Review of "Pivot Man," by Dick Friendlich

 Review of

Pivot Man, by Dick Friendlich

Five out of five stars

Sometimes teammates are enemies

 Vard Ransom is a basketball player that has just arrived at Castlemont College via transfer from North Pacific. He had played on the freshman team there but had dropped out for a year due to the death of his father. Therefore, he is eligible to play on the varsity team. His mother had convinced him to transfer to a school on the east coast, which is why he was now at Castlemont. 

 Unfortunately, on his first day at Castlemont Vard has a negative run-in with the starting center, the position that Vard plays. This leads to some difficult situations, including a run-in with the administration. However, Vard is exonerated by a player on another team and when there is an opening, Vard leads Castlemont to a great victory. 

 This story is rather formulaic in the sense that there is the new man on the team, creating tensions with the established players. Vard has to overcome some unusual adversities before he is given the chance to demonstrate his skills on the court. There is the big game at the end, told in the typical Friendlich style. Even though you can conclude the outcome before it happens, it is said so well that it keeps your attention and you are compelled to read the last few pages more than once. 

 This is a great sports story, it moves fast, contains some significant aspects of human interest and is well written.