David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

The second deadline in basketball
requires a team to advance the ball
across midcourt into its opponent’s end
within ten seconds, and if Redwood
City’s opponents met the first deadline
and were able to make the inbounds pass
in time, the girls would turn their
attention to the second deadline. They
would descend on the girl who caught
the inbounds pass and “trap” her. Anjali
was the designated trapper. She’d sprint
over and double-team the dribbler,
stretching her long arms high and wide.
Maybe she’d steal the ball. Maybe the
other player would throw it away in a
panic—or get bottled up and stalled, so
that the ref would end up blowing the