This is a short story about how a sophmore Duke star Killian Heart and sophomore Paige Bueckers get together through basketball. And in these series, there will be good and their will be tests in their relationship. But can they hold it out till the...
Killian POV: I woke up with the sound of my 5am alarm clock blaring loudly next to my ear. I quickly shut it off and got up and meditated for 15 minutes to start my day. I got dressed, brushed my teeth, got my bball gear and headed to the practice facility. We have a morning practice at 7am but I always go an hour and a half early to get early shots up. Then at lunch we head to Connecticut to play UConn tomorrow.
*7:00am* We huddle around Coach K cause he's got something to say Coach K: alright so we leave for the bus to go to the airport @12 sharp. Now UConn is known as the basketball capital of the world, they've got a strong fan base so let's not get bogged down by it. Let's play Duke Basketball.
*12:00pm* I start running towards the bus but the door closed right as I was about to enter. Coach K has this rule where if you're not there at the time he said, you have to run to next bus stop you see.
"Gah damn it" "Looks like you gotta run Heart" Coach K chuckled
I run to the bus stop where the team was waiting for me, phones out and my teammates laughing hysterically. I enter the bus almost out of breath
"HaHa very funny🙄" I shouted "C'mon KT, you know better than that" Trevor said laughing.
My team calls me KT cuz my middle name is Taj. And Trevor is one of my bestest friends on the team. We arrived to our hotel and i immediately took a fat nap before we went for a team dinner.
💤 💤 💤
An hour later I wake up to get a call from Trevor.
Trevor: "Yooo cmon get up we got dinner to go to" Me: "Aight I'll be down in 5" Trevor: "Aight peace"
*Fast forward to Team Dinner* "Ooooo I heard the womens bball team is coming to watch" said Trevor excitedly
"Hey AJ, doesn't your sister play on the team?" said Jeremy
"Yah, Aubrey. She's out for the season though cuz of her back injury" murmured AJ.
"Killian bro have you heard of this girl Paige Bueckers on the team? She a BADDIEE i tell you" Said Trevor
"I think ive heard her name before, but not really. Also dude stop with the baddie stuff" I exclaimed.
I don't like to use baddie, hot, or sexy when talking about women. Pretty,gorgeous and beautiful are the ones this generation needs to describe them. We got back to our hotel from our team dinner and I do some quick homework before I head to bed.
*The next day: Gameday* I wake up @6 meditated and went to the hotel gym and got some reps in. After that I went to breakfast and then watched some film. We finished film at 9 and headed to gampel for practice. We went over a new play that Coach K wanted to put and it was for me. Plan K. A play where I would get an open corner 3. *T-minus 5 hours till tip off* Tip off was at 6:30 and we had freetine for about 2 and a half hours. I decide to finish my school work before taking my pre-game nap. I wake up from my nap and went on my phone. I was curious about this Paige Bueckers girl so I searched her up on the IG. Hmm she is pretty beautiful.
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*T-minus 2 hours till tip off* We arrive at gampel again and went to the locker room to get changed in our warm up gear and headed out to do our stretches and excercises. We went back to our locker room and hung out there for a while. Trevor, Joey, and AJ played some board games, Paolo listening to his pre-game hype song to calm him down. And me, I meditate to calm my nerves.
We finally were ushered to the tunnel and i already heard the entire arena shouting and screaming "GO UCONN WOOO!" We head out of the tunnel and into the court, I could hear the boos and the trash talking student section. I took a deep breath and then I was locked in.
Paige POV: My team and I arrived to gampel and went to our seats kinda close to the court. There was 15 minutes till tip off. I was sitting with Azzi to my left and Nika to my right. They talked infront of me about the Duke players.
Nika: "ooo Azzi look at #7 he's so attractive" Azzi: "omgg you're righttt. And #4 too!!" *Azzi nudges Paige* Azzi: "Paige look at #2 isnt he cute?" I look to find #2. I spot him dunking and then he smile laughed after. Paige: "I mean yeah he's cute"
Killian POV: I sat on the chair as they call the UConn starting lineup. I barely could hear the announcers because their fans were so loud. Finally they call the starting lineups for us and I already hear the crowd booing. I wait for my name to get called up.
"AND #2 KILLIAN HEART!"
The game started with our possession, I call a play and I lob it to Trevor for the dunk. our defence was good but our offence sucked. The score was 45-29 for UConn at half. I only had 8 points, 2 assists, but 3 turnovers. I wasn't playing like myself because I heard this one heckler going at it with me, and I can only hear her voice because it was loud.
*In the Lockeroom* Coach K: "Wtf are we doing? What's up with our offence? We cant run anything, you guys just forgot how to play basketball is that what im seeing? You guys aren't playing like yourselves!" *Coach K turns to me* Coach K: "YOU! Killian. 8 points with 3 turnovers?! You think that's you! WAKE UP! I know and you know you're better than that stat sheet! So wake your ass up or you're sitting on the bench".
Second half starts and I took Coach K's criticism to heart. I dribble the ball up the court, I call ISO. Me against RJ Cole. I go between the legs dribble to the left, stepback 3 SPLASH! Next possession, AJ comes to set a left side screen. I go off and attack the basket. AJ rolls off and I throw him a lob for a dunk. We got a 10-0 run and only down by 6 now with 13 minutes left in the game. I hear the heckler again, I got distracted and UConn stole the ball for a jam. Coach K subs me out frustrated. I look towards the crowd tryna see who the heckler was. 3 minutes later, Coach K subs me back in with 10 minutes left. We were down 11. Before I went to the scores table, Coach K pulls me aside and says "Be You". As I called Joey to sub out, I hear the heckler again. I took a quick glance where the sound was and I smiled and chuckled to myself.
I was locked in completely. Got a quick steal for a windmill dunk. Next possession, Trevor sets an off-ball screen and Paolo passes it to me and I drain the open 3. Down by 2 with 2 minutes left in the game. I tried to go for the steal but missed and they shot a 3. Down 5. I call out a play and got Trevor for a 3. Down 2 with 30 seconds left and UConn calls a timeout. We went back out with UConn having the possession. I sneak behind their post player to steal the ball. It was a loose ball and I dove for it and quickly called a timeout. We advanced the ball and Coach K yells out "PLAN K! PLAN K!". I threw in the ball to Paolo, I set a screen for him, I roll off then go straight to the corner and Trevor and AJ doubles screens me then Paolo sees me in the open corner. 9, 8,7,6,5,4 I caught the ball and shot the corner three. 3,2,1 BUZZ!... SWISHHH! "LETS GOOOO!!" My teammates crowd around me as we celebrate the game winner. Winning 78-79. Scored 32 points and 6 assists
*Main Area of Gampel* Some duke fans came to support and I signed some autographs and tooks some pictures. As I Was walking backwards to thank the fans for coming, heading to the bus. I ran into someone, I turned around to say sorry and then caught me by surprise when I saw that I bumped into the Heckler. The cute Heckler....
