CHAPTER 21 — "Grit Over Glory"
Channel City vs 5 Towns City (Game 1 - First Round Playoffs)
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PAGE 1
Wide panel: A sold-out crowd roars in the B.Y.G Arena. Channel City and 5 Towns City players take the court. The playoff energy is different—more intense, more electric.
COMMENTATOR (off-screen):
"The B.Y.G League Playoffs are officially underway! First up—Channel City, the bruisers of the league, versus the flashy, highlight-heavy 5 Towns City!"
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PAGE 2
Split panel:
On the left, Damien "The Hammer" Cole slaps the floor, locked in.
On the right, Remy "The Reel" Bishop spins the ball on his finger with a grin.
REMY:
"We ain't just flash—we got fight too."
DAMIEN:
"Then show me something, highlight boy."
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PAGE 3
Opening tip-off. Channel City's Titan, the center, wins the jump, and the game begins.
COMMENTATOR:
"Channel City controls the tempo early, and you can bet they'll try to make this one physical from the jump."
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PAGE 4
Quick montage of gritty defense from Channel City—screens, body bumps, diving for loose balls. 5 Towns struggles to find rhythm early.
NARRATION:
"Channel City doesn't just play defense… they punish you with it."
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PAGE 5
5 Towns rallies—Remy breaks ankles with a behind-the-back crossover into a reverse layup.
COMMENTATOR:
"And just like that, 5 Towns reminds us why they're showtime certified!"
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PAGE 6
Channel City's Marcus "Smash" Rollins throws down a putback dunk with authority.
CROWD:
"OHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
DAMIEN (smirking):
"We love the smoke."
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PAGE 7
Close-up on 5 Towns coach looking concerned. Timeout called.
COACH:
"They're bullying us. You want to win? You better start swinging back."
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PAGE 8
Coming out of timeout, 5 Towns plays smarter—spacing the floor, quick passes, alley-oop finish to Jett "Skyline" Vega.
COMMENTATOR:
"That's what they needed! 5 Towns using finesse to neutralize the muscle!"
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PAGE 9
Final minute. Game is tied. Channel City slows it down, feeding Damien, who bulldozes his way into a tough and-one layup.
COMMENTATOR:
"Cole! Through the contact—bucket and the foul!"
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PAGE 10
Last possession. 5 Towns trails by 3. Remy isolates. Step-back three… off the back rim.
BUZZER SOUNDS.
COMMENTATOR:
"And that's game! Channel City draws first blood in this best-of-five war!"
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PAGE 11
Channel City huddles together, fired up. Damien stares down the court.
DAMIEN:
"Game 1. We just getting started."
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PAGE 12
5 Towns heads to the locker room. Remy clenches his fists.
REMY (to himself):
"They hit hard. But we're not backing down."
NEXT:Chapter 22 — "Snipers and Skywalkers" (Inwood City vs Jam City)?