Bad Shot is about a 12-year-old basketball player whose shaky self-confidence is undermined by a much better-off player who targets him, first in subtle ways and then more aggressively. To play better, he has to come to grips with the bullying, become more self-reliant, and take advantage of his skills playing the sport.

When a new kid arrives in town, Cody is impressed with the kid's wealth and skills, judging himself inferior. The newbie seems to take an interest in Cody on the court but his "helpful" hints are undermining Cody's performance — right up to him scoring a basket in his own team's net. Cody has to come to grips with his situation and make moves to challenge the bullying, as well as working to hone his basketball skills.

This story plays out against the realistic backdrop of an economically struggling small town, a fictional version of Chatham, and touches on the emotional realities of performance anxiety, socioeconomic status issues experienced by kids, depression, and bullying.