CHAPTER 54
"A BARRAGE OF THREES: THE QUEENS' NEW ULTIMATE DUO IS BORN!"
As both teams took their positions on the court, the second half began with the Queens in possession of the ball. Chioma led the charge but was met with a surprising challenge
"Don't think you'll score easily in the second half, Teni Adenuga, the Gunner!" Fortune declared, her determination unwavering
"We'll stop your shots!" Yinka added, her resolve as strong as her teammate's
"Huh?" Teni snapped, surprise evident in her expression
"What? They're double-teaming Teni?" Chioma mused, shock evident in her voice
Chioma clicked her tongue in frustration, the sound echoing her irritation as Barachel High School's defensive pressure intensifies. Her opponents, determined to mount a seemingly impossible comeback, were adapting their strategy to stifle the Queens' attacking prowess
"Oh, it seems someone has run out of steam," Maureen taunted, her confidence bolstered by her team's unwavering. "Well, I'll be taking the ball now,"
With that, Yetunde joined Maureen in double-teaming Chioma, creating an overwhelming amount of pressure. In a matter of seconds, Yetunde managed to knock the ball from Chioma's grasp, setting a fast break opportunity for Barachel
"Guys, calm down!" Tosin yelled from the bench, urging her teammates to remain composed in the face of adversity
Despite the Queens' frantic pursuit, Yetunde expertly converted the fast break into a slam dunk, eliciting a cacophony of cheers from the Barachel supporters. The momentum had shifted, and Barachel showed no signs of slowing down
Determined to maintain their full-court defensive pressure, Barachel High School aimed to capitalize on mistakes the Queens might make
"Bring it on, Queens!" Yetunde challenged, her voice ringing with confidence
Shalom, recognizing an opportunity, attempted to pass the ball to a seemingly open Chioma. However, Maureen's quick reflexes allowed her to intercept the pass, which she swiftly converted into a layup, further closing the gap a little on the scoreboard
Just then, Chioma managed to shake off her marker, creating a brief opeming for her team
"Here!" Chioma called out to Shalom, who wasted no time in passing the ball to her teammate
Yetunde, unwilling to let Chioma advance unchecked, attempted to steal the ball, only for it to land securely in Chioma's hands. With incredible speed, Chioma skillfully drove past Maureen, leaving her in the dust
Wuth Yetunde abd Maureen now behind her, Chioma found herself facing Fortune, Yinka, and Yewande as the remaining barriers between her and the basket. Shockingly, none of them stepped forward to stop Chioma. Yinka and Fortune opted to continue double-teaming Teni, while Yewande chose not to leave Mayowa unguarded in the paint
"What a pain," Chioma muttered, her frustration evident in her expression
Recognizing an opportunity to capitalaise on the situation, Chioma sent a pass to Kevwe, who quickly launched a three-pointer. Unfortunately, the shot missed its mark, and Yewande manage to grab the rebound
On the Queens bench, Tosin voiced her concerns, suggesting a timeout to regroup an adjust their strategy. However, Mrs. Lawal had a different perspective on the situation
"I understand your cconcern, Tosin," Mrs. Lawal said, "but we won't be calling a timeout just yet"
"Why?" Tosin inquired, seeking clarification for Mrs. Lawal's decision
"Chioma had a chance to shoot, but she chose to pass," Mrs. Lawal explained. "She's one of best shooters. There are other ways to score besides relying on Teni's shots. We'll save our timeouts for when we truly need them"
As the game resumed, Maureen and yetunde exchanged passes, setting up a fluid one-two play. Maureen took advantage of the opportunity and unleashed a three-pointer. The ball soared through the air, ultimately finding its mark in the basket, prompting a cacophony of cheers from the Barachel fans
As the Barachel High School continued their relentless full-court press, the Queens found themselves searching for a way to break free from their opponents' suffocating defense. Shalom, recognizing the urgency of the situation, swiftly passed the ball to Chioma, who expertly dribbled past Yetunde and Maureen. Undeterred, Maureen refused to give up, chasing down Chioma and impeding her progress
"I won't… let you do…. Whatever you want!" Maureen declared between labored breaths, her determination unwavering
Chioma, maintaining her composure, rhythmically bounced the ball while exchanging glances with Teni. In that brief moment, Teni recalled Chioma's words from the beginning of the game, her voice resoning with Teni's mind
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Flashback
As both teams took to the court, the Queens huddled for a brief, final discussion before the match commenced. Chioma's voice carried through the group, sense of urgency colouring her tone
"Guys," Chioma began, "I need a favour"
"What is it?" Teni questioned, her curiosity piqued
"All I need from you guys is absolute trust. The rest fall into place," Chioma requested
`Shalom met Chioma's gaze with a bright smile, her eyes shining with confidence. "Alright, we trust you,"
"Thanks," Chioma appreciated with a smile
"Let's focus on the game at hand," Shalom reminded the group. "Victory here will guarantee our place in the Christmas Champions Cup. Let's do this!"
