The next day at practice, Coach Johnson began with a team meeting to discuss their progress so far. He praised the team for their effort and improvements, but also pointed out areas where they still needed work. Marcus listened intently, taking mental notes of what he could do better and what he could work on to help the team.

After the meeting, the team moved on to a new drill. They split into pairs, with Marcus and Ryan paired up. The drill involved a series of passes and cuts, with the goal of getting open for a shot. Marcus was excited to work with Ryan again, and he tried to keep the momentum going from the previous practice.

As they began the drill, Marcus made a point to pass the ball to Ryan as often as possible. Ryan seemed more confident today, moving with more speed and agility. He caught the ball cleanly and made quick decisions, either passing it back to Marcus or taking the shot when he had an open opportunity.

Marcus was impressed with Ryan's progress and felt proud of himself for helping to build his confidence. He was also starting to notice a difference in his own game, feeling more aware of his teammates and their strengths and weaknesses.

The drill continued for several more minutes, with the players switching partners after each round. Marcus was paired up with Matt for the final round, and he was curious to see how he would perform.

As they began the drill, Marcus could see that Matt was still struggling with his offensive game. He hesitated when it came time to take a shot and seemed unsure of himself. Marcus decided to take a different approach this time.

Instead of trying to test Matt's skills, Marcus decided to help him. He passed the ball to Matt and encouraged him to take the shot. Matt hesitated for a moment, but then he took a deep breath and lined up his shot. The ball sailed through the hoop, and Marcus gave him a thumbs up.

"Nice shot, Matt!" Marcus said.

Matt smiled and seemed to stand a little taller. Marcus could see the confidence growing in him, and he felt happy to have played a small role in helping him.

The rest of practice went smoothly, with the team working on various drills and plays. Marcus continued to focus on supporting his teammates, especially Ryan and Matt. He passed the ball to them often and encouraged them when they did well. He also tried to offer advice and tips when he could.

As practice ended, Marcus felt a sense of satisfaction. He was stepping up as a leader on the team, and he was happy to see his teammates improving. He knew that they still had a lot of work to do, but he was excited for the season ahead.

After practice, Marcus caught up with Ryan and Matt as they were packing up their bags.

"Hey, guys, I was thinking, do you want to hang out at the arcade tonight?" Marcus asked.

Ryan looked up from his bag, surprised. "The arcade? Like, with all the games?"

"Yeah," Marcus replied with a smile. "It's a good way to clear your head and have some fun."

Matt seemed intrigued. "I haven't been to an arcade in forever. That sounds like a blast!"

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ryan shrugged. "Sure, why not? I could use a break from studying for a bit."

"Great," Marcus said. "I'll meet you guys there around 7?"

"Sounds good to me," Matt said.

Ryan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll be there."

As they walked out of the gym, Marcus felt a sense of excitement. He was looking forward to spending some time with his teammates outside of practice and getting to know them better.

As they went their separate ways to get ready for the night ahead, Marcus couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to bond with his teammates. He knew that their friendship and camaraderie would only strengthen their performance on the court, and he was excited to see what the future held for their team.

On the way home, Marcus talked to his parents about practice. They listened with interest, asking questions and offering words of encouragement. Marcus felt grateful for their support and vowed to continue working hard and improving his game.

The next game was only a week away, and Marcus was determined to do everything he could to help the team win.

———————

As they arrived at the arcade, they could hear the sounds of classic games echoing throughout the room.

Marcus led Ryan and Matt to a classic arcade game called Galaga, one of Marcus's favorites. As they approached the machine, Marcus remembered how he used to come to this arcade all the time after he got injured, and Galaga was his go-to game to release stress.

Ryan and Matt watched as Marcus inserted a few quarters and started playing. They were amazed by how quickly he was able to navigate the game, shooting down aliens and dodging their attacks.

"Wow, you're really good at this," Matt said, impressed.

Marcus chuckled. "Yeah, I've had a lot of practice over the years."

"Can you teach us how to play?" Ryan asked eagerly.

"Of course," Marcus said. "The key is to focus on taking out the boss aliens first. They're the ones that will give you the most points and power-ups."

He showed them how to maneuver the spaceship and aim their shots, and soon enough, they were playing the game themselves.

At first, Ryan and Matt struggled to get the hang of it. They kept getting hit by enemy fire and losing their lives quickly. But Marcus was patient and encouraging, giving them pointers and cheering them on as they played.

As they progressed through the levels, Ryan and Matt began to improve. They were able to dodge more enemy fire and take out more boss aliens. Marcus watched with a smile on his face as his friends got better and better.

"Nice job, guys!" Marcus said, giving them both a high five. "You're getting the hang of it!"

After a few more rounds of Galaga, the trio moved on to other arcade games, including Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. Marcus showed them the best techniques for each game, and Ryan and Matt were eager to learn.

As they played, they laughed and joked around, having a great time together. It was nice to forget about their problems for a little while and just have fun.

At the end of the night, as they walked out of the arcade, Ryan turned to Marcus and said, "Thanks for teaching us how to play those games. I had a blast tonight."

"Yeah, me too," Matt added. "We should do this again sometime."

Marcus grinned. "Anytime, guys. I'm always down for some arcade action."

As they walked back to their cars, Marcus felt a sense of satisfaction. He had bonded with his teammates in a new way, outside of the basketball court. He was happy to have shared one of his hobbies with them and to have helped them improve their arcade game skills.

He knew that building strong relationships with his teammates was important for the success of the team. When they trusted and supported each other, they played better on the court. Marcus was determined to continue finding ways to bond with Ryan and Matt and the rest of the team.

Marcus walked away from the arcade feeling excited for the upcoming game. He knew that with his hard work and the support of his team, they could accomplish great things on the court.

After spending a fun evening at the arcade, the days flew by quickly as Marcus, Ryan, and Matt prepared for their first basketball game of the season. They had been practicing intensely, and the anticipation for the game was palpable. As they arrived at the gym, they could feel the excitement in the air. The bleachers were filled with cheering fans, and the sound of basketballs bouncing echoed throughout the gym. The referee blew his whistle, and the game began with the tip-off.