学文网8：00
The red numbers on the clock showed that there were just eight minutes left in the game. The score was tied1 at 24.
Our sweaty team huddled around Coach Sanchez. “Pass it around and don’t get boxed in，” he warned. “When you’re open， shoot.”
We stuck our hands into the middle. “Go， Eagles！”
Back on the floor， Brandon had the ball. I was open， but he passed it to Cole. Cole had a great turnaround jump shot2， but I was a good shot， too. In fact， we each had six points so far. But Cole was more popular， and the team fed3 him the ball.
7：00
The Kings took possession of the ball and tied the score. Then Cole was fouled4 and sank5 his two free throws6. That added two points to our team’s score—and to the score in my head. It shouldn’t have mattered， but for once I wanted to outscore Cole. I wanted to show the team that I could be the MVP—most valuable player.
The Kings dribbled7 down， but Jeff stole the ball and threw a long， hard pass to me. I saw Cole running toward the bucket， but I dribbled in and shot. The ball swished8 through for two.
Cole slapped my hand. “Good shot， Derek.”
“Thanks，” I said. I didn’t worry about whether or not I should have passed the ball. Cole had his fair share of chances.
6：00
The score bounced back and forth： Eagles 30， Kings 32. Eagles 35， Kings 34. The score in my head kept bouncing， too： Derek 8， Cole 10. Derek 12， Cole 11.
5：00
I ran down the court9， trying to guard my man. I jumped straight up as he shot， and my hand knocked the ball just enough to send it off the backboard10.
Cole got the rebound11 and dribbled down the court. He passed the ball to me and ran under the basket. I ignored him and shot， but the ball bounced off the rim.
“Cole was open，” said Jeff.
“So was I，” I muttered. But I felt rotten inside.
“Hey， it’s no big deal，” said Cole. “We’re all trying to win this game. We’re a team.”
4：00
It happened fast. Cole was on the floor holding his ankle， his face twisted with pain.
Coach Sanchez was there in a second. “We’ll put some ice on it，” he said. “You’re done playing.”
Cole nodded， then Coach helped him to the bench12.
Everyone cheered for Cole， and I felt my heart hammer in my ears. Now I was going to be the MVP without a doubt.
3：00
We were up by four. Brandon took the ball down and passed it to me. I jumped up to shoot from the side， but suddenly two King players were guarding me instead of one. I lost the ball.
The Kings dribbled down and passed the ball to one of their key players. Cole had held him to just four points. Justin， Cole’s substitute， couldn’t move as fast， and the King player scored.
“You can do it！” Cole shouted from the bench， but it didn’t look good.
Every time I got the ball， the Kings double-teamed13 me. They figured that with Cole gone， they could shut me down and win. Cole had helped divide their attention before， and he’d guarded one of their best shooters. I’d never thought about how much that helped my game.
Now we were down by one. Our school had a shot at14 its first championship， but time was running out. All of a sudden， more than anything， I wanted our team to take home the trophy.
2：00
“Time out！” called Coach Sanchez， and we ran off the floor.
“We need points， guys，” said Coach.
“Get it to Brandon，” I blurted out15. “They’re leaving him open when they double-team me.”
Everyone looked at Brandon. He hardly ever shot. “Give it a try，” said Coach.
1：00
I took the ball down the court. Two Kings boxed me in， leaving Brandon wide open. I faked a shot and bounce-passed the ball to him. He caught it and hesitated.
“Shoot！” I shouted.
Brandon let it fly—right into the bucket. We won by one huge point as the buzzer16 sounded.
We were all jumping around when I spotted Cole on the bench.
“Hey，” I said. “Great game.”
“You， too，” said Cole. “Great idea to pass it to Brandon. Congratulations on getting MVP.” I’d been waiting a long time to hear those words， but they didn’t seem so important now. “Thanks，” I said. “It was a team effort.”
And I finally understood just what that meant.
