At last the referee’s whistle blew and the girls scrambled for their places, Marjorie within the circle alert for the toss-up. The ball whizzed into the air; quick as a flash Marjorie jumped high, and, in spite of her opponent’s advantage, touched it and tapped it back. Dot, true to her instructions, dashed back to receive it, secured it, and threw it swiftly over the heads of the opposing guards right into the hands of tall Annie Marshall. As had been pre-arranged, Annie passed it to Queenie, who was at that very moment cutting for the basket. She caught it deftly and tossed it into the basket, scoring for her team two points.
Loud shouts of applause rose from the balcony, admiration for the team play, the clever, swift passing, the assurance of the girls of this new troop. Jack Wilkinson rubbed his hands in delight; they were carrying out his instructions to the very letter.
The opposing team, however, displayed no admiration, only consternation and anger at the dexterity of their rivals. The captain glanced anxiously at the coach, who was frowning, but she received no encouragement. The whistle blew again; the game continued in much the same manner, with Marjorie’s team scoring six more points to the other’s none. Then, ever so cautiously, when the referee’s back was turned, the center winked at her side-center and forwards, and began to play rough, using her body to guard, waving her arms, pushing and elbowing her opponent until she obtained possession of the ball. The side-center took the hint, employing her greater weight against Dot, shoving her rudely aside in their mad scramble for the ball after the toss-up. To the amazement of Marjorie’s team this conduct went by unnoticed; whether the referee did not see it, or whether he did not consider it wrong, they could not tell, but he called no foul. Marjorie’s team stopped scoring; the ball somehow travelled down to the opponent’s basket, and the forwards, imitating their centers, began to fight for their goals. They scored point after point; Marjorie’s players were powerless to use their passing; even if they did secure the ball, and apparently held it fast in their hands, their opponents knocked it out, and tossed it, or even kicked it in the opposite direction. Marjorie stood it as long as she could; finally she called time-out.