The buzzer signaled the end of the first half, it's piercing sound echoing throughout the gymnasium as the players made their way to their respective locker rooms for the 10 minutes interval. The scoreboard illuminated the undeniable truth: the African Church had not only maintained their lead but had also managed to widen the gap between them and their opponents, the Queens
Spectators exchanged knowing glances, their murmurs filling the air. It seemed like a one-sided affair judging from the score, but those who witnessed the second quarter unfold knew differently. The Queens had staged a spirited resurgence, proving that both teams were evenly matched in strength
Watching intently from the sidelines, the Rose Mary High School team found themselves embroiled in a debate, attempting to decipher the enigma before them. Aisa, her brow furrowed in confusion, was the first to voice her thoughts. "Both teams are evenly matched. How did the score gap get so wide? I don't get it," she said, her frustration evident in her tone
Tracy, her eyes still fixed on the court, nodded in agreement, "Yeah, and that shot from Shalom was on another level too," she added, a hint of awe colouring her voice
Chisom, deep in thought, weighed in on the matter. "Well, whoever we face in the semis, we will have it tough. Both teams are just too good," she remarked, her gaze fixed on the scoreboard
Aisa, her attention still firmly on the players, responded with a simple yet resolute "Yeah." Her voice was steady, acknowledging the challenge that awaited them in the semifinals regardless of the outcome of this match
The players now in their respective locker rooms and eager to strategize, prepare for the third quarter. The air inside the African Church locker room buzzed with excitement, the team's morale sky high as they believe the game was already in the bag due to their significant lead at halftime
Nkem, however, was quick to temper their enthusiasm. "Guys, don't let down your guard just yet. The Queens are not dead yet," she warned, her voice carrying a hint of caution
Coach Blanc, nodding in agreement, added, "That's right. We all saw the second quarter. We can't deny that those girls are something else. The score only reflects their mistakes in the first quarter"
Evelyn, her eyes gleaming with confidence, jumped into the conversation. "Yeah, they are good but even in basketball, making a comeback requires a solid defense as well as a flawless attack, right? There is no denying the obvious fact that the Queens' attacks were flawless in the second quarter but their defense still struggled against our attacks, right?"
Lola, seeing the logic in Evelyn's assessment, agreed, "Yeah, good point"
Evelyn continued; her voice filled with conviction, "So, with that, we can only keep getting a repeat of the second quarter in the remaining two quarters. Consequently, the gap would only widen. Even if it reduces, it's only going to reduce a little. A case of 'if you score us, we will score back.' Sorry Captain, even a resurgent Tosin can't change the outcome. That is assuming she's as good as you claimed, anyways. This game is as good as over."
Meanwhile inside the Queens' locker room, the players listened intently to Mrs. Lawal's instructions, their expressions a mix of focus and determination.
"Guys, good job out there. You did a great job preventing the gap from widening." Mrs. Lawal commended, her eyes sweeping over her team
Tosin, her frustration evident, chimed in, "Yeah yeah, the gap is still wide nonetheless"
Mrs. Lawal smiled, understanding Tosin's frustration. "I understand how you feel. It's frustrating being behind by 18 points and all, but it's not over. Here is the plan for the second half. Mercy, you are out, Tolu, you are in."
Tolu, eager to contribute, replied with a resounding, "Yes ma'am"
Mrs. Lawal continued, her voice steady and assured, "Eno remains our center. Shalom, you'll take the power forward role. Tolu will cover the small forward role. Oluchi will take the shooting guard role. Tosin will be our point guard in the second half. This is what I came up with. I didn't call for a single timeout in the first half because I was trying to figure out how we will handle their trio both on defense and offense."
Oluchi, her face etched with worry, hesitated before asking, "Coach, I have faith in you, but…. Some of us are being given new roles. We've never played such roles before. Will this really work?
Mrs. Lawal smile reassuringly, "I told you to trust me, didn't I? Everything will be fine. We are going to win this game and shock the whole nation with the news."
"Yes ma'am!" the Queens chorused, with Oluchi still harboring a hint of worry
"Now, here is the game plan. We will run a 3-2 zone defense and offense. On defense, we will have Oluchi and Tosin watch out for long-range shots while Eno and Shalom will defend the paint. As for offense, we will apply the same tactics." Mrs. Lawal instructed, her voice firm and commanding
"Yes, ma'am!" The Queens chorused once more; their resolve strengthened by their Coach's unwavering confidence
"Let's go win this thing!!!" Mrs. Lawal exclaimed, her words infused with passion and determination.
"YEAH!!!" The Queens yelled, the voices echoing through the walls of the locker room, stunning everyone
As the teams returned to the court, the Queens huddled together, with Tosin taking charge
Tosin yelled, "On 3…2….1…. CHARLIE QUEEEEEENS! FIIIGHT!"
