited until the defender was almost beside me before passing the ball in to Josh who expertly took
the open shot.
We won! You and I, we are a great partnership! I laughed.