CHAPTER 49
"TOSIN'S GROWTH"
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Flashback
The ball ricocheted off the rim
"Huff, huff, huff," Tosin breathed heavily
"Listen up, Tosin," Mrs. Parker's voice echoed through the court. "This move will give you an edge in your duels against Victoria. If you can master it, you'll become an unstoppable player, even against tall players like her"
Tosin took the ball and began to bounce it, her focus unwavering
Mrs. Parker continued, "The name of this technique is…."
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Back to the present
A heavy silence hung over the Queens' bench as the gravity of their predicament set in. The scoreboard glared at them, reflecting a disheartening score of 15-0 in favour of their opponents
"Guys," Mrs. Lawal's voice pierced through the silence, "Listen up. We are down by 15 points. They stopped our attacks in the first quarter. We need to score. To do that, I'm going to substitute two players…."
"Coach," Tosin interjected, her body glistening with sweat as she fought to catch her breath
"Yeah, Tosin, what is it?" Mrs. Lawal asked
"Let me do it," Tosin offered, her voice tinged with determination
"What?" The Queens chorus in shock, turning their gazes towards Tosin
Amidst the cacophony of cheers, a mysterious figure clad in black jeans, a white top, and dark glasses quietly made her way to through
"They are losing. They struggled to score in the first quarter," Mrs. Parker thought, her eyes briefly flitting towards the score board. "Now then, Tosin, what will you do?"
As the second quarter approached, the players returned to the court. Mrs. Lawal decided to stick with the current lineups, opting not to substitute anyone juxt yet. The tension on the court was palpable as the Queens prepare for the second qusarter, the weight of their deficit hanging heavily in the air
As the game resumed, the iron walls maintained possession of the ball, with Ebere rhythmically bouncing the bsll. Her advance was abruptly halted by Oluchi's impenetrable defense causing Ebere to reassess her strategy
"They must have a plan," Ebere mused, noticing the change in the Queens' expressions. "I thought they'd panic since they haven't scored a single point in this game. They must have something up their sleeves. And knowing them, it's bound to be big. In that case…." Ebere made her decision, swiftly passing the ball to Miracle
Miracle expertly executed a subtle fake, feinting a move to the right and sending Kevwe in the wrong way. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Miracle crossed over to the left and attempted a shot in front of Eno. Anticipating Eno's block, Miracle swiftly switched to a double-clutche layup, successfully extending the iron walls' lead to 17-0
"Damn it!" Kevwe's frustration bubbled to the surface
"Don't worry about it! Shift gears!" Tosin commanded, her unwavering determination bolstering her teammates' spirits
"RIGHT!"The Queens chorused in agreement, their resolve strengthened by Tosin's leadership
As the game progressed, the Queens regained possession of the ball. Oluchi spearheading the charge, encountered the unwavering defense of Ebere
"No matter what their plans are, we will stop them at all costs," Ebere thought to herself
Bouncing the ball with steady rhythm, Oluchi recalled the conversation the Queens had before the start of the second quarter
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Flashback
A heavy silence hung over the Queens' bench as the gravity of their predicament set in. The scoreboard glared at them, reflecting a disheartening score of 15-0 in favour of their opponents
"Guys," Mrs. Lawal's voice pierced through the silence, "Listen up. We are down by 15 points. They stopped our attacks in the first quarter. We need to score. To do that, I'm going to substitute two players…."
"Coach," Tosin interjected, her body glistening with sweat as she fought to catch her breath
"Yeah, Tosin, what is it?" Mrs. Lawal asked
"Let me do it," Tosin offered, her voice tinged with determination
"What?" The Queens chorus in shock, turning their gazes towards Tosin
"What are you talking, Tosin? Do you mean score?" Mercy questioned
"Exactly!" Tosin replied
"Why? We are up against 189cm tall girls. Do you have a plan?" Oluchi asked
"Please, guys, I won't let it end here! I will make the shot! Even if it kills me!" Tosin assured her teammates and Mrs. Lawal with an intense focus
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Back to the present
"Honestly, I don't know what plan you have up your sleeves, but I believe that if there's anyone capable of breaking through this wall, it's you! Please, I'm counting on you, Tosin!" Oluchi thought as she skillfully passed the ball to Tosin
Receiving the ball, Tosin steadied her breathing as she confronted Peju's defense. In a burst of speed, Tosin effortlessly drove past Peju, leaving her stunned in her wake. However, Efe's towering presence loomed ahead, her hands raised in an attempt to stop Tosin's attack
"The name of this technique is floater!" Mrs. Parker's voice from the past echoed in Tosin's mind.
