Desperados

On Charlie’s first day out in his wheelchair, he meets Kyle who’s also in a chair, yet exudes a confidence and passion for life that Charlie doesn’t have. Baggy, the Desperados coach, will have to find more players if they’re going to field a team.

Baggy invites Kyle to train with Desperados. Excitement turns to despair when he finds everyone’s in a wheelchair, but Charlie’s there too and the session’s turns out to be great. But his mum’s not quite so enthusiastic about his basketball.

Sam learns to stand up to his over-protective parents and the newly-formed Desperados play their first match of the season – but lose badly to the Manchester Maniacs.

Gabby’s reluctant to play any sport in her wheelchair – she’ll wait until she’s better. But annoyed by Charlie, she wants to teach him a lesson so badly that she is goaded into a shoot out. She wins and is persuaded to join the team. They still lose their match, but have a much better game.

Vicky quits Desperados, but on her school trip she realises she’s taken her problems with her. She returns, and helps the team to their first victory.

The fantasy life Shelly’s concocted to enable her to deal with her real life at home is exposed. The team pull together to help her, which pays off on the basketball court too – they get the win which takes them into the playoffs.

The playoffs are the highlight of Adam’s basketball career, but he can’t play because it clashes with the date for his operation. But Adam joins the team on their night away prior to the playoffs and far from being the sensible captain they’ve always known, he’s the chief instigator of the mayhem which follows.

In the final, The Desperados cheat at Kyle’s instigation. They are found out and the Maniacs declared the winners. However when it is discovered that the Maniacs cheated too, a replay is arranged for the following week. On the way home, the team learns Adam didn’t survive his operation.

After Adam’s death, the team is determined to make sure they do his memory justice in the replay final. Kyle goes even further, making sure Adam gets to play by persuading Jake to put his ashes in the match ball. Charlie just fails to secure a win for the Desperados in the dying seconds, but the real battle comes when the Maniacs take the match ball as part of their victory celebrations.