Dan passed the ball to him. Chub caught it squarely, then hesitated.
Only a few seconds now remained. Dan saw the time keeper starting to raise his hand in signal. Another instant and the game would be over.
“Shoot,” he yelled. “Shoot, Chub!”
The younger Cub still seemed to hesitate. For a dreadful moment, Dan thought that he intended to try to pass the ball back.
Then, Chub took careful aim and attempted the longest basket of his life. The ball looped high, striking the backstop.
The Cub rooters groaned, certain that Chub had missed. But the ball came down, striking the rim of the basket.
There it teetered while the spectators as one, held their breath. Then it dropped through the netting.
At the same moment, the game came to an end. The score read: 13 to 12 in favor of the Cubs.
“Golly, did I really make that basket?” Chub demanded, dumbfounded.
Dan and the other Cubs rushed over to clap him on the back.