With impeccable skill, Tosin transferred the ball from her left hand to her right hand behind her back and leaped, unleashing a shot that she hadn't unleashed before. Efe jumped as high as she could but the ball's high-arching trajectory was out of her reach, dropping straight into the hoop. The Queens finally scored their first points of the game
"YEAH!" Tosin yelled triumphantly, her excitement palpable
The bench was left in awe of Tosin's remarkable move
"Floater? Did she just do a floater?" Mercy asked, her eyes widened with disbelief
"Floater? What's that?" Chioma inquired, eager to understand the impressive technique
"In basketball, a floater is a shot taken while driving towards the basket, characterized by a high-arching trajectory over defenders. It's a common finishing move for shorter players or those looking to score in tight situations. Simply put, it's an effective technique commonly used in basketball particularly in the NBA against tall players," Mercy explained
"Interesting. It's a cool move," Chioma grinned
"I know, right?" Mercy said
In the stands, Mrs. Parker watched the scene with a satisfied smile, remarking, "This game is just getting started"
On the court, the Queens felt a surge of relief upon finally scoring their first points of the game
"I truly believe that Tosin is the Queens' light" Oluchi smiled, her faith in her teammate unshakeable
"Damn! What a shot! That's the work of a true ace! That's what I should be doing as the team's ace." Teni conceded
"Alright! Listen up, Queens! From here on out, we're going to seriously close the gap gradually!" Tosin yelled, rallying her teammates
"RIGHT!" The Queens chorused in unison, their spirits invigorated by Tosin's leadership and determination
As the`game resumed, the Iron Wall maintained possession of the ball, but Tosin couldn't help but think, "Shit, it's moments like these that make Tolu a genius. I wish she was on the court right now"
Ebere attempted a pass to Helen, but Oluchi swiftly intercepted it. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Oluchi raced towards the hoop and scored with a smooth layup. The tide of the game seems to be shifting in the Queens' favour
Once again the Iron Walls found themselves with the ball. This time, Ebere's pass successfully reached Helen, who then attempted a three-pointer. However, the sudden shift in momentum caused her shot to miss. Eno snatched the rebound and passed the ball to Kevwe, who easily drove past Miracle
With the attention of more defenders focused on Kevwe, Oluchi and Teni found themselves open for a potential shot. Kevwe seized the opportunity and passed the ball to Teni, who effortlessly sank a three-pointer. The Queens' resurgence prompted Coach Rose to call a timeout
"Girls, calm down! The moment Tosin scored, everything started to fall apart," Coach Rose said, her concern evident
"We're sorry, Coach," Ebere apologized on behalf of the team
"Don't worry, Coach. I'm sure they'll adjust and regain the momentum soon," Ronke assured with a smile
"Alright, gitls. Let's get back out there and give them hell!" Coach Rose ordered, her determination unwavering
"RIGHT!!!" The Iron Wall chorused in unison, their resolve renewed
Meanwhile, somewhere in the arena, an unexpected conversation took place
"What?! Are you serious?!" Tosin's eyes widened in shock and horror
"Yes, she has been like that ever… ouch!" Miracle winced as a knock landed on her head. "Hey, what'd you do….?" Her expression changed as she saw who had struck her
"What the heck are you telling Tosin, huh?" Ronke yelled, her face stern
"I'm sorry, Captain," Miracle quickly apologized, shrinking under Ronke's intimidating presence
"Get back to the court, now! The game is starting." Ronke ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument
"Alright, Captain," Miracle said, scurrying away to rejoin the game
As Ronke was about to leave, Tosin called her back
"Ronke, is it…..?" Tosin's question was interrupted by Ronke's answer
"Yes, it is true. However, Tosin, I want you to forget about it." Ronke said, her expression turning serious. "I've always wanted to go up against you and the Queens in an official game. I want you to play your best game today. Play like you want to kill me!"
"Ofcourse, I will," Tosin agreed
With that, Ronke walked away, leaving to process the weight of their conversation
As Tosin returned to the court, her mind occupied by thoughts and worry, she walked with a certain majestic grace
"Tosin! Tosin!" Oluchi called out, attempting to get her captain's attention
Tosin snapped out of her daze, "Yeah, yeah, what is it?"
