The Assist 141-210

Summary
Rematch. Eastie had first humiliated Charlestown on their home court, and their back for revenge. Charlestown is now on there 11th win streak, where losing is not an option. Sweat was everywhere. To the players, the coaches, and even the fans. Charlestown came in the game with a surprise when they switched to man-to-man defense instead of full court press. The Eastie players got confused, where they were use to the original plays. It was a risk O'Brien was willing to take, which lead to a success in the long run. During the second half, Charlestown was up by a 41-29 blowout. The crowds were cheering "Let's Go, Charlestown!" and "Let's Go, Eastie!" back and forth like a riot attack. At the end of the game, an Eastie player tossed up a 3-pointer which went in, but it was a little to late. Charlestown won 89-76. Back in the locker room, the team was hyped for the win, but O'Brien had to call out a player named Zach. He was subbed out by his disrupt conduct on the court. O'Brien exclaimed that it doesn't matter if you had the worse game of your life, it's how you put enough effort in and protect your family, your team.

O'Brien was friendly with many coaches from other teams, black or white, in the city of Boston. But these coaches despise his ability to withstand the impossible record he always get a season. These coaches think he's all about winning, where O'Brien thinks they all demonstrate a "green eyed monster". O'Brien's success in racking up these wins is about doing his homework, recruiting players from other communities by attending middle school games and tournaments, to invite the students into Charlestown High. Next thing you know, his team started to win state championship after the next.

Starting the post-season, there was a state tournament called the Boston City League Championship. It was called "the cities" where the odds were that of course, Eastie and Charlestown would face off AGAIN over the city title. As the game starts, Eastie quickly gain a 7-0 lead. Then Ridley scored Charlestown's first 6 points. Hood wasn't having a great game, where he was missing shot after shot. At halftime, Eastie was up by only 6 points, where Charlestown only shot 13-for-40. After halftime, Eastie gained a 12 point lead ahead, where Hood was starting to come alive, layup after layup. At fifty-nine seconds left in the game, Charlestown came with with the biggest lead of the night, 72-69. Eastie's shooting guard got fouled, where it was down to 1 point, 72-71. During Charlestown's possession, they lost the ball where Eastie's point guard threw up an off-balance jumper, which made the game 73-72, Eastie. With a few seconds left on the clock, Charlestown pushed the ball up court, with the final buzzer, missed the game winning shot. Eastie with great excitement won the the cities.

Quote
"Listen guys, we're going to win the state championship" (Swidey 163).

Reaction
After the depressing loss from the cities, never in O'Brien's life had he said before, that he would tell his players that they would win the state championship. O'Brien's faith to the team gave a boost to the players, where he tried to convey them into winning. It is hard to believe, but this is the goal Charlestown High would have to strive for.