...Mark Chambers, aging Prep Writer

Magic have the ball, tied, 27 seconds to go. Lakers make the steal, though the lay-up is stopped with a hard foul. Laker star goes to the line for two with very little time remaining. Misses the first, but banks in the second. (Slim chance of overtime, now, at least there will be a winner.) Magic inbounds and brings the ball forward, time slipping faster than the clock seems to move.

Shot is taken, missed. Rebound fight away from the rim, personal foul on the Lakers with seven seconds on the clock. Time out, Magic....the only way to stop the clock in this league, even balls out of bounds allow the clock to run...

"Connor, you inbound the ball." "Hank set a good screen on No. 1, he'll be guarding Logan." "Logan, start opposite Conner and break for the ball and the basket, make the lay-up." "Everyone get back to defend after it goes in..."

Coach Shira demonstrated his ability to break the options down into fifth-grade segments. The crowd, the teams for the following game, the players not in the game all have something to add, but the five on the floor know where the Magic are going.

Except for Laker Number One who goofs up the plan....he plays a one-man zone under the basket. Hanks sets a good screen on him, Logan remains covered. Breaking free with four seconds to play, Logan drives to the rim, hits the contested lay-in, the crowd goes wild, Magic win by one. A quick time-out call by the Lakers with two seconds remaining is overlooked by the referee, Magic awarded the victory.

Who said only the NCAA Finals have last-second crowd pleasers??