The crowd was on its feet, cheering her name as she sank yet another three-pointer, her tenth since the second half started. The opposition's coach called a timeout- It's their last timeout of the game. The Queens college had exhausted their timeouts trying to stop the red hot Chioma but could only watch as the gap in their scores widen.
"I live in a small estate with my family in Clifton, Arizona; I came to Nigeria to study and learn a little about my home, at least till I graduate. I don't have a huge social cycle, but the few friends I have, I cherish deeply. I make a point to nurture and strengthen our relationships as much as possible. People often raise eyebrow because I'm passionate about all sports. They think it's unusual, but I couldn't care less. My absolute favourite is basketball. Why basketball, you ask? Honestly, I don't have a specific reason. I just love everything about it! However, there is one thing that really gets under my skin – why do girls and boys have to play separately? It doesn't make sense to me. What's wrong with girls and boys playing together on the same team, competing against girls and boys from other teams? I had actually considered quitting basketball altogether. I was convinced it wasn't worth the frustration. But then, that fateful day arrived when I met him. Watching him play basketball sparked something within me – a desire to learn from him and a hunger to never lose to him. Now, I have a goal in mind: to become the first female NBA player and surpass him. The thought echoes in my mind. I will make it happen no matter what it takes" ….Chioma thought to herself, clenching her fist tightly as she heads towards the bench
Coach Lawal gathered the team, her voice filled with pride. "Great job, guys. With our substantial lead and only two minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, you guys should get some rest. Eno, Oluchi, Shalom, Mercy, and Tosin, you're up next"
The girls responded eagerly, acknowledging the coach's call
"Your mission is clear," 'Mrs. Lawal continued. "Show no mercy. Take care of the fast breaks. Show them who the real Queens are."
The team erupted in a unified chant, "YES, MA!"
Tosin took charge, rallying her teammates. "Alright, let's do this! On 3... 2...1... CHRLIE QUEENS!!! FIGHT!!!"
"YEAH!" The team screamed
The girls high fived each other, bursting with energy and determination as they prepare to seal the victory
Meanwhile on the Queens college bench
Coach Chukwuma slumped against the railing, his face etched with disappointment "This is humiliating. It doesn't make sense. The Charlie Queens haven't played a single game since their defeat to Rose Newton High school 3 years ago so how are they so strong? Damn it"
"I'm afraid, that's not all" Grace interrupted
"Huh?" The players chorused
Coach Chukwuma, curious, asked "what do you mean?"
"Well, I'm sure some of us have noticed by now but I'll say it anyway" Grace continued "You might not be aware of this but I'm a fan of the Charlie Queens Academy Female Basketball team"
"WHAAAAAAAATTTTTT?????!!!!" Chorused the Queen college team. They were shocked to hear that their captain is a fan of the Charlie Queens
"What? Why are you surprise?" Grace asked
"Nothing" said Fortune
Grace continued "I love them because they are passionate. I always watch their games no matter what but never mind that now. You see, the Charlie Queens have come a long way in a short time. What do I mean? Their team was created 3 years ago and in just their first year, they were so close to going to the nationals. Their first game was the Round of 16 of the play-offs. Unluckily, their first game was a tough test as they faced the Charlottes. This was the game that made me fall in love with them. I just happened to be in the area at the time so I decide to watch the game as I didn't have anything to do at the time. At first, it looked like Charlie Queens were going to lose because they had problem trying to contain the formidable Emmanuella but they didn't give up. They fought hard and made a remarkable comeback to win the game. It was an upset and nobody believed it but they did it. They advanced to the Quarter finals where they went up against another incredibly strong school- Rose Mary. This time, it was a one-sided affair as the Charlie Queens dominated the game. Though the Rose Mary school team were missing their ace for some unknown reasons, but the Charlie Queens didn't pull back their punches as they eased to a somewhat bitter sweet victory as they also lost their captain in a painful accident that occurred in the closing staves of the game. They were forced to face the Rose Newton high school without their leader. With a member of the Victorious Varsity on the team, the game was pretty much a walk in the park for Rose Newton High school as they completely destroyed the Charlie Queens. It was painful. But I was also worried that it might not end there. It turned out that I was right as we didn't see them compete in any competition for 3 years. My guess is that they probably quit but I might be wrong. Who knows? But whatever it was, they fought it and made a comeback. It must have hurt really bad but they are here. Their first official game happened to be against us. To be honest, none of the 5 players that destroyed us is a starter. That's the difference in our strengths. They've worked hard and here they are. Despite being this strong, they still don't stand a chance against the Victorious Varsity. In contrast what have we been doing? We hardly train and even when we train, we always complain about how tough training is. They are secondary school students like us but see the vast difference in strength." said Grace
The Queens college team's mood changed as they felt a mixture of guilt and shame
Grace continued "From their story, they are close to being the best team in Nigeria. There are only 5 teams standing in their way. They've beaten all but the teams with members of the Victorious Varsity. So, you see, only 5 teams stand in their way. There is only one way to be the best, HARDWO….."
