CHAPTER 23 — "One Step Ahead"
Game 2 — Channel City vs 5 Towns City. The Bruisers look to close out, but the Highlight Reels have other plans.
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PAGE 1
Opening panel: A wide-angle shot of the arena. The scoreboards flash "GAME 2." Tension hangs in the air like fog.
COMMENTATOR (off-screen):
"Down 0-1, 5 Towns City must respond—because Channel City only knows how to finish what they start."
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PAGE 2
5 Towns in the locker room. Talley Ward's Flash Carter paces, his gold mouthguard clenched between his teeth.
FLASH CARTER:
"Y'all wanna go home early? Or y'all wanna make 'em feel us tonight?"
Players slap hands and huddle tight.
TEAM (unified):
"5 TOWNS!"
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PAGE 3
Channel City's huddle. Damien "The Hammer" Cole stares daggers at the court.
DAMIEN:
"We break their spirit tonight. No mercy."
COACH BROOKS:
"Stick to the game plan. If they run, we smash."
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PAGE 4
Tip-off. Channel City wins it. Damien immediately drives into contact, bounces off two defenders and scores.
COMMENTATOR:
"Straight through traffic! Cole's coming out like a wrecking ball!"
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PAGE 5
But this time, 5 Towns is ready. Flash goes behind the back, then spins off his man and hits a wild reverse layup.
COMMENTATOR:
"Oh my word! Flash just rewrote physics with that finish!"
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PAGE 6
The pace is faster this game. 5 Towns gets out in transition. Morrow Ward's player, "Swipe" Lorenzo, picks Damien's pocket and dishes to Flash for a highlight dunk.
COMMENTATOR:
"Hold up! 5 Towns came to play tonight!"
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PAGE 7
Mid-3rd quarter. Channel City tightens up defensively. Kingston "Bricks" Matthews swats two shots in a row, then finishes a putback dunk.
COMMENTATOR:
"And now the Bruisers bring the hammer down! Momentum shift incoming!"
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PAGE 8
Late 4th. Tie game. Flash calls for isolation. Crowd on their feet. He dances, steps back—pulls from deep... BUCKET.
FLASH:
"Let me cook."
COMMENTATOR:
"Flash Carter! From the parking lot! Cold-blooded!"
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PAGE 9
Channel has one last chance. Damien attacks... but this time, Lorenzo strips him clean again. Game over.
COMMENTATOR:
"SWIPE! LORENZO STRIPS HIM AGAIN! 5 TOWNS TIES THE SERIES 1-1!"
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PAGE 10
Final panel: 5 Towns players celebrate, but keep it cool. Flash looks into the camera during a post-game interview.
FLASH:
"We ain't flashy for fun. We flashy 'cause it works."
COMMENTATOR (off-screen):
"We got ourselves a series now, folks."
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NEXT:Chapter 24 — Inwood City vs Jam City: Game 2