Chapter Five: The Twelve-Free-Throw Trap

Iron Harbor lunged into empty space once, lost balance the second time, then grabbed Chen's jersey before every camera in the building. After half a second, the whistle finally sounded. Su handed Chen the ball at the line. “This one is yours.” His first formal free throw hit the back rim. No one booed. The stands answered with two synchronized claps. He steadied himself and swished the second. [Chen Ye has achieved valid growth: maintaining stable decisions under unjust officiating.] Lu's vision sharpened. Whenever Iron Harbor failed to draw a foul, no one recovered to the left corner. Northport attacked it four straight times.