CHAPTER 50
"TOSIN'S ATTACK, ENO'S DEFENSE.... THE QUEENS' RESURGENCE"
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Flashback
During one fateful Friday evening training session, the Queens practiced new strategies, techniques, and roles. The training session had been intense, with the Queens pushing themselves to become better. As they prepare for new drills, Eno approached Mrs. Lawal, her voice low and urgent
"Coach, do you have a minute?" Eno asked, her eyes locked on Mrs. Lawal's
Mrs. Lawal nodded, her expression curious, "Yeah, what is it?"
"I'll get straight to the point since we're busy," Eno said, eager to address her concern. "How do I win against players that are bigger than me?"
"Oh? Why the sudden question?" Mrs. Lawal inquired, her interest piqued by Eno's sudden drive
"Tosin hass been the best player on this team, and it's completely obvious," Eno began, acknowledging Tosin's exceptional skills. "But against Cynthia, even Tosin didn't stand a chance. Now that Tosin has started training under Mrs. Parker, I have no doubt that she'd return as an even better player. I want to be able to win in my own department. So I thought that maybe if I could win against someone like Victoria, wouldn't that make our road to being the best smoother, even if it's just a little?"
Eno's determination shone through her words as she revealed her motivation to improve
"Interesting," Mrs. Lawal responded with a grin, appreciating Eno's drive to grow and contribute to the team's success
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Back to the present
The Queens gathered for one final huddle before the second half began.
"Alright, guys. We have two more quarters to turn things around. We can do this! Let's win this!" Tosin declared, her voice filled with unwavering conviction
"RIGHT!" The Queens chorused, their collective determination eveident in their voices
"Chalie Queens! Fight!" Tosin yelled, leading the battle cry
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused, ready to take on the challenge ahead
"Now then, with all that is being said and done, shall we give our passengers a great ride to destruction city?" Tosin declared, her voice dripping with confidence
The Queens responded with a deafening "YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAH" as the crowd erupted with cheers, eager for the second half to begin
The teams took their positions on the court as the second half was about to start.
The Iron Walls began with the possession of the ball, with Ebere leading the charge. Her advance, however, was halted by Oluchi's tenacious defense
"Hmmmmm. The Queens have made two changes to their first half's squad, huh. Interesting," Ebere thought, assessing the situation, "Alright, that's good. But they still don't stand a chance against our heights"
Ebere then tossed the ball into the paint to Efe, who was confronted by Eno's unrelenting defense
"Efe, right? Sorry to keep you waiting." Eno said with a bright grin, her confidence radiating. "I'm sorry, but I won't let you score any more points in this game"
"Eh?" Efe chuckled lightly. "That's an interesting thing to say, don't you think?"
"The Victorious Varsity aside, you guys have a big weakness. I will teach it to you," Eno declared, undaunted by Efe's amusement
"Hmmm. Well, be my guest," Efe said, intrigued by Eno's assertion
Efe then jumped as high as she could, attempting to utilize her height avantage to unleash a layup. The ball, however, bounced off the rim, creating an opportunity for a rebounding battle. Efe emerged victorious in securing the rebound after successfully screening out Eno
"Tsk, that was close. Next time, I'll take the ball!" Eno exclaimed, grinning at Efe
"Huh?" Efe's irritation was evident, annoyed by Eno's confidence
Back on the bench, Mrs. Lawal smiled as she watched with satisfaction as the game unfolded on the court
"Don't take it personally, Efe. Eno isn't trying to block you," Mrs. Lawal said, offering her insight
"What do you mean, Coach?" Mayowa asked, eager to learn from Mrs. Lawal's observations
"Good timing, Mayowa. Since you play the same position and role, I want you to pay attention to Eno," Mrs. Lawal instructed, "There are so many ways to defend in basketball. Blocking shots isn't the only way to stop an opponent. Don't let the opponent get into her stride. Don't let her be free. Don't give her space. Don't let her do whatever she wants. Don't let her go wherever she wants to go. Force her out of her comfort zone. Force her to miss!"
