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Flashback
It was a cold dry morning, the sun casting long shadows across the school playground. Shalom's small hand clutched her brand-new backpack as she walked through the school gates, her stomach aflutter with a mixture of nerves and excitement
She looked around, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of her new school. Children of all ages bustled around her, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Teachers stood by their classroom doors, welcoming students and helping them find their way
Shalom made her way to her classroom, the number of her schedule clutched tightly in her hand. As she reached the door, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead.
Stepping into the classroom, Shalom was immediately greeted by the smiling face of her new teacher, Mrs. Nwosu
"Welcome to your first day of school, Shalom!" she said warmly. "Come on in and I will show you your seat"
Shalom followed Mrs. Nwosu to her seat, glancing around the room as she went. She noticed the brightly coloured posters on the walls, the neatly organized bookshelves, and the eager face of her new classmates
As she sat down at her desk, Mrs. Nwosu addressed the class. "Welcome, everyone, to your first day of school! I know it can be a little scary but we're going to have a great year together. Now, why don't we go around the room and introduce ourselves?"
One by one, the students took their turn sharing their names, their favourite hobbies, and what they were most excited to learn in school. When it was Shalom's turn, she stood up, her voice a little shaky "Hi, my name is Shalom. I love to play basketball, I'm really excited to make new friends this year, and I look forward to working with you"
As the introduction continued, Shalom felt herself begin to relax. The other students seemed friendly, and Mrs. Nwosu's warmth and enthusiasm put her at ease. By the time the bell rang for recess, she was eager to join her new classmates on the playground, ready to embark on this new adventure called school
As Shalom settled into her new school routine, she decided to take her love for basketball to the next level by joining the school's basketball club. Nervous but excited, she attended tryouts and gave it her best effort, ultimately making the team as a reserve player.
It was at practice that Shalom first met Emmanuella, a student who is 2 years older than she is and a very promising prospect. It is said that Emmanuella is the only student in the school's long history to become a starter in her first year. Emmanuella's skills confirmed what the rumours said about her. Her skills captivated Shalom as soon as she joined the team. Shalom saw Emmanuella as the perfect role model to learn from. Despite their age difference, the two bonded over their shared passion for the game, spending extra time practicing after school and challenging each other to become better players
Shalom was particularly drawn to Emmanuella's ability to drive past defenders with ease, something she struggled with. With patience and encouragement, Emmanuella taught Shalom the technique, celebrating her progress as she improved
In return, Shalom's admiration and respect for Emmanuella only grew. Even though Shalom would often challenge Emmanuella to one-on-one duels, she never quite managed to win; but the friendly competition only pushed her to work harder. As their bond strengthened, and Shalom discovered the true joy of playing basketball alongside a friend and a mentor
"Damn it! Why can't I beat you? Why are you so good?" Shalom said. She had lost another one-on-one duel to Emmanuella
"Hahaha. At least you are rapidly getting better" Emmanuella said "So what do you say? Ready for another lesson, my dear Shalom?" Emmanuella teased, bouncing the ball
Shalom stood up "I'll win this time" she said
"Hah! In your dreams" said Emmanuella
The two of them continued to play against each other after training sessions with Shalom always losing.
