CHAPTER 3 — "TENSION TIP-OFF"
PAGE 1
Wide panel of the B.Y.G Summer League Arena. It's buzzing with energy. Fans wave banners, kids wear jerseys of their local ward heroes. The tournament has begun.
NARRATION (TOP PANEL):
The brackets are set. The city of Rockaway turns into a battlefield of Wards. And first on the stage…
NARRATION (BOTTOM PANEL):
Crenshaw Ward vs Lyndon Ward.
PAGE 2
Split-panel of the two squads walking through the arena tunnel.
On the left: Crenshaw — Mitch leading the charge, Leo right behind him, calm but dialed in.
On the right: Lyndon — Quan towering over everyone, Sticks adjusting his shooting sleeve, icy stare forward.
PAGE 3
Pre-tip confrontation at half court.
MITCH:
(Grinning) "Hope you brought more than just height with you."
QUAN:
(Flatly) "Hope you brought more than talk."
LEO (thought bubble):
Let them talk. I'm here for the kill.
PAGE 4
Opening tip-off. Quan vs Mitch at center court. The ref tosses the ball. They launch upward — pure intensity.
SFX: WHISTLE!
SFX: THWAP!
PAGE 5-6
Montage of the first quarter — a war of playstyles.
Crenshaw plays with brute force and elite discipline. Leo nails a mid-range jumper off the screen.
Lyndon's grit shows — Quan swats a shot into the third row. Sticks hits a sidestep three.
NARRATION:
Lyndon's range vs Crenshaw's grit. The crowd eats up every second.
PAGE 7
Timeout huddle — Crenshaw is up 34–29.
MITCH:
"Keep pressuring the wings. Let Quan shoot if he wants. He can't beat us alone."
LEO (quietly):
"…He ain't alone. Sticks is heating up."
PAGE 8-9
Sticks starts to cook in the 3rd quarter — breaking ankles, hitting shots off the bounce.
The score narrows: 48–47, Crenshaw still up.
CROWD (SFX): "OOHHHHHHHH!"
COMMENTATOR:
"Sticks has found his rhythm, and Crenshaw might be in trouble!"
PAGE 10
Mitch calls for a post-up. Bodies Quan under the rim and throws down a MONSTER dunk.
SFX: BOOOOOM!
COMMENTATOR:
"MITCH WITH THE POSTER ON QUAN!"
PAGE 11
Final 2 minutes — tight game, 66–66.
Leo brings the ball up. Crowd on its feet.*
LEO (thought bubble):
Time to shut this down myself.
Drives left, stops on a dime, rise-up…
Sticks meets him mid-air.
SFX: SMACK!
Blocked.
PAGE 12
Lyndon in transition — Sticks dishes to Quan, who catches and SLAMS it.
SFX: THUNDER!!
COMMENTATOR:
"LYNDON TAKES THE LEAD WITH UNDER A MINUTE TO GO!"
PAGE 13
Crenshaw timeout. Mitch looks at Leo — it's go time.
MITCH:
"This ain't about who's the better scorer. Just win the game."
LEO:
(Quiet nod) "Say less."
PAGE 14
Final play — Leo isolates Sticks, draws two defenders, kicks to Mitch in the corner — open three.
SFX: SWISHHHH!
COMMENTATOR:
"CRNSHAW BACK ON TOP BY ONE!"
PAGE 15
Last possession — Lyndon rushes up court. Quan goes for a fadeaway at the buzzer — clanks off the rim.
SFX: BUZZZZZ!
NARRATION:
Crenshaw survives. Barely.
PAGE 16
Handshake line. Quan gives Mitch a respectful nod.
QUAN:
"You're tough. But we'll see y'all again."
MITCH:
"No doubt."
PAGE 17
In the crowd — Tabar watching from the stands. Close-up on his face, arms crossed, eyes locked on Leo.
TABAR (thought bubble):
So that's him. Leo…
Guess I finally got something to get hype about.
NEXT CHAPTER TEASE:
"GARRISON VS AVALON — IT'S SOULO & ELI VS MAGIC & PICASSO!"
And the rivalry meter just turned up.