On the court, Efe launched another layup, but it missed again. Eno grabbed the rebound and quickly tossed it to Tosin, eager to capitalize on the opportunity
"I see," Mayowa said, smiling as she understood Mrs. Lawal's explanation
"Even the weakest player can stop the strongest player!" Mrs. Lawal emphasized, highlighting the importance of strategy and teamwork
Tosin dashed in for a fast break, but her advanced was halted by Peju's defense
"Tosin, I won't let you!" Peju exclaimed, her expression serious
"I'm sorry, Peju. I'd loved to play around with you, but my teammates are relying on me to score points and close the gap," Tosin said, bouncing the ball very fast. "so if you don't mind, excuse me"
With her exceptional skills on full display, Tosin skillfully bounced the ball and dashed past Peju with ease. Ebere and Helen tried to stop Tosin, but she swiftly and expertly dribbled past them and jumped high for a layup
"No you don't!" Miracle yelled as she jumped, desperate to stop Tosin from behind. In her attempt to stop Tosin, Miracle fouled her in mid-air
Tosin, unfazed by Miracle's challenge, smiled and tossed the ball through her back in mid-air. The ball sailed through the air as if in slow motion, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats as they watched it swish gracefully into the hoop
"The basket counts! Foul! Green Team number 7! One Free throw!" The referee yelled, signaling the outcome of the play
The Queens, overwhelmed with excitement, jumped on Tosin from all courners of the court in jubilation. Even the bench roared in celebration, and the spectators couldn't believe what they had just witnessed
"Is Tosin related to Cynthia? That was clearly one of Cynthia's famous moves!" Spectator 1 exclaimed
"How good can this young athlete get?" Spectator 2 asked, marveling at Tosin's skills
Back on the court, the Queens were in awe of Tosin's impressive move
"Wow! You just copied one of Cynthia's moves. I can't believe," Tolu said, her eyes and mouth widened in awe
"Well, I'm still not as good as Cynthia. I'm not as fast either," Tosin said
Tosin then stepped forward for the resulting free throw. Her shot from the free-throw line swished through the net, further fueling the Queens' pursuit of a miraculous comeback
"Damn it!" Ebere exclaimed, her frustration mounting as the Queens continued to gain momentum
"Ebere," Efe called out, her expression serious
"Huh?" Ebere turned to face Efe
"Please keep passing the ball to me," Ebere requested, determined to beat Eno
"Right!" Ebere agreed, acknowledging Efe's determination
As the game resumed with the Iron Wall in possession of the ball, Ebere led the charge once again. However, her advance was halted by Oluchi's relentless defense
"Just as I thought, the Queens are dangerous," Ebere thought to herself as she bounced the ball rhythmically in front of Oluchi's defense. "But I believe in my teammates. We can do this,"
Ebere tossed the ball to Efe, who was tightly guarded by Eno in the paint
"You're tough. I'll give you that. But I will still win!" Efe said, trying to force her way through Eno's defense. Despite Efe's effort, Eno's defense remained too strong
On the bench, Mrs. Lawal watched the scene unfold on the court, admiring Eno's tenancity.
"Eno has always been a talented center," Mrs. Lawal thought, "But she keeps losing to Victoria. That must have been frustrating. This method is one she planned to use when next she goes up against Victoria. She really wants to win. That's why nobody can beat her now. Because her eyes are set on Victoria and no one else. Sorry, Efe, you met Eno way too late." Mrs. Lawal thought to herself
As soon as Mrs. Lawal finished her thoughts, Efe missed another shot, and Eno grabbed the rebound, quickly tossing it to Tosin
"Tolu! Let's go!" Tosin yelled, dashing towards the opposite hoop with the ball in hand
"Right!" Tolu replied, sprinting alongside Tosin with only Helen to beat
"Here, Tolu," Tosin said, passing the ball to Tolu as she ran in
Tolu immediately sent the ball in for a one-two exchange of passes, but the pass seemed too much for Tosin to handle
"Ah! Tolu! That was too much!" Oluchi exclaimed, placing her hands on her head in disbelief
Just as everyone thought the ball would go out of bounds, Tosin dove towards the ball and used her left hand to forcefully push it towards the hoop, shocking the entire arena. The ball sailed through the air at an incredible speed and rolled round the rim, keeping everyone in suspense as they wondered if it would fall in or fall out. It rolled round the rim for four seconds before finally dropping in, shocking the entire arena and eliciting a cacophony of cheers