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Back to the present
Fast forward to the present day as Charlie Queens Academy Female Basketball team faces off against Charlotte High School Female Basketball team. The two former teammates, now enemies, know this game depends on their performances
The referee blew the whistling the start of the third quarter. The Charlotte started in possession with Esther moving the ball up the court. She passed the ball to Emmanuella who was tightly marked by Shalom
"Huh?" Emmanuella said. She noticed Shalom's calm expression. "Hah! Something's different now, huh?" She said as Shalom stared, smiling at her
"Bring it on!" Shalom screamed, taking a defensive stance
With a swift crossover and a burst of speed, Emmanuella effortlessly glided past Shalom, leaving her stumbling in her wake. Emmanuella took advantage of the opportunity, driving hard to the basket and drawing a double team from the Queens' defense. But Emmanuella was unfazed, using her keen court vision to find an open teammate for an easy layup, extending the Charlottes' lead
Frustration mounted for the Queens, as their defensive struggles continued to be exposed. They knew they needed to find an answer for Emmanuella quickly if they hope to have any chance of making a comeback and advancing to the next round
"Mayowa," Oluchi called out
"What," Mayowa replied
"Double team Emmanuella with Shalom," Oluchi ordered
"No, please. I can handle her alone," Shalom pleaded
"We are down by 7. If you are sleeping, wake up! This isn't the time to prove how tough you are. We have to win!" Oluchi scolded
"I know. But I need time. I swear I'll beat Emmanuella," Shalom
The Queens found themselves in a downward spiral, struggling to contain Emmanuella on defense as she ran riot, displaying an unstoppable solo effort while their offense sputtered and faltered. Over the next 5 minutes, the Charlottes took full control of the game, steadily increasing their lead and building momentum with each possession
The Queens watched helplessly as the deficit ballooned to 15 points, a seemingly insurmountable gap given their defensive woes and current performance. Frustration and doubt began to creep in, with some players hanging their heads and questioning their ability to turn the tide
"Tosin," Mrs. Lawal called
"Ma," Tosin replied
"You see, Shalom is a nice girl. She is easy going and she hardly gets depressed," Mrs. Lawal pointed out
Tosin, a warm smile playing at her lips, "Yes ma. She is always smiling and doing things that makes her happy," she said
"Yeah. Even in this situation…. A situation where nothing is going our way and everyone is angry, frustrated and depressed, she is still smiling," Mrs. Lawal said, pointing at Shalom smiling
"Amazing," Tosin said, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Shalom smiling after all the humiliating experiences she faced during the game
"She has an indomitable heart," Mrs. Lawal said "She's tough to beat"
"Yeah" Tosin nodded in agreement
"Resilient people always fight till the end. They never say die. Our Shalom is one such people," Mrs. Lawal said, "Because she's on the court right now, we can make a comeback in the second half"
"Yes ma'am," Tosin said, a smile playing at her lips
The game continued. Emmanuella trying to dribble past Shalom as she had been doing since the end of the first half. As she ran past Shalom, she realized that the ball had been stolen
The gymnasium erupted into a deafening roar as Shalom stole the ball from Emmanuella, who had momentarily let down her guard. In an instant, the momentum of the game shifted, and the Queens saw a glimmer of hope
Shalom, who has had a quiet outing so far, now in possession of the ball, screamed "COUNTER!"
Shalom charged towards the opposition hoop for a fast-break opportunity. Emmanuella still reeling from the shocking turnover, gave chase, but it was too late
Seeing Emmanuella chasing from behind, Shalom pulled up from beyond the arc and launched a 3 pointer, the ball sailing through the air and swishing through the net. The Queens exploded in celebration as the players on the court exchanged high-fives and embraced Shalom
"Now, you've done it, my dear Shalom," Emmanuella said, smiling
"You'd better be prepared for what's coming ahead because henceforth, you are not passing me again," Shalom said, her face full of life
"Hah! Don't get on your high horse now after just 1 good play against me, Shalom" Emmanuella said "You know it's only the first time it happened"
"Yeah, first of many more to come," Shalom said, her confidence reaching new heights
"Oh?" Emmanuella said, smiling
The Queens still shocked by that one play from Shalom thought it was a fluke. They don't expect it to happen again but thanks to it, they have the momentum now
"Nice play buddy, however I will still win this game" Emmanuella said, attempting to regain control of the game by taking Shalom on once more. But Shalom who had been quiet all game was now brimming with confidence
Emmanuella feinted left, then right, trying desperately to find an opening but Shalom stuck to her like glue, her feet moving in perfect unison with Emmanuella's, blocking every attempted drive to the basket
Frustration mounted for Emmanuella, as she found herself trapped in a defensive vice grip. The rest of the Charlottes looked on, searching for a way to help their star
"Here!" Esther said, stretching her hands to receive a pass from Emmanuella "pass the ball!"
Emmanuella feinted a pass to Esther, aiming to fool Shalom and dribble past her. Shalom who fell for the move, softly elbowed Emmanuella's arm immediately, making her to lose her grip on the ball. Shalom charged for a fast break attack as soon as Emmanuella lost the ball. Mayowa grabbed the ball and threw it in towards Shalom, who was now closing in on the Charlotte's hoop with Eno and Oluchi accompanying her in the attack
Esther desperate to stop the attack, ran back. As she awaits the charging trident, she calmly analyzed "where will they attack from?" Looking at Oluchi who was charging from the left, she thought "will it come from the left?" Looking at Eno who was charging from the right, she thought "or the right?" Looking at Shalom in the middle, she thought, "or will she take it all the way?"