The Queens yelled, "YEEEAAAH!!!" Their voices reverberating through the entire gymnasium, momentarily drowning out the cheers of the eager spectators
"So then, this time for sure. Let's take these girls to the city of destruction" Tosin declared, her expression serious and unwavering
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused, their voices ringing with renewed spirit and purpose as they took their position on the court
The third quarter commenced with the Queens in possession of the ball. Eno swiftly passed the ball to Tolu, who casually dribbled it up the court, her teammates rushing to take their positions in attack. A calm sigh escaped Tosin's lips as she uttered, "Now then, shall we begin…. The journey to that city"
Nkem, surprised to see Tosin leading the Queens' offense instead of Oluchi, questioned, "Tosin is the point guard now?" Observing the changes in their opponents' strategy, she added, "I see you guys changed a lot of things, Tosin. Well, let's have some fun, shall we?"
Tosin smiled, her determination unwavering. "Sure. Sorry, but this time, we are seriously gonna crush you guys."
Nkem responded with a short laugh. "Well, be my guest."
As the shot clock ticked down to 5 seconds, Tosin released a pass towards an apparently empty area on the court. Nkem, believing Tosin had incurred a turnover, mocked, "Hah! Who do you think you are passing to?"
However, in a stunning display of stealth agility, Tolu materialized out of nowhere and punched the ball to Shalom, who was standing behind the arc, adjacent to the hoop. Due to the unexpected pass, Shalom found herself with an open look, as no one was guarding her. She calmly launched a three-pointer, her movements fluid and focused. The ball soared through the air, piercing the net with a resounding swish. The African Church players were left stunned and bewildered, while the entire gymnasium erupted into a wild uproar. Spectators exchanged amazed whispers, wondering who could have released such an insanely fast pass to Shalom, as the Queens' strategy began to dismantle their opponents' confidence
The African Church team was visibly shocked to witness another player utilizing a style similar to Ruth's. Margaret leaned in towards Ruth and whispered, "I can't believe the Queens have someone who plays like you"
Ruth, determination etched on her face, responded, "Yeah, it's annoying how good she seems to be at it too. But I won't lose. Not to her"
Nkem, her voice laced with caution, warned Ruth, "Be careful. The Queens' number 6 may be better at using that technique than you."
As the game resumed, Nkem found herself face-to-face with Tosin's defense. Bouncing the ball casually, she quipped, "You know, I couldn't have guessed that you guys had an invisible player too. Just like we do"
Tosin, her focus unwavering, replied, "Don't sweat it. We didn't know you guys had someone similar to Tolu either, and I never would have guessed that it was Ruth. Come to think of it, she was the only one who didn't score a single point that day. It makes sense now
Nkem smiled, her competitive spirit shining through as she said, "Well, we'll lecture you guys about invisible basketball"
Over at the Queens' bench, Mercy posed a question to Mrs. Lawal, her curiosity evident. "Coach, during the meeting in the locker room, you didn't give Tolu any instructions. Why is that?"
Mrs. Lawal pause, her gaze resting on the players before she responded, "I knew someone would ask me this question sooner or later. Well, I didn't give Tolu any instructions because she doesn't need them."
Mayowa, confusion painted on her face, admitted, "Coach, I don't understand"
Mrs. Lawal explained, "I'm the one who taught Tolu her style. This style is a sacrificial style. One must be willing to bury herself for the sake of team. If one shines brightly, during games, she can't achieve the Sleight Basketball technique no matter what. Our opponents today have someone who uses that technique. To counter that, I put Tolu. Tolu only needs to move around as much as she wants. Hence, she doesn't instructions from me. We will fight invisibility with invisibility of our own"
As the game continued, Ruth found herself standing beside Tolu and couldn't help but comment, "Hey, I never thought I'd meet someone with a similar ability as me. It's a big world, wouldn't you say?"
Tolu, her expression serious, responded, "Yeah, it's a big world, and meeting someone who is just like me makes me feel like I don't want to lose to her"
As soon as she spoke, Tolu seemed to vanish from Ruth's sight. Surprised, Ruth exclaimed, "Huh, I can't believe I'm a victim of my own technique!"