The relieved Queens on the bench rose up and shouted for joy. The Queens on the court met up with Tosin and Tolu and exchanged high-fives, expressing their amazement at the incredible play
"Tolu, I've known you for your pinpoint passing abilities, but that pass just now was too much," Oluchi said
"Don't blame me, it was her idea," Tolu pointed at Tosin
"Really?" Oluchi stared at Tosin in shocked
"Haha, that's right," Tosin grinned
"Geeezzz, how reckless can you be? What if you got injured again? You are unbelievable." Mercy said, putting on a serious expression
"Haha, my bad," Tosin said with a bright grin
"Well, either way, it worked out, and we're finally leading," Eno pointed out
"Yeah," Oluchi nodded
"Alright, girls, let's win this!" Tosin instructed, rallying her teammates
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused, their determination unwavering
The Iron Walls, desperate to regain momentum, resumed play with Ebere leading the charge once again. She passed the ball to Helen but Tolu swiftly intercepted it, stealing the ball and turning defense into offense. Tolu dashed in and executed a layup, with the ball swishing through the net as the scoreboard showed a score of 43-46 in favour of the Queens. Coach Rose, recognizing the dire situation, called a timeout
The atmosphere at the Iron Walls' bench was filled with frustration as Coach Rose addressed her players.
"What are you girls doing?" Coach began, frustration evident in her tone, "At the end of the first quarter, we were leading by 15 points. How did we lose such a huge lead so fast and so easily?" she yelled
"Coach, let me play. Put me in, please," Ronke requested, hoping to contribute to her team's efforts
"No, Ronke, I'm afraid I can't do that!" Coach Rose replied before turning to the rest of the team. "The rest of you should be serious!"
"RIGHT!" The Iron Walls chorused, understanding the urgency of the situation
"Efe, you're out!" Coach Rose ordered, making a crucial decision
"Coach, plea-" Efe stood up, attempting to beg the Coach, but Coach Rose interrupted her harshly
"I won't say this twice. SIT… DOWN," Coach Rose commanded, leaving Efe with no other choice but to sit down immediately
"Ebere, this is your last warning. That turnover just now was so easy. It was as if you were asking Tolu to take the ball," Coach Rose warned, her tone leaving no room for excuses
"I'm sorry, Coach. It won't happen again," Ebere apologized, acknowledging her mistake
"Felicia," Coach called out, turning her attention to another player standing beside her
"Yes, Coach," Felicia answered, ready to step up
"You're in. You're replacing Efe," Coach Rose ordered, making the substitution
"Right!" Felicia said, quickly changing into her kit and preparing to join her teammates on the court
"Now, then, let's win this game! We can do this!" Coach Rose encouraged, trying to reignite her team's spirit
"RIGHT!" The Iron Walls responded in unison, their determination renewed
Meanwhile, the mood at the Queens' bench was positive as Mrs. Lawal addressed her players.
"Alright, girls, good job closing the gap and taking the lead," Mrs. Lawal began, prompting the Queens to exchange smiles among themselves. "Tolu, how does it feel to score your first points?"
"Well… I've been practicing as a point guard recently," Tolu revealed, "But a point guard that doesn't score points isn't going to be much of a threat, so I thought should start scoring points, even if it's steady progress"
"Now that you mention it, you led us to victory, playing as our point guard in our last game. I was wondering why you were playing that role but seeing you lead our attack and defense in that game, I was amazed" Chioma pointed out
"Why are you practicing as a point guard, though?" Oluchi asked, her curiosity piqued by Tolu's revelation
"Well…. That… That's a secret. I won't tell you guys…. Bleh," Tolu replied, playfully displaying her tongue, keeping her intentions mysterious
"Geeez. Aren't you the the secretive one?" Oluchi said with a smirk, amused by Tolu's mischievousness
"Attention!" Mrs. Lawal called for their focus, bringing the team's, bringing the team's attention back to the game. "Listen up, we may have taken the lead but we still have work to do. Let's widen our lead, shall we?"