"YEAH!" The Queens' collective agreement reverberated through the air, prompting a surge of cheers from their fans in the stands
As the five Queens prepare to break their circle, Teni's voice carried through the din, prompting a final chant
"3, 2, 1, Charlie Queens! Fight!" Teni roared
"YEAH!" The Queens roared, echoing their teammate's call to arms, their voices ringing with the promise of victory
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Back to the present
"Trust, huh?" Teni muttered, still under the pressure of being guarded by two defenders
A sudden burst of laughter filled the arena, as Teni's voice pierced through the tense atmosphere, leaving everyone surprised and curious as to what had brought such an unexpected reaction
"Chioma, I'll hold you by your words," Teni mused, her laughter subsiding as a newfound determination took hold
With that, Teni burst into action, assuming her signature shooting pose as if the ball was in her hands, amidst the double-team defense. The entire arena held their breath, unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before them
"Hah, sweet!" Mrs. Lawal muttered from the bench, a hint of pride in her voice as she witnessed her team's remarkable display of trust and coordination
In a stunning display of skill, athleticism, and teamwork, Chioma Teni executed a spectacular play. As Teni leaped into air, Chioma expertly tossed the ball to her soaring teammate. The ball landed perfectly in Teni's palm as she reached the apex of her jump
"Teni!" Chioma called out, her trust in her teammate unwavering
With unmatched focus and precision, Teni unleashed a three-pointer while suspended in mid-air. The ball soared through the air, ultimately finding its mark in the basket and provoking a cacophony of cheers from the crowd
"What was that?" Yinka mused, shock evident in her eyes as she struggle to process the incredible display of skill and teamwork
"How can Teni score from that position? And Chioma's pass too… just how good are your passes, Chioma?" Maureen questioned, equally shocked by what had just transpired on the court
"YEAH!" Chioma and Teni triumphantly exchanged high-fives, their spirits soaring as their chemistry and trust in each other paid off in spectacular fashion
"Guys, it's our turn! Switch to plan B and end this quickly! Don't give them any chance!" Tosin ordered from the bench, seizing the momentum generated by their incredible play
"Yes, ma'am!" The Queens chorused in response, immediately trasitioning into their legendary full-court defense mounting incredible pressure on Barachel in an effort to maintain their advantage and secure victory
As the Queens unleashed their legendary full-court defense, the pressure on the Barachel High School team became overwhelming. The mounting pressure caused panic among the Barachel players as they struggle to break through the Queens' suffocating defense. In a desperate attempt to regain control, Yinka tossed the ball to Maureen, only for Shalom to intercept the pass with lightning-fast reflexes
Immediately, Teni sprang into action, leaping into the air in her shooting pose just as she had done moments earlier.