As she was talking, the referee signaled the end of their timeout
As the teams returned to the court, Oluchi's piercing gaze lingered on Chioma, now seated on the bench. Tosin whispered tantalizingly, "Fear creeping in? Coach might bench you, you know"
Oluchi's response was laced with defiance. "You think I'd back down? No way"
Tosin's lips curled into a sly smile. "Chioma's halftime fury unleashed a 45-point avalanche in just one half. You're either intimidated or inspired."
Oluchi's eyes flashed with determination. "Talent won't save her. I won't be outdone"
Tosin's hand shot up for a high five. "That's the fire I love! Shall embark on a journey to destruction city?"
Oluchi's response was a resounding high-five and a single, charged word "YEEEAAAH!!"
Meanwhile on the opposition paint
"Jesue! Why are they on the pitch?" Grace exclaimed; her eyes widened in fear
"What is it?" Fortune asked
"The iron wall Eno, Oluchi the dependable point guard, Mercy whose shots hardly miss, Shalom who beats all but the Victorious Varsity in a one on one, and Captain Tosin. There is no mistake. These girls are the regulars!!!!!!!" Grace exclaimed
"What?!" The team chorused
"WE'RE TOAST!!!" Grace said
The referee's whistle pierced the air, signaling the game's resumption. Oluchi and Tosin exchanged a fierce glance before returning to their focused expressions.
On the court, Charlie Queens' five moved with precision, maintaining their huge lead. Oluchi quickly scored 12 points off 4 3-pt shots. She was also solid on defense as she stole the ball twice, creating fast break opportunities on both occasion and assisting her teammates on both fast break opportunities. Just as she received the ball again, the Queens college double teamed her, leaving Sharon free for an open look. Oluchi tossed the ball to Sharon who then tossed a jump shot from the paint, giving Oluchi her 3rd assist and adding 2 more points to their already outrageous lead
With just 6 secs left, the Queens college, gave in to their fate, using up the remaining 6 seconds. As soon as the final buzzer sounded, the Charlie Queens celebrated their victory while the Queens College were heartbroken as they were completely destroyed. The score was 144-67, with standout performances from Chioma who had 45 points, 17 assists and Mayowa who had 36 points, 19 rebounds
At the Queens College dressing room, the air was heavy with disappointment, the silence oppressive. Players sat slumped staring at the floor or their lockers. Some shook their heads, replaying events of missed shots and turnovers from the game
Grace, the team captain, sighed deeply and broke the silence "How many of you wants to quit?"
The murmurs grew louder as players exchanged skeptical glances. "How many of you wants to quit? Now is your chance" Grace repeated coldly
"What do you mean, 'quit'?" Zainab asked "Should you be talking about this right now? How do you think we are feeling after such a heavy defeat?"
"I DON'T CARE!" Grace screamed, putting on a cold look "Zainab, we are in SSS 1 now. The team that beat us today are probably JSS3 and below. Don't you feel ashamed of the fact that we were easily beaten in an official basketball game by our juniors?"
Zainab felt defeated instantly as Grace continued "Don't come preaching to me about feelings. We've got to get stronger! To do that, we are going to start training intensely. I'm simply asking if there are people who are frustrated and want to get stronger. We will start training and the rest will quit the team. So who is with me?"
Grace's question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of commitment and uncertainty. One by one, the members of the team rose to their feet, determination etched on their faces. Zainab, her eyes gleaming with resolve, joined her teammates as they stood united, ready to give their all for the cause.
Grace smiled at the display of unity before her ". "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice tinged with joy. "It's going to be intense, you know"
Fortune, a fierce determination in her gaze, stepped forward, "We are staying." She declared, her words ringing with conviction. "Don't try to stop us. You're free to quit if you don't like it."
Grace's smile broadened into a grin, her own resolve steeling in the face of Fortune's unwavering determination "Alright then." She said, her voice rising to match the energy in the room. "We've all pledged that we will become stronger and next year, we will return to exact our revenge against the Charlie Queens! We shall who the real queens are!"
The team, now full of fighting spirits, roared "YEEEEAAAAHHHH!"
Meanwhile, at the Charlie Queens' dressing room, the atmosphere was electric as the team reveled in their recent victory
"Now we are through to the quarter-finals!" Shalom exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement
"Who are we facing in the quarter-finals?" Eno inquired, eager to learn more about their opponents
"It hasn't been decided yet" Mercy replied "The game between African Church International High School and Charlotte High School is still ongoing. Should we go and watch?"
