Backboard Battle

by Marshall Kirk

Book Overview

The first season games are easy wins for the Jefferson High Patriots. With Brian Davis, the tallest man on the team and their new star center, they can do no wrong. But when they start playing teams with height advantage, Brian begins losing on the rebounds. Psyched out by the competition, Brian goes into a slump. Assistant Coach Williams works him hard on grabbing rebounds and shot blocks to sharpen his offensive and defensive skills against taller...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345359100
• ISBN13: 9780345359100
• Release Date: June 1989
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 132 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Formulaic in most ways, unusual in one way

Brian Davis is the multi-talented star of the Jefferson High Patriots and his team is facing some very tough games in the future. However, the real problem is jealousy among his teammates, particularly with Clarence, the tough rebounding ace of the team. Clarence is a disadvantaged youth and his only chance to go to college is via a basketball scholarship. However, he feels that he is not getting the attention he deserves when everyone is focused on Brian's play. This sulking has a very negative affect on the team and they begin struggling, although Brian does what he can to give Clarence the credit for his accomplishments on the court. Eventually, Clarence is suspended from the team and things look bleak. In a spirit of reconciliation and teamwork, everyone gets together and a resolution is found. There is one unusual aspect to this book and that is that every player is described as either a white or a black boy. Otherwise the book follows a fairly standard formula of a good team that is in trouble, their struggles to resolve it and how they pull together to win the big game at the last second.