Maureen, her eyes filled with a mixture of fright and fear, could barely fathom the events unfolding before her
"Is she doing it again?" Maureen mused, her voice trembling with disbelief
Shalom, with impeccable coordination, tossed the ball towards Chioma, who, with precision, punched the ball in the same manner as Tolu would, directing straight to the airborne Teni. The ball landed perfectly in Teni's hands, leaving their opponents in a state of shock for the second time
"Haha, interesting," Tolu chuckled, thoroughly impressed by the breathtaking display of skill and teamwork
With flawless execution, Teni unleashed another three-ponter while suspended in mid-air. The ball sailed through the air and swished cleanly through the net, sending the Queens' supporters into a frenzy. The crowd roared with excitement, completely captivated by the extraordinary spectacle they were witnessing
"Alley-oop three-pointer." Mercy remarked, a hint of awe in her voice
"Huh? Is there anything like that?" Tosin asked, her curiosity piqued by Mercy's comment
"Of course," Mercy replied, "The shot Teni unleashed twice is called an alley-oop three-pointer"
"Oh? I see you are quite knowledgeable, young lady," Mrs. Lawal smiled
"I've only seen it once in the NBA," Mercy continued, sharing her knowledge with her teammates. "Alley-oop three-pointer is an unusual shot that involves a pass from outside the three point line, caught and scored by a player who has jumped to catch the ball and shoot before landing back on the court. This type of play is still considered a three-pointer because the shooter's last foot was on the ground behind the three-point arc before the shot was attempted. But Teni is amazing to have made that shot her own in just this match"
"Yeah, she is," Mrs. Lawal agreed, pride evident in her voice, "But what's equally amazing is the fact that both times, Chioma's passes were accurate, demonstrating the incredible trust between the two of them"
"Yeah," Oluchi said, nodding in agreement
As the game progressed, the Queens' relentless full-court defense continued to wreak havoc on their opponents. The Barachel players desperately searched for a way to break through the suffocating pressure, but their efforts were met with frustration and mistakes
Yinka attempted a pass to Fortune, only for the ball to miss its mark and soar out of bounds. Frustration grew among the Barachel players as they struggled to find an opening in the Queens' defense
"Full-court defense," Mrs. Lawal began, "This defense creates pressure on the opponents, making them panic and vulnerable to mistakes and errors. It's a strategy that allows us to turn defense into offense instantly, similar to the high press in soccer. However, as we've seen when Chioma broke freee, this strategy is weak if the opponents manage to break through"
The game resumed with Shalom passing the ball to Chioma. In a now-familiar sight, Teni leaped into the air, assuming her shooting pose. Chioma masterfully tossed the ball into Teni's hands, who then unleashed another awe-inspiring alley-oop three-pointer. The Queens' supporters roared with excitement as the ball swished through the net
Moments later, Kevwe stole the ball from Yinka and passed it to Shalom, who confidently launched a three-pointer of her own. The ball sailed through the air and swished through the net, sending the crow into a frenzy
"I'm not one to care, but, we're more than just Chioma and Teni, I'm here too," Shalom said with a smirk, reminding everyone of her presence and skills on the court
They're good. They are so strong!" Yewande exclaimed in awe, "And only two of their regulars are on the court. Imagine if all five of their regulars played aginst us. What would have happened? The Queens are truly a force to be reckoned with"
Maureen reflecting on their predicament, admitted, "We underestimated them, and that was our undoing. We didn't see their true strength and fell prey to their skill instead"
In the final moments of the game, the Queens stole the ball yet again through their impenetrable full-court defense, with Shalom at the helm. Shalom then passed the ball to Mayowa in mid-air, who prepared to unleash an alley-oop slam dunk
"Not on my watch!" Yewande declared as she leaped to block the shot. However, Mayowa showcased her quick thinking, sending a pass to Kevwe, who then passed it to Chioma
With just six seconds left in the game, Teni swiftly sprang into action, leaping into the air in her shooting pose. Chioma then sent a pass towards Teni in mid-air. Just as Teni was about to unleash the shot, Maureen leaped into the air to stop her
"You're good, Teni, but I'll stop this last shot!" Maureen declared confidently
Teni's face brightened up, a smile playing at her lips, "Of course, we are good," she retorted, "After all, we are the Queens!"
Teni's words hit home, leaving Maureen stunned.
In a shocking turn of events, Teni sent a pass back in the exact same direction she had received it from, finding Chioma floating in mid-air. Chioma had jumped before Teni passed, and she wasted no time in unleashing another alley-oop three-pointer just a second before the final buzzer sounded. The ball soared through the air and landed smoothly in the hoop for a satisfying swish, sealing the Queens' victory over Barachel High School with an astonishing score of 137-45
As the final buzzer signaled the end of the game, the Queens' bench erupted in a celebratory frenzy, joining their teammates on the court to bask in the glory of their well-deserved victory. The fans, equally elated, rushed in from the stands to join in on the joyous celebrations
The Charlie Queens Academy had not only won the game, but they had also secured their place in this year's edition of Christmas Champions Cup with this resounding triumph. It's also the second consecutive time that the Charlie Queens Academy Female Basketball Team will participate in the Christmas Champions Cup. The team's remarkable chemistry, skills, and unwavering determination had propelled them to new heights, leave no doubts of their status as the dark horse in the upcoming tournament