"Yes, ma'am!" The Queens chorused, their resolve unwavering
Both teams returned to the court for the continuation of the game. The Iron Walls resumed play with Ebere leading the charge once again
"Let's start by tying the game again," Helen thought to herself, eager to regain lost ground
"Ebere! Pass the ball!" Helen yelled
Ebere tossed the ball to Helen, executing the pass perfectly. The ball landed precisely in Helen's hands, and she unleashed a jump shot from behind the arc. Mercy was caught off guard by Helen's swift move and couldn't react in time. The ball swished through the hoop, successfully tying the score
"YEAH!" The Iron Walls yelled, their morale boosted as they exchange high fives and celebrated their teammate's impressive shot
With 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Queens resumed play, led by Oluchi's strategic spproach.
Bouncing the ball rhythmically in front of Ebere's defense, Oluchi could help but analyze the situation. "I didn't think they'd go for 3 points now. We were careless. this is something we need to sort out if we want to be the best this Chistmas," she thought, her focus unwavering
Meanwhile, Mercy wore a serious expression on her face, determined to take responsibility for the lost fault. "I will get those 3 points back! Those 3 points were my fault, so I must take responsibility. But if I shoot in front of Helen, she will block my shot because she is tall. I need to create some space between us. What should I do?" Mercy wondered, strategizing her next move
Just then, Tosin walked up to Mercy and skillfully screened out Helen, providing the necessary support for her teammate. Recognizing the opportunity, Mercy immediately ran in search of an open space. Helen, on the other hand, attempted to pursue Mercy but was hindered by Tosin's screen
"Screen?! Tsk….. Miracle! Switch! Don't let Mercy shoot!" Helen yelled, alerting her teammate to the unfolding situation
"Right!" Miracle yelled back, desperate to stop Mercy as she frantically ran after her
Mercy then stopped when she was confident that the space she had created was sufficient and signaled to Oluchi to pass the ball quickly. Oluchi obliged and executed a perfect pass, the ball landed right into Mercy's hands
"Sweet," Mercy grinned with satisfaction, unleashing a jump shot from behind the arc. Miracle, driven to stop Mercy, tried to block the shot but ended up hitting Mercy's hand in mid-air, causing her to stumble and fall. The ball sailed through the air, swishing through the hoop as the shot clock displayed 2 seconds remaining in the third quarter
The referee blew his whistle and announced, "Offensive foul! Green Team number 7! The basket counts! One free throw!"
Mercy clenched her fist in triumph, whispering a triumphant "YES!" under her breath. The Queens gathered around her in a celebratory gesture, with Tolu offering her a lifting hand to help her back on her feet
"Tsk," Helen clicked her tongue, her frustration evident in the face of Mercy's successful shot
"I'm sorry, guys," Miracle apologized, feeling responsible for the situation
"Save it for later. We have to focus on the game." Helen instructed, her keadership keeping the team's priorities in check
"Right!" The Iron Walls chorused, their resolve renewed as they prepare for the next play
Mercy stepped up to the free-throw line and sank the resulting free-throw with a satisfying swish. The Queens now held a 4-point lead, energizing the team
The Iron Walls resumed play as Felicia passed the ball to Ebere. However, neither of them noticed Tolu lurking nearby, who intercepted the pass with a swift pass of her own towards the soaring Eno. Due to the limited time remaining in the third quarter, Eno tapped the ball into the hoop just as the sound of the buzzer signaled the end of the third quarter. The 12-seconds team-play by the Queens just before the sound of the buzzer, provoked a cacophonhy of cheers from the crowd
The buzzer-beater alley-oop by Eno resulted in a score of 46-52 in favour of the Queens as both teams head to their respective benches to strategize and prepare for the final quarter of the exhilarating game
"Why won't you put me in?!" Ronke's voice echoed throughout the arena as the players headed to their respective benches, reflecting their mounting frustration
"Captain?" Miracle whispered, a surprised look crossing her face as she took her seat on the bench
"I'm not letting play this game, Ronke! Scream all you want if it makes you happy!" Coach Rose said, her tone unwavering
"Why? Is it because of what happened last time?!" Ronke asked, referring to a past incident
"Yes!" Coach Rose replied, her concern evident
"But I told you, I'm fine," Ronke insisted, trying to convince her coach
Coach Rose, however, exploded in a mix of worry and frustration, "No, you're not! Huff… huff…. YOU ARE NOT FINE! I know you want to be! I know you're trying to be! I know you desire to be, from the bottom of that heart of yours! But the truth is, you're not! I don't want a repeat of what happened two years ago when you collapsed on the court!" Coach Rose began to sob, tears streaming down her face. "Now, get that ass of yours on the bench immediately!" she instructed Ronke
"Tsk," Ronke clicked her tongue, reluctantly sitting down and accepting her Coach's decision
The moosd on the Iron Walls' bench turned gloomy, as everyone kept quiet, feeling the weight of the situation.
