The spectators, as well as the players, held their breath and watched the flying ball. Although the whistle had blown, the goal—if the ball settled into the basket—would count for the visiting team. This one unfinished play would give the girls of Central High two clear points in the lead if all went well.
The course of the flying ball was watched by all eyes, therefore. Chet Belding and his mates began their chant, believing that the ball was sure to go true to the basket.
But they began too soon. The ball hit the ring of the basket, hovered a moment over it, and then fell back and rolled into the court! Chet’s chant of praise changed to a groan. The game was over—and it was a tie.
Disappointed as the girls of Central High were, they cheered their opponents nobly, and the East High girls cheered them. The audience had to admit that the game had been keenly fought and—after Hester was put out of it—as cleanly as a basketball game had ever been played on those grounds.
Miss Lawrence, the referee, came to the Central High girls’ dressing room and complimented Laura and her team on their playing.
“I was sorry to put off your forward center, Miss Belding, in the first half. If you had brought her into the field in the second half your team, without doubt, would have won,” said the referee. “That girl is a splendid player, but she needs to learn to control her temper.”
“That’s always the way!” cried Nellie Agnew, when the West High instructor was gone. “Hester spoils everything.”
“She crabs every game we play,” growled Bobby, both sullen and slangy.
“She ought to be put off the team for good,” said one of the twins.
“That’s so,” chimed in her sister.