In the confusion, Nkem attempted to pass to Evelyn but Tolu, who was guarding Ruth, appeared out of nowhere and intercepted the pass, creating a fastbreak opportunity for the Queens. Tolu, accompanied by Eno, Tosin and Oluchi approached the African Church's hoop which was only defended by Margaret. With three options, Tolu skillfully launched a pass to Tosin who was behind the arc
"Nice pass, Tolu" Tosin said with a smile as she caught the ball and launched a three-pointer. The ball pierced the net, eliciting a wild uproar from the spectators and leaving the African Church team in shock
The African Church, eager to score back, restarted with Margaret passing to Nkem. However, neither of them noticed Tolu standing close by. Seizing the opportunity, Tolu stole the ball and bounced it high enough for Eno who was in the air for an alley-oop. Eno caught the ball and then launched a 360 dunk, inciting another round of wild cheers from the spectators as they chanted the Queens' name, leaving the African Church further stunned
Unable to ignore the shifting momentum of the game, Coach Blanc was forced to call a timeout
The Queens exchanged high fives as they made their way to their bench, an air of excitement surrounding them. Mrs. Lawal commended her players, saying, "Good job out there, girls. It's been barely two minutes since the second half started, and yet, you've quickly reduced the gap by scoring eight points"
Tosin, curious about the possible weaknesses of Tolu's technique, asked, "I wonder if there is a way to counter Tolu's style"
Mrs. Lawal nodded, replying, "Yeah, there is a way to counter it. There is no absolute style in the world of sports. There is always a counter to any style. So, yeah, Tolu's sleight basketball style has a counter. But we will see. In the meantime, we'll keep going like this and eventually close the gap! Let's beat them at their game!"
The Queens' spirits soared as they chorused, "YEAH!"
Meanwhile, at the African Church's bench, the atmosphere was heavy with frustration and shock. Coach Blanc broke the silence, his words aimed at Evely.
"What was that about the game being in the bag? I told you underestimate them. You said making a comeback requires a solid defense and a flawless attack, and that while the Queens' attack is flawless, they lack a solid defense, right?"
Evelyn, her heart heavy with shame, responded quietly, "Y-Yes sir."
Coach Blanc's frustration was evident in his eyes as he pressed on. "Then, how is it that we were ahead by 18 points at halftime, but now, barely two minutes into the second half, we are ahead by only 10 points?
No response came, as Evelyn was too ashamed to answer. Coach Blanc continued, his voice firm, yet encouraging. "Guys, I believe this should teach you a big lesson. Never underestimate anyone, no matter what. Because in basketball, anything can happen. We have a team of seven; we've come this far together. We win together, and we lose together. Show the Queens what we are capable of!"
The African Church team found their resolves once more as they chorused, "YEAH!"
The timeout ended, and both teams took their positions on the court, their determination to win fueling the tension in the air
As the game resumed, Nkem possessed the ball, and the African Church players took their positions in attack while the Queens mounted pressure to halt their advances. Tosin guarded Nkem closely, her focus unwavering, Nkem attempted to dribble past Tosin but Tosin anticipated her moves and halted her at every turn
With no space to capitalize on, Nkem attempted a turnaround into a fadeaway jumper from the free-throw line. Tosin leaped to block the shot, but Nkem, in mid-air, skillfully evaded Tosin's hand, drawing a foul as the referee blew the whistle, signaling that Tosin had fouled Nkem. The ball sailed through the air, piercing the net. The basket was counted, and Nkem was awarded an additional free-throw, causing the spectators to erupt into cheers as the African Church players roared and exchanged high fives
From the bench, Mercy exclaimed in disbelief, "An and-one?!"
Mayowa, unfamiliar with the term, inquired, "What's an and-one?"
Mercy explained, "In basketball, an and-one is a slang term for when a player makes a shot after being fouled and is awarded one free-throw. I've seen NBA players get and-ones whenever they want. I can't believe a high school student could do it. That's crazy!"
On the court, Nkem stepped up to take the resulting free-throw. The referee handed her the ball, announcing, "One shot"
Tosin, irritated by the turn of events, muttered under her breath. "Shit! I wanted to block the shot without fouling her. Damn it!"
Nkem launched a shot from the free-throw line, and the ball pierced the net, extending the African Church's lead and eliciting another wave of cheers from the spectators. The game continued to intensify, as both teams showcased their skills and determination to secure a victory
Tosin, undeterred by Nkem's intense defense, dribbled the ball up court. Nkem, ready to put up a fight, declared, "Tosin! Bring it on! I'll stop you, no matter what!" and promptly assumed her defensive stance
Tosin, unfazed by Nkem's bravado, retorted, "I'd like to see you try," as she unleashed a pass to Tolu. With quick reflexes, Tolu redirected the ball into the palms of Eno, catching Margaret off guard. Seizing the opportunity, Eno executed a flawless layup, sending the ball sailing through the net. The Queens' team cheered as they celebrated yet another successful play
The game continued as Nkem gained possession of the ball. Dribbling the ball through the full court, Nkem became increasingly irritated by Tosin's persistent defense. Opting for a strategic move, she passed the ball to Evelyn, who launched a three-pointer. However, the shot was promptly blocked by Oluchi
"The ball is still in play! Someone should get the rebound!" Oluchi exclaimed; her focus fixed on the ball
Just then, Ruth materialized out of nowhere in front of the ball, her competitive spirit on full display. "I won't lose here!" she declared, releasing a rapid-fire pass from half-court. The ball soared through the air, a lightning-fast blur and landed securely in Margaret's capable hands
Eno, determined to halt their advance, challenged Margaret.