Oluchi chimed in, "I'm going to pass on this one. We already know who would win. The African Church International High School won't be able to stop Emmanuella no matter what they do. So, our next opponents should be Charlotte High School"
"You got a point" Shalom said "African Church International High School for Emmanuella's skills. It's pretty much a given that Charlotte High School will be our next opponents."
Eno nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "That's going to be an exciting rematch" she said "Charlotte High School has a very strong team. 3 years ago, we struggled against them. Now they're stronger but I believe in our strength. We're stronger too. It'd be a tough match"
Mercy chimed in. "Absolutely! I can't wait"
"It's good to celebrate our victory. It is also good to be confident but don't forget to get some rest, okay" Mrs Lawal suddenly said
"Yes ma'am" The Queens chorused
The dressing room buzzed with excitement and determination as the Queens geared up for their next game. The room suddenly became quiet when a phone rang
"Hello Babe…. Yes I'm done. I'll be with you soon….. Yes…. Bye…. Love you" Tosin ended the call
The Queens were curious as to who the lucky guy who has stolen their captain's heart is "Hmmmm"
"What?" said Tosin, now feeling shy
The Queens' curiosity was palpable as they surrounded Tosin, bombarding her with questions
"Spill the beans, Captain! Who is the lucky guy? Shalom asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement
Tosin's cheeks flushed, but she couldn't hide her radiant smile, "You'll find out soon enough"
Mercy teased "I thought you only ever thought about Basketball. Is he a Basketball player too? Maybe he's playing for the male Basketball team"
Tosin playfully rolled her eyes "No, he's not"
"Come to think of it, you've become more girlish lately." Oluchi said "Tell us more about him. Is he....."
"Guys, I have to go now. See you guys in training. Coach, I have to go now" Tosin
"Sure" Mrs Lawal said, putting on a bright smile
"Awwwnnn. Tosin is now in a relationship. So cute" Eno said
"I'm so happy for her. I can't wait to meet him" Shalom said, smiling brightly
"Guys, tidy up the room before leaving, okay" Mrs Lawal said as she walked out of the dressing room
"YES MA'AM!!!" The Queens said
At the game between the African Church International High School and the Charlotte High School, Emmanuella's frustration was palpable as the game unfolded. "Damn it. I can't believe we're losing this badly." She exclaimed, her face etched with defeat. "Things would have been a lot better and easier if we only had a single player to worry about, but there are 3!"
Ruth, seemingly feeling bored, said, "Well, well, well. Shall we just wrap up this match already?" she said, glancing at her teammates. "I want to catch the latest episode of SWEET SECRET AFFAIR and I don't want to miss it."
Margaret, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, "Good point. I could go for some snacks, anyway."
Nkem, bouncing the ball, grinned mischievously. "All 3 of us have things we want to do after the game, so let's wrap this up already and go home, shall we?"
Without waiting for a response, Nkem executed a quick pass to Ruth, who then lobbed the ball toward Margaret under the hoop, imbuing the pass with extra spin. The ball travelled at light speed, ending up in Margaret's palm as she leaped into the air. With impeccable timing and precision,
"WHAAAAAT?" Emmanuella said, her shock palpable
Margaret caught the ball and slammed it into the hoop for an incredibly fast alley-oop, adding to their lead as the final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game. The scoreboard illuminated the final score: 98-76 in favour of African Church International High School who had defeated the Charlotte High School and secured a spot in the quarter-finals against Charlie Queens Academy
"What sorcery allowed her to anticipate that insane pass? And catching it? Damn!" Emmanuella, wearing a shock expression, thought, "Just what in the world are these girls?"
The African Church International High School team celebrated their victory joyfully but to the 3 prodigies, it was just another game. They felt the game was too easy
"Look at those two, celebrating like they just won a lottery. Our opponent was not good enough." said Ruth
"Yeah, it was too easy. I was looking forward to the game because I heard they had really good players only to be disappointed. I can't believe Tosin and Shalom had a hard time against a team like this 3 years ago. Not to mention that this current Charlotte High School team is probably stronger than they were 3 years ago. At this rate, we'll have to shift our attentions to the Victorious Varsity," Margaret said
"That's true. Well, speaking of Tosin and Shalom, I wonder how they are doing. I've missed them so much. I overheard someone saying that their school had a blowout win despite resting their starting 5." Ruth said
"Are you serious?" Margaret asked, her eyes widened in shock at the news
"If what those guys said is true, then….." Ruth said
"Wow! In that case, our impending battle against the Queens has my full attention. I can't wait" Margaret said, as her face lit with a radiant grin
"I've missed Tosin and Shalom so much. I can't wait to see them again" Ruth said
"Well, it's good we won and it's good they won, too," Nkem commented, wiping the sweat from her brow. "This quarter-final showdown is going to be special for us. Let's go say hi to our old friends, shall we?!"