Noah Bennett
Saturday the gym was loud before tip-off.
I saw the scout in the second row. Notebook. Neutral face. Cole did not look at him. Cole looked at us.
In the huddle his voice was the same as it was in an empty gym at 8:30.
“You know what to do. Do it.”
I did it.
I did not force the first open look. I hit the extra pass. I set my feet on the ones that were mine. At the half we were up nine. I had eight points and six assists and my jersey was already stuck to my back.
Cole did not smile. He never smiled. When I came off for a minute he only said, “Stay in it,” and his fingers brushed the back of my arm like an accident.
It was not an accident.
Second half I wanted the ball more than I should have. I took one bad shot. He pulled me two possessions later. I sat. I watched. Wh
