Suddenly the ball reached Nellie’s hands again. Her guard was in front of her. She dashed quickly back, as light of foot as she had been before her injury. Her guard was after her, but Nellie dodged to the right and then caged the ball from almost the center line!
“Good for you, Nell Agnew!” shouted the spectators.
Again the ball was at center and was tossed up.
“Shoot it to Nell, Laura!” advised some boy in the audience. “She’ll know what to do with it!”
“Quick, there, center! don’t be all night!” yelled another.
But the girls of Central High kept their heads about them. They watched their captain’s signals. The Lumberport jumping center threw the ball the wrong way. Again Nellie jumped for it, and almost fell again; but she shot the ball true and fair to the basket.
By this time Nell was the heroine of the whole crowd. Her opposing guard was putting up a splendid game, but she was always just a breath too late. Laura saw that the doctor’s daughter was keyed up for fine work, and she let her have the ball once more.
Nell dashed first to the left, then to the right; she completely lost her guard, and the guard from the other side ran in to intercept her. This is not altogether good basketball, and it gave Nell a splendid opening.
“Shoot it here, Nell!” cried Laura.
The ball passed through the hands of three Central High girls—a triple play often practiced on their own court—and then—plop! into the basket! Another goal to their score.