Summer Ball by Mike Lupica, Vocabulary List Chapters 16-18

an action (such as passing a ball or puck) that helps a teammate to score

Danny thought he had played all right, a few assists, no turnovers, no shots attempted.

forming or relating to the most important part of something

He seemed to run the same basic offense every time.

an easy victory : a game or contest in which the winner defeats the loser by a large amount

Danny was hoping for a blowout.

to hit and bounce back at an angle

Danny's pass was right on the money, hitting the board right above the square, like a carom shot in pool.

conditions at a certain time or place

Danny did, not knowing what else to do under the circumstances.

to set or close tightly

He felt his fists clenched at his sides and hoped he wouldn't have to use them.

a place for the care and housing of sick people

But they had already called for Dr. Bradley by then, who showed up and said he wanted to take Cole up to the infirmary.

to move your hands, arms, etc., to express an idea or feeling

He saw Coach Powers walking toward him from the bench area, gesturing for Danny to stay where he was.

a tough band of tissue that holds bones together or keeps an organ in place in the body

He wanted to know everything about the knee, whether the swelling was on the inside or the outside, if the doctor was sure that it was just a sprain and not ligaments.

being very warm and humid

Danny was in the phone booth with the door open, because it was a hot, muggy night in Cedarville.

something that is done to prevent possible harm or trouble from happening in the future

Just a precaution.

a first-year player in a professional sport

He should have remembered how his dad's basketball life - and nearly his whole life - ended in that first car accident in his rookie year.