8：00
计时器上的红色数字显示离比赛结束只剩八分钟了。场上比分是24平。
我和队友们汗流浃背，围在桑切斯教练身旁。“球要传起来，不要被对方防死了，”他提醒道，“只要一有空当，就果断投篮。”
我们将手伸到中间叠在一起。“老鹰队，加油！”
回到场地后，布兰登发球。我身边没有人防守，但他却将球传给了科尔，科尔来了个漂亮的转身跳投，可我也是个很好的投手。事实上，我和科尔到目前为止个人得分都是六分。但科尔更受欢迎，队友们都把球传给了他。
7：00
国王队控球后将比分扳平。紧接着科尔因对方犯规获得罚球机会，两罚全中。这样我们队又得了两分——我在心里也给科尔加了两分。这本来没什么的，但这一次我希望自己得分能超过科尔。我想让队友们看到，我也可以成为MVP——最有价值球员。
国王队运球推进，但杰夫抢断得手，随后一记强有力的长传将球传给了我。我看见科尔正向篮下跑去，但我选择了运球突破接着投篮。球从空中划过，直入篮筐，我们得了两分。
科尔和我击了一下掌。“好球，德里克。”
“谢谢。”我说。我并没有为刚才是不是应该把球传出去而烦恼。科尔和我机会均等。
6：00
双方交替得分：老鹰队30分，国王队32分；老鹰队35分，国王队34分。我心里的分数也交替上升：德里克8分，科尔10分；德里克12分，科尔11分。
5：00
我在场上跑动，尽量盯紧我防守的球员。就在他出手投篮时，我纵身跃起，伸手挡球，力度刚好让球飞离篮板。
科尔抢到篮板球后，运球到前场。他将球传给我，然后跑到篮下。我没理他，直接出手投篮，但球落到了篮筐上，弹了出去。
“科尔身边没人防守。”杰夫说。
“我身边也没人。”我小声咕哝道。但我心里觉得很不痛快。
“嗨，没什么大不了的，”科尔说，“我们都在尽力打赢这场比赛。我们是一个团队。”
4：00
这一切发生得太快了。科尔抱着脚踝倒在地上，疼得脸都扭曲了。
桑切斯教练立刻跑过去。“我们这就给你拿冰袋冷敷，”他说，“你不能继续比赛了。”
科尔点了点头，然后教练扶着他往场边的替补席走去。
全场为科尔欢呼，我都能听到我的心怦怦直跳。现在毫无疑问我将会是本场最有价值球员。
3：00
我们队领先四分。布兰登成功断球并将球传给我。我纵身跃起想来个侧面投篮，但突然间国王队防守我的人成了两个而不是一个。我丢了这个球。
国王队运球推进，将球传给了他们队的某个主力球员。科尔之前对那个人的防守很成功，只让他得了四分。接替科尔上场的贾斯廷跑得没科尔快，国王队的那个主力球员投篮得分。
“你们可以的！”科尔坐在替补席上冲我们大喊，但场上情况不容乐观。
每次只要我拿到球，国王队就会对我进行双人夹防。他们认为，科尔下场了，他们就能看死我，打赢比赛。之前科尔在场上时帮助分散了他们的注意力，而且他防守的还是他们队最佳投手中的一个。可我就从未想到过这对我在赛场上的发挥帮助有多大。
现在我们队落后一分，我们学校试***夺得有史以来的第一个冠***，但时间所剩无几。我突然特别希望我们队能捧回冠***奖杯，这比什么都重要。
2：00
“暂停！”桑切斯教练喊道，我们立刻跑出场地。
“我们需要得分，小伙子们！”教练说。
“把球传给布兰登，”我脱口而出，“他们用两个人防守我时，就没人盯着布兰登了。”
大家都看向布兰登。他几乎从来没有投过篮。“试一下吧。”教练说。
1：00
我带球到前场。两名国王队球员对我严防死守，布兰登那儿却无一人防守。我虚投一下，接着一记跳传将球传给了布兰登。他一把接住球，可是却迟迟不出手。
“投篮啊！”我喊道。
布兰登出手投篮，球飞了出去——正中篮筐。当蜂鸣器响起，我们队以很关键的一分领先，赢得了比赛。
我们都开心地跳来跳去，这时我看到了坐在替补席上的科尔。
“嗨，”我说，“比赛打得真棒！”
“你也很棒！”科尔说，“把球传给布兰登真是个好主意。祝贺你成为本场比赛的最有价值球员！”
长久以来，我一直盼着听到这句话，但此刻它却似乎没那么重要了。“谢谢，”我说，“这全靠大家的努力。”
而我终于理解了这句话的真正含义。