She charged towards Shalom who had already released a no look pass to Mercy who was following from behind.
"Where is the ball?" Esther thought
"Hah! What's up with you today, Shalom? Nice pass" Mercy said, a small smile playing at her lips
Catching the Charlottes off guard, Mercy rose up and sank a 3 pointer, sending the Queens into a frenzy
The Charlottes were now in a state of disbelief, the once commanding lead having evaporated in the blink of an eye.
With precious little time remaining in the third quarter, Esther took control, determined to salvage what was left of their lead. She scanned the court, assessing the situation and calculating the best course of action
As the clock ticked down, she began to dribble, the tension mounting with each bounce of the ball. The clock ticked down to the final 2 seconds, and without hesitation, Esther let loose a 3-pointer shot
The ball arced gracefully through the air, the eyes of every player and fan looked onto its trajectory. Time seemed to slow as the ball neared the basket, finally dropping through the net just as the buzzer sounded, beating the clock and adding 3 points to their lead at the end of the quarter
"I admit, you guys are good, but we will still win." Esther said, her face set in a steely gaze
As the buzzer sounded, signaling the 2 minutes break before the start of the final quarter, both teams huddled around their respective coaches. The atmosphere was tense, the stakes higher than ever.
The Coach of the Charlotte High School team, aware of the need of a fresh strategy, addressed his players
"Alright guys, we've got one quarter left. Emmanuella, take a breather. The rest of you, listen up. We need to switch things up and keep the Queens guessing"
The Charlottes players leaned in, absorbing their coach's words, their expression a mix of determination and urgency. "We'll go with a full-court press" the coach continued. "Force them into making mistakes and capitalize on their turnovers. And on offense, let's work the ball inside. We need to dominate the paint if we are going to come out on top"
The team nodded in agreement, ready to execute the new game plan. With the final quarter looming, they knew they had to leave everything on the court if they want to emerge victorious
Meanwhile at the Queens' bench
The Charlie Queen Academy Female Basketball team players listened intently as their coach mapped out their game plan. With the team down by 12 points, and the final quarter looming, the atmosphere in their huddle was intense. The coach emphasized the urgency of their situation, urging her players to dig deep and leave it all on the court
"Listen up, girls" she began, her voice firm and resolute. "We're down but we are not out of this game. It's not over. We've got 10 minutes to make a comeback to show the Charlottes what we are made of and we are going to need everyone to step up"
She continued "We'll go with a slightly different line up. Shalom"
"Yes ma'am" Shalom replied
"That was an amazing performance out there" Mrs. Lawal said, smiling
"Thank you, ma'am," Shalom said, a small smile playing at her lips
"But you have to rest your legs, okay" Mrs. Lawal said
"Alright, ma'am" Shalom said, smiling
"Tolu, you are in" Mrs. Lawal said, smiling "Go give them hell like you did in the second quarter"
"Right!" Tolu said, her face brimming with determination
"Yes! With Tolu on the court, we are unstoppable" Eno said, as she playfully punches Tolu's shoulder
"Ouch!" Tolu winced
"We're winning this game. Who are we playing against next?" Mayowa asked
"What are you girls talking about? Tolu is just one of the substitutes" Mrs. Lawal said, her tone laced with confident, her smile spreading across her lips, "They've dominated this game and pushed us back till now. It's payback time!"
"Huh? Coach?" Mercy said
"Are you ready?" Mrs. Lawal asked, referring to a girl standing behind the bench
The Queens turned their heads to see who it was. A figure stood in the shadows, donning the Queen's white jersey as the players watched with bated breath. They immediately recognized the jersey number and their anticipation grew. It was the teammate they had been eagerly waiting to play with. The coach had decided to substitute this player into the game at a critical moment, much to the delight of the team
"Yes Coach. It's time for our payback. Let's give them a taste of their own medicine, shall we?" Tosin asked, brimming with confidence