"Stop me, if you can," Margaret retorted, as she executed a powerful two-handed dunk that provoked an uproar from the spectators. The African Church team celebrated their impressive play, their enthusiasm fueling their determination to win
As the game continued, the Queens rushed up the court for an attack, led by Tosin. Confronted by Nkem's close defense, Tosin exchanged a spirited dialogue
"Tosin, this game is fun. I'm glad you guys are this good," Nkem said with a smile
Tosin laughed, responding with confidence, "This good? Hah! I'm sorry, you haven't seen half what the Queens are capable of."
Effortlessly dribbling past Nkem, Tosin's advance was halted by Evelyn and Lola. Undeterred, she skillfully passed the ball to Oluchi, who wasted no time in unleashing a powerful two-point jump shot. The ball soared through the air, piercing the net like sharp sword, and drawing thunderous applause from the spectators, who continued to chant the Queens' names in support
Nkem expertly dribbled the ball up the court as her teammates strategically took their positions in attack. However, her advance was abruptly halted by Tosin's unwavering and intense defense
Undeterred, Nkem rhythmically bounced the ball in the face of Tosin's iron wall, her confidence unwavering as she declared, "Entertain me, Tosin!!!"
As soon as she spoke, Nkem skillfully bounced the ball between her left and right hands in rapid succession, causing Tosin to lose her footing and creating a substantial opening for a three-pointer shot
Anticipating the play, Oluchi rushed in to block the shot, her swiftness enabling her to graze the ball with her fingertip, leaving Nkem irritated. The ball ricocheted off the rim, igniting an intense battle for the rebound
Confident in her success, Eno believed she had secured the rebound, but Margaret swiftly intervened with a claw-shaped hand, snatching the ball and screaming "Eagle claw!" Margaret capitalized on the opportunity with a powerful one-handed dunk, sending the girls in white into a frenzy of jubilation and eliciting a deafening uproar from the spectators
The game resumed with the Queens in possession of the ball, with Tosin leading their attack. Her progress impeded by Nkem, prompting Tosin to inquire about the curios absent of players on the African Church's bench
"Hey Nkem, I'm curious to know why the African Church's bench is empty. Don't tell me the five of you are the only members of the team," Tosin asked
"Sadly, yes. Though, if you add our manager and Coach Blanc, we sum up to seven. But we're having fun," Nkem replied, her curiosity piqued. "Why did you ask? Does it make you pity us?"
"Nope. Quite the opposite. We all have our stories of ups and downs. All six of us. I look forward to when we all grow old so we can talk about it at a beach in Miami," Tosin said, a sense of camaraderie in her voice
"That'd be cool," Nkem agreed
Tosin's smile widened as she bounced the ball rhythmically. "But right now, I just want to crush you guys"
Nkem's determination only grew stronger as she assumed her defensive stance. "I wouldn't have it any other way, and I feel the same. I want to crush you guys too" she said. "Bring it on, Tosin!"
With a grin, Tosin replied, "Nah, I won't be the one doing the damage right now." She swiftly released a pass to an open space a strategy unfolding in her mind
Suddenly, Tolu emerged from nowhere, punching the ball with precision. The ball soared through the air at lightning speed, landing perfectly into Shalom's hands as she stood behind the arc adjacent to the hoop. Caught off guard, Lola was unable to react in time. Shalom unleashed a three-pointer shot, the ball sailing through the air before sinking smoothly into the hoop. The girls in pink erupted into an enthusiastic uproar, celebrating their successful play and growing momentum
As the clock ticked down to the final seconds of the third quarter, the African Church team hastily resumed play, their desperation to increase their lead palpable. Nkem, closely guarded by Tosin, executed a skillful ankle breaker, causing Tosin to lose her footing and creating an opportunity for Nkem to unleash a three-pointer
Unbeknownst to Nkem, Tolu managed to tap the ball off her hands, just before she could release the shot, transforming the play into a fast break opportunity with a mere four seconds remaining in the quarter. In a stunning display of athleticism, Tolu unleashed an insane long-range shot from the edge of the Queens' paint aiming for the African Church's hoop. The ball soared through the air, ultimately landing on the glass before bouncing back onto the court as the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the third quarter.
The spectators erupted into wild cheers for their favourite teams as the players made their way to their respective benches, the tensions and excitement mounting with each passing moment
Aisa, swept up in the energy of the game, commented, "With a score of 74-64, both teams are fired up. I can't wait to see how this game ends. Who will walk away with the W? Will the Queens shock everyone by making another incredible comeback, or will the African Church run away with the victory and secure a spot in the playoffs semis?" The anticipation of the final quarter left everyone on the edge of their seats, eager to witness the outcome of this thrilling match