But each time that the ball was shot for the basket, something intervened. Once it went straight for the basket, rolled around the rim, and dropped—to the floor without entering the receptacle!
The Central High rooters met this failure with a groan. But it was not Hester’s fault. She had done her best, and her shooting was as clean as it could be.
The timekeeper’s whistle called the play at the end of the half without either side having made a point.
It had been a rasping game. Many times Hester Grimes had been tempted to say something or do something that would be counted as “rough play”; but she had restrained herself, and when she walked to the dressing room she found Mrs. Case walking beside her with a hand upon her shoulder.
“Good girl!” exclaimed the physical instructor of Central High. “Keep it up, my dear, and you’ll be the best player we have on the roll.”
“But I didn’t get a chance to do a thing!” grumbled Hester, shaking her head.
“That is why I am praising you,” said Mrs. Case, drily. “For what you didn’t do. Keep it up. Restrain yourself as well for the rest of the game. Your chance may come for a brilliant play; but if it doesn’t, keep a grip on yourself just the same.”
Hester was secretly strengthened by this praise. She went out into the field at the call of the gong for the second half with the determination to deserve Mrs. Case’s good word, whether the team won or lost. And almost at first chance came Hester’s way and she was permitted to display a brilliant bit of play. It brought a goal for Central High—the first scored in the game.
But the girls could not stop to cheer her. Laura nodded and smiled at her, however, as the ball was brought back from the basket to be tossed up. For some reason Hester began to feel a warm glow about her heart. Her captain’s commendation had never meant much to her before.
Up went the ball and Laura and the other jumping center did their best to get it. The ball went from girl to girl, first in the hands of one team, then in the other. The Keyport team almost made a goal; but they were foiled by good guarding on Central High’s part.