Chapter 20: Chapter 20: 2nd Half
A two-point gap wasn't much of a difference anymore.
Georgia Tech may have been leading, but they couldn't gain momentum.
And the reason for that was Oliver.
The 5'9" underdog, who no one had high hopes for at the beginning, had turned this game into a thriller.
"One more shot!"
Chris Bosh was now fully locked in. As Georgia Tech's leader, he knew they couldn't let things continue like this.
Once a team built up momentum, stopping them became nearly impossible.
Sometimes, they could perform at 200% of their usual ability, fueled by sheer adrenaline and confidence.
He had to keep the rhythm of the game in his hands.
With Bosh getting serious, Georgia Tech's team spirit reignited.
The moment Oliver had the ball, Wilson and Jack immediately closed in on him.
At 5'9", Oliver was naturally at a disadvantage. Everyone on the court was taller, longer, stronger.
He knew he couldn't keep relying on brute force; he had to use his agility to find openings.
Wilson and Jack stuck to him tightly, making it nearly impossible for him to move forward.
Wilson trusted Bosh to cover the gaps they left. That was the strategy their coach had emphasized:
"The biggest threat on Aina University is that short guy. Shut him down, and we win!"
Oliver knew this kind of double-teaming was a massive drain on his stamina.
He couldn't keep forcing his way through. Even if his endurance was strong, it would take a toll later.
So, he passed to Reeves, who was open.
But just as Reeves caught the ball—
Bosh was already on him.
Bosh had clearly studied Reeves' habits. Before he could even secure his grip, Bosh swiped at the ball.
Smack!
The ball was knocked loose.
Bosh exploded forward with incredible speed, recovering the ball before anyone else and launching a fast break.
Aina University scrambled to get back, but apart from Oliver, no one could keep up.
Oliver, meanwhile, was still locked in a double team by Wilson and Jack.
Bosh sprinted down the court and slammed the ball through the hoop.
The crowd erupted.
"Bosh is too good! This is why he's the real deal."
"Yeah, this is what I want to see. I don't want just the 5'9" guy putting on a one-sided show."
"This feels like an NBA game!"
The crowd, which had been entirely behind Oliver moments ago, quickly shifted their cheers.
NCAA fans weren't the most loyal—they just followed whoever was playing better.
It wasn't about favoritism; it was about skill.
If you didn't have the ability, you weren't worth their attention.
Oliver saw this and smiled, his whole body tingling with excitement.
This is how it should be.
If Bosh wasn't this strong, would he even be Bosh?
Georgia Tech had Bosh. Aina University had Oliver. It was an even match between them.
But the difference in their teammates was becoming clear.
While both stars were playing at a high level, Aina University's other players were always a step behind—whether in positioning or physical matchups.
And their mistakes were costly.
Several times, Reeves, Muller, and Franklin had committed unforced errors, leading to Georgia Tech steals and fast-break points.
With each mistake, Georgia Tech widened the gap.
By the second half, the score was 50-73.
Georgia Tech now led by 23 points.
Suddenly, the monster wasn't so scary anymore.
The game was slipping away.
On the sidelines, Georgia Tech's media reporter, David, smirked.
"See? With a gap like this, how can Aina University win? Once the short guy is locked down, the others crumble. They're finished!"
Ever since Bosh turned up the intensity, Oliver had still played well. But basketball was a team game, and Aina's overall talent just wasn't enough.
David's colleague, Tony, didn't argue, but his eyes were filled with confidence.
He had followed Aina University for a long time.
Their players were average, sure. But Oliver—he had a different kind of fire.
A crazy kind of fire.
Whenever the game hit a breaking point, Oliver went wild and did things no one expected.
As long as Oliver was on the court, he wouldn't allow defeat.
Tony chuckled.
"Relax, it's not over yet."
David laughed.
"Hah! Just watch. This is about to turn into garbage time."
Back on the court, Oliver took a deep breath, unable to hide his excitement.
This was a tough game—but he hadn't gone all out yet.
He had been getting double-teamed the entire first half. If he had kept forcing his way through, his stamina would have drained too fast.
But now?
Now it was time to go all in.
The second half had just started when Wilson and Jack swarmed him again.
Since being assigned to guard Oliver, they had barely contributed on offense at all.
They had practically become his shadows.
The moment he had the ball, they shut down every possible lane.
Even when he didn't have the ball, they stayed close, never giving him space.
It was almost funny—Wilson and Jack had scored a few points early on, but since switching to defense, they hadn't scored at all.
Oliver dribbled for a moment, then suddenly grinned.
"How many guys do you think it takes to stop me?"
Jack growled.
"Shut up and try breaking through me, then!"
At halftime, their coach had drilled it into Jack's head that he needed to prove himself.
It was humiliating enough to struggle against a 5'9" player.
Jack's pride wouldn't allow him to get dominated the entire game.
He was sweating, his eyes locked onto the ball, refusing to blink.
Wilson was just as tense.
Oliver dribbled for a moment, then suddenly faked left and exploded in the opposite direction.
Jack and Wilson had been so focused on him that the fake completely threw them off.
By the time they realized they had been tricked…
Oliver was already several steps ahead!
"Oh my god, he's about to go off again!"
"Watching him play is more nerve-wracking than playing myself!"
"Look! Bosh is stepping in to stop him."
"Ooooh, we're getting a showdown right at the start of the second half!"
As the crowd saw Oliver coming at full speed, their excitement surged.