Courtside Hearts

Chapter 23 - Second round

The crowd in the opposing team's gymnasium was loud, but not nearly enough to drown out the focus BINI University had as they prepared for the second round of the tournament. There was a certain energy coursing through the players, an unspoken confidence that hung between them after their dominant performance in the first round. Colet and Aiah could feel it—the momentum, the hunger to advance.

As the buzzer blared to signal the start of the game, the BINI team fell right into their rhythm, almost as if the win was preordained. Their chemistry on the court was undeniable, and from the very first possession, it became clear that their opponents had no answer for BINI's relentless offense and suffocating defense.

Colet was a maestro, orchestrating plays with pinpoint precision. Every time she dribbled down the court, scanning the floor, she could see opportunities before they materialized. Her passes were crisp, sharp, and always found the open teammate at just the right moment. It wasn't long before she had already racked up double-digit assists in the first half alone.

Meanwhile, Aiah played like a woman possessed. She drove to the basket fearlessly, sinking shot after shot from midrange and beyond the arc. Her confidence was through the roof, each successful basket fueling the next. And with every shot, the score gap widened, leaving their opponents scrambling to adjust, but it was already too late.

By halftime, BINI University led by 25 points. The scoreboard read 55-30 in their favor. The opponent's gym, once buzzing with hope, was now filled with murmurs and quiet conversations. The sense of defeat loomed over the home team as their fans began to realize that BINI was simply too powerful, too well-prepared for this second-round matchup.

Coach Emerson gathered the players during the halftime break, a grin barely hidden beneath his stern expression. "Good work, everyone. But don't get complacent," he warned. "We're not here to play nice—we're here to dominate. Keep up the intensity. No mercy in the second half."

As the second half began, BINI picked up exactly where they left off. Colet continued to distribute the ball, feeding Stacey in the post and setting up Mikha for open shots. Every player contributed, playing their role to perfection, as if they were one single, well-oiled machine. The opposing team grew more frustrated with each passing minute, their morale sinking further as the gap ballooned to over 30 points.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard showed 97-62—a definitive, overwhelming victory for BINI University.

The commentator's voice boomed throughout the gym as fans, both of BINI and the home team, began to file out. "An absolutely convincing win by BINI University! This team is making waves in the tournament, and with the way they've been playing, they are definitely one of the teams to watch out for!"

Colet and Aiah exchanged glances from across the court, the weight of their achievement settling in. Aiah smiled, her eyes lighting up as she jogged over to Colet.

"That was insane," Aiah said, her breath still heavy from the game but her excitement palpable.

Colet gave her a small, satisfied smile, sweat dripping down her brow. "Yeah, but we're not done yet."

As they stood there, the gym slowly clearing out, Aiah felt that same energy from Colet—the determination, the focus on what lay ahead. It was the same drive she felt burning inside herself. They had won another battle, but there were more to come, and this was only the beginning of their true test. Together, they were going to fight for it all—the championship.

The locker room was alive with the sounds of celebration. Cheers echoed off the walls, laughter filled the air, and high-fives were exchanged as the team basked in the afterglow of yet another victory. The exhilaration was palpable, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world was theirs.