The scene that had just unfolded left the crowd curious, and they began to ask questions
"What's wrong with Ronke?" Spectator 1 asked
"I think it's a serious issue. She hasn't played a single minute in this game, afterall," Spectator 2 said, further fueling speculations
Back on the Iron Walls' bench, the team listened to Coach Rose's instructions, pushing through their concerns
"Listen up, guys! From here on out, defense is key! Defend like your life depends on it! It's the last quarter of the game. It's sink or swim! Let's beat the Queens!" Coach Rose concluded
"YEAH!" The Iron Walls chorused, their spirits slightly lifted by their Coach's encouragement
Meanwhile, on the Queens' bench, the Queens were curious about Ronke's situation
"What's wrong with Ronke?" Mercy asked, sharing in the collective concern
"It all makes sense now. The reason why she isn't a regular and hasn't played for two years now is still a mystery but we can tell that something is wrong Ronke. And if Tosin's assessment is correct, then like Cynthia, she'd be in a league of her own when she steps onto the court," Mrs. Lawal said, her intuition hintng at a hidden truth
"Coach, do you think she will play in this match?" Tolu asked,wondering if they'd face Ronke in the final quarter
"Well, I don't know. Only time will tell. We will see. But if she will play, it'd be in the final two minutes. This is my guess, based on the conversation between Coach Rose and Ronke we heard earlier. So let's score more points, increase our lead, and put the game to bed before she comes in, okay" Mrs. Lawal concluded, encouraging her team to focus on their strategy
"Right!" The Queens chorused, ready to give their all in the final quartery
The Queens formed a circle for a huddle ahead of the final quarter
"Tosin?" Sharon called out, noticing Tosin's distraction
Tosin snapped out of her daze, "Oh, sorry, guys, I was spacing out, wasn't I?"
"Totally! Did you listen to Coach's instructions?" Sharon asked
"I'll be fine, Sharon. You have nothing to worry about," Tosin said, regaining her composure. "Alright, guys. Let's do this! CHARLIE QUEENS! FIGHT!"
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused, their spirit and determination burning bright
"Let's break this Iron Walls into pieces in the destruction city, shall we?!" Tosin declared, grinning and making cracking sounds with her hands
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused once more, united in their resolve as they took their positions on the court for the final showdown
The final quarter began with both teams fiercely battling to assert their dominance. It was a relentless onslaught of attack, defense, and rebounds, as the coveted spot in the playoffs semifinals hung in the balance. However, the Iron Walls soon started to crumble under the intense pressure, as the Queens' legendary fast-paced attacking basketball proved to be an unstoppable force. The scoring gap continued to widen and not even regrouping, strategizing, or timeouts could slow down the Queens' momentum
"Tolu, here," Oluchi called out, releasing a pinpoint pass to Tolu, who quickly punched the ball towards the soaring Tosin. In mid-air Tosin executed a lightning-fasr, one-handed slam dunk, capitalizing on the alley-oop opportunity. The score now stood at 70-88 in favour of the Queens with only 3 minutes left in the game
Just as the excitement peaked, the buzzer sounded, and the announcement blared through out the arena, "Green team, members changed!"
Two players were being substituted. The first was Efe, replacing Felicia to rejoin the Iron Walls' lineup. The second substitution, however, took evcryone by surprise. Replacing Ebere, donning the number 16 green jersey of Boluwatife Oluwole High School Basketball Team, also known as the Iron Walls and the team's captain, was none other than the mysterious and highly anticipated Ronke
As Ronke stepped onto the court majestically, an air of suspense enveloped the arena. Spectators and players alike couldn't help but wonder if she's fit to play