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The games were being held in a big open area that must've been used as a cafeteria when the prison was open. There was a sign with a list of rules written on it, and I'm not sure if it was for US or for the prisoners. MESS HALL RULES 1. No sharp objects 2. No swearing 3. No complaining 4. No food fights The courts were side by side, which meant there wasn't any room for fans to watch the games. But that was OK, because it looked like nobody ELSE'S parents had come to this thing, either. Our opponents were already warming up on Court Three. And, I have to admit, I was a little relieved that we were playing the Mathlete All-Stars in round one. 190

这场比赛在一片开阔的大场地上举办，这里在监狱还运营的时候，肯定是用作食堂的。 那儿立着一块写满规则的牌子，我都搞不清这些规则是给我们定的，还是给以前的犯人定的。 食堂规则 第一条 禁止携带尖锐物品 第二条 禁止说脏话 第三条 禁止抱怨 第四条 禁止打闹扔食物 球场并排挨着，根本没有多余的位置给观众观赛。 不过这也没关系，因为看起来其他所有人的爸妈也都没来这儿。 我们的对手已经在三号球场热身了。 而且说实话，第一轮对阵数学明星队，我反倒松了一口气。 190

But I shouldn't have underestimated them, because these guys made up for their lack of basketball skills with their BRAINS. 191

可我真不该小瞧他们，这群人用脑子弥补了篮球技术的不足。 191

Their team was lousy on defence, so we scored a bunch, too. But we couldn't do anything to stop their OFFENCE, and at the final buzzer the score was 37—30, Mathlete All-Stars. Me and my teammates were pretty bummed out because we knew this was our big chance to finally get a win, and we blew it. Plus, we felt a little dumb for packing overnight bags. But then Mom told us something that was pretty shocking. She said that in the Second Chance Tournament you played until you WON. 192

他们队的防守烂透了，所以我们也进了好多球。 可我们根本防不住他们的进攻，终场哨响时比分是37比30，数学明星队赢了。 我和队友们都难过极了，我们知道这是我们终于赢球的好机会，结果被我们搞砸了。 再说了，我们还带了过夜行李，现在想想真有点蠢。 可这时候妈妈说了一件让我们大吃一惊的事。 她说在复活锦标赛里，你得一直打下去，直到赢了为止。 192

That meant the Mathletes were going home, and we were STAYING. Well, that changed EVERYTHING. It meant we were actually STUCK in this place until we got a victory. And now it made sense why they decided to hold this tournament in a PRISON. Mom checked the results for the first-round games to see who we were facing next. The name of the team was the Brawlers, which sounded a little more intimidating than the Mathletes. But then Mom got the scoop. The Brawlers was a team made up of all the kids in the state who got thrown out of games for FIGHTING, so I guess the "second chance" thing wasn't just about WINS. 193

也就是说，数学队要回家了，我们留下来了。 哇哦，这下一切都变了。 也就是说，我们真得困在这儿，直到我们赢一场才能走。 现在我终于明白为什么他们要把锦标赛办在监狱里了。 妈妈查了第一轮的赛果，看看我们下一轮的对手是谁。 对手的队名叫斗殴者队，听着比数学明星队吓人多了。 不过接着妈妈查到了内情。 斗殴者队全是本州因为打架被禁赛的孩子，所以我猜这个「复活」的意义可不只是赢球而已。 193

When we got our first look at these guys, we knew we were in trouble. I was glad Mom didn't put me in the starting line-up, because the game was a fight from start to finish. Right after the tip-off, one of the Brawlers clotheslined Kevin. So Ruby Bird jumped on that kid's BACK, and then EVERYONE joined in. YAAARGH! UNGHI POW BLINK BLINK

我们第一次见到这群人，就知道我们麻烦大了。 我真开心妈妈没让我当首发，因为这场比赛从开头打到尾都在打架。 跳球刚结束，一个斗殴者就一把放倒了凯文。 所以鲁比·伯德跳到了那家伙的背上，接着所有人都打起来了。 呀啊！ 呜唔！砰！眨眨眼！眨眨眼！

I don't think the refs wanted to get in the middle of a fight, so they just let it go. And I'm pretty sure they didn't blow their whistles ONCE. KPOW Since there wasn't a lot of actual basketball being played, it was a low-scoring contest. But the Brawlers edged us out in the end, and the final score was 6—5. Our team was pretty pooped from playing two games in a row, but we weren't done yet. We had to face a team called the Stage Whisperers in the third round, and they looked tired, too. 195

我觉得裁判根本不想掺和这场架，所以他们就任由这事发展。 而且我敢肯定，他们从头到尾一次哨子都没吹。 喀嘣！因为这场没打多少正经篮球，所以比分一直很低。 不过斗殴者队最后险胜我们，最终比分是6比5。 我们队连打两场，早就累坏了，但我们还没结束呢。 第三轮我们要对阵一支叫剧场私语队的队伍，他们看起来也累坏了。 195