CHICAGO — Early in the fourth quarter of an exhibition basketball game between two teams who’d never played before and never will again, a high school senior with little interest in the sport inched forward in her seat.
She peered through glasses in Section 106 of the United Center, head still, hands clasped at her chin. And had she looked around, she’d have seen 200 peers clutching nerves just like she was. Each had a different method. There was the girl a few rows down in Section 107, standing with arms crossed, torso craned forward, focus on the court unflinching.