Summer Ball by Mike Lupica, Vocabulary List Chapters 22-26

being forceful in getting things done

Ricky aggressively bodied up on him every chance he got.

beginning to develop

"Is this the budding superstar I've been hearing about?"

to do something that is different or to be different from what is usual or expected

He played hard, ran the offense the way coach wanted it run and hardly ever deviated.

so bad as to be impossible to overlook

Coach Powers was arguing for a flagrant foul, as it turned out.

a play in which many defensive players rush toward the quarterback

He came after you like he was blitzing a quarterback.

easily broken or hurt

How fragile games could be.

to look fiercely or angrily

He looked up then, all the way across the mess hall, like this was some kind of weird cue, and saw Lamar Parrish, already dressed for the game in his Lakers jersey, glaring at him.

small pieces of rock and pebbles larger than grains of sand

If Danny hadn't heard his slow steps on the gravel path he would have wondered if he really had seen a ghost.

to get a ride in a passing vehicle

"It turns out that I'm hitching a ride back with you guys."

a list of items (as goods on hand)

Right away he took the kind of inventory you did when you got hurt.

to move (something or someone) in a careful and usually skillful way

More importantly, Rasheed, even with Kareem guarding him now, was getting some room to maneuver, starting to get his points in bunches.

an expression of approval or enthusiasm made by clapping or cheering

He heard himself get a big ovation.

forgiveness for wrong or rude behavior

"I beg your pardon," Coach Powers said.

having a harsh sound

Coach Powers hustled them back outside, sat them down and immediately laced into the whole team, his voice a raspy whisper somebody even twenty feet away wouldn't have been able to hear.

to get revenge by returning like for like

Even getting Lamar to retaliate a couple of times and get called for fouls.

an act of coming or bringing together again after being apart

"I'm sorry to break up this reunion, but we've got a game we're trying to win."

to take hold of or try to take hold of something quickly or suddenly

Ready to flick at the ball or snatch at it as the guy went from his dribble into his shot.

very severe

Then he slapped Danny such a vicious high-five Danny thought his shoulder was going to come loose.