"The game is about to resume. Focus!" Oluchi instructed
"Ah, sorry. My bad," Tosin chuckled nervously
"You seem worried. Is something wrong?" Oluchi asked, noticing Tosin's unease
"I'm fine. Let's win this game, shall we?" Tosin said, pushing her concerns aside and focusing on the task at hand
"Yes, ma'am," Oluchi smiled, feeling a sense of reassurance from Tosin's resolve
The game resumed, with the Iron Wall in possession of the ball. Ebere led the charge but was halted by Oluchi's solid defense.
"I knew we couldn't let our guard down against the Queens," Ebere thought, recognizing the persistent nature of their opponents. "It's never over when they play. They don't give up easily. Well, we'll just have to score more than them."
Ebere then tossed the ball to Peju
"Hey, I admire your resilience," Peju smiled, acknowledging Tosin's tenacity. "You really are the closest thing to the Victorious Varsity among us. However, I'm not going to lose to you!"
"I'm flattered!" Tosin returned the smiled. "But this game is just getting started! Let's have some fun, shall we?"
Peju smirked and jumped into a jump shot, only for Tosin to react just in time with a well timed super-high jump. Undeterred, Peju executed a subtle fake and drove past Tosin before she could land
"I knew I couldn't bypass your defense with my shots, thanks to your monstrous jumps," Peju acknowledged. "I might not be as good as you but we will still win!"
Eno rushed in to stop Peju, but she launched a shocking teardrop shot, catching everyone in the arena by surprise. The ball sailed right above the airborne Eno, who tred to block it by jumping and stretching, only for it to swish through the hoop
With just seven seconds left in the first half and the Queens in possession, Oluchi passed the ball to Tosin
Guarding Tosin, Peju passionately yelled, "Bring it on, Tosin!"
Tosin immediately jumped to take a jump shot, but Peju reacted just in time. However, Tosin executed a subtle fake of her own, shocking Peju with her abilities. Tosin then drove past Peju before she landed. Efe rushed in to stop Tosin, but instead, Tosin executed a teardrop shot of her own, shocking everyone in the arena. The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the second quarter just as the ball swished through the hoop
"Hey, that's the move Peju just did!" Ebere yelled in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened
"I understand how you feel, believe me," Oluchi grinned. "That's one of Tosin's special abilities. They call her THE COPYCAT"
As the teams returned to their locker rooms for the halftime break, the Iron Walls still held a 31-22 lead. Despite their advantage, they couldn't relax, as the Queens' unwavering determination had sparked a fierce battle on the court
In the Queens' locker room, the players were immersed in their preferred activities as they prepared for the second half of the game. Some listened to music, some read novels, while others simply sat quietly, waiting for their Coach's speech
Eno broke the silence as the others listened intently. "Alright, listen up guys. In the second half, you guys should focus on the offense. I will handle the defense"
Tosin objected, "I could say the same thing. You guys should focus on defense. Leave the offense to me"
"Hey, this isn't the time to be selfish," Eno retorted
"Huh?" Tosin snapped back, her frustration mounting
"Alright, that might work. I leave the third quarter to you two," Mrs. Lawal interjected, smiling at her players
"Coach?" Tolu called out, seeking clarification
"What? They said they can handle it. Let them handle it. They've gotten stronger. And it's not just them. You all have gotten stronger!" Mrs. Lawal explained
"Right!" The Queens chorused in agreement, their spirits lifted by Mrs. Lawal's confidence
"Alright, Teni and Kevwe, you guys are out. Mercy and Tolu will take their place in the second half," Mrs. Lawal announced, much to Teni's surprise
"Coach?" Teni attempted to complain but Mrs. Lawal ignored her
"Let's go win this thing!" Mrs. Lawal declared, pumping up her team
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused in unison
Meanwhile, in the Iron Walls' dressing room, Coach Rose approached Ronke. "Hey, are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, Coach. I'm perfectly fine!" Ronke assured her Coach, her resolve unshaken
"Alright," Coach Rose said, acknowledging Ronke's determination
"Let's beat the Queens and advance to the Semifinals!" Ronke exclaimed, her competitive spirits shining through
"Sure," Coach Rose said as she exchanged a passionate fist bump with Ronke
The teams returned to the court, the anticipation reaching its peak as the spectators cheered passionately
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"