| Director | Steve Gomer |
|---|---|
| Box office | $10.2 million |
Phyllis Saroka is a P.E. teacher at Sunset Park High School in New York City, who reads a flyer that her school is looking for a new boys basketball coach. Looking for more money to pursue opening a restaurant on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, she decides to give the job a shot despite knowing nothing of basketball. She contacts the correct people and is given the job.
Phyllis shows up for her first day on the job and the team is already skeptical of her. When she walks in, she lets basketball players run the team, calling their own fouls, running their own plays and basically allowing them to be carefree. During a game, she makes some bad decisions which irks some of the players on the team. This inspires her to learn more about the game with the assistance of her players. They help her and the team begins to slowly find success.
The team also has to deal with outside forces that threaten the team. Tyrik "Shorty Doo-Wop" Russell is on probation and eventually gets into more trouble. Bernard "Spaceman" Williams is also on probation, is constantly using drugs and has trouble with teacher Morris Bernstein. Leonard "Busy-Bee" Mutumbo gets shot during the season and misses several games. Several other players are having academic trouble and some don't even get along with each other. The team also find out that Phyllis only plans to stay with them one season and then leave to open a restaurant.
The team eventually comes together despite their differences and troubles. They end up with very successful season and get into the city championship. They go to Madison Square Garden to face their opponent Washington Heights and lose by a small margin. Afterward, Phyllis informs them that they should be proud of themselves and that she will return next season.