CHAPTER 59
"ASTEROIDS SLAM! TOSIN VS VICTORIA"
As the firsthalf drew to a close, Tosin finally caught the Meteor Pass, a superfast and powerful pass from Tolu, and scored a basket just before the buzzer. The crowd erupted in shock and awe as the Queens celebrated their unexpected success. The referee confirmed that the shot was made before the buzzer, and the basket stood. With the score now 49-29 in favour of Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team, the Queens headed into halftime break with a glimmer of hope and renewed determination to close the gap, and ultimately win the game.
The Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team locker room buzzed with energy and confidence during halftime. However, despite their commanding lead, Coach Bankole addressed his team with stern reminder,
"Guys! Listen up!" He began, "We have a 20-point lead right now. In everyone's eyes, the game is all but over. But we will be digging our own grave if we start thinking we've already won!"
The team reacted with surprise, their voices filled with confusion, "Huh?"
Fisayo questioned their Coach's warning, "Coach, what are you talking about? It'd take a miracle to comeback from here. I mean, being 20 points down ar this point in the game…"
Victoria chimed in, supporting Coach Bankole's sentiments, "Have you learned nothing from this game thus far? I told you not to see the Queens as a weak team! They are strong!"
Coach Bankole agreed, acknowledging the Queens' strength. "Victoria is right. The Queens are very strong right now. They are the dark horse of this year's Christmas Champions Cup"
Fisayo pointed out the effectiveness of Victoria's defense, "Yes, they are good, but they can't beat Victoria's defense, right?"
"Nope, they will." Coach Bankole countered, his expression turning serious
The entire team reacted with shock at their Coach's words, "Huh?"
"Yes, you heard me," Coach Bankole continued, "You all saw it, right? That pass Tolu made. I'm sure we all felt safe when nobody could catch that pass. However, when Tosin caught it and beat the buzzer, I was frightened right where I sat. The Queens are coming like a wave in the second half. They are like an angry lion who had lost to the same opponent three times, recovered, grown bigger and stronger, and is back for vengeance. If we don't take them seriously, we will lose this game. I'm not sure if Victoria can catch that pass, but what if she can't? we're done for! I don't know what they did in just one year, but they've made so much improvement and are so much stronger than they were last year. To win, we have to play against them like we are playing against Wyse International High School!"
The team acknowledged their Coach's instructions with determination, "Right!"
Victoria suggested a strategic adjustment, "I would like to switch marks. Isioma, please mark their center, Eno"
Isioma agreed, "Right!"
"Leave Tosin to me!" Victoria said
Coach Bankole approved, "I see. Alright, let's head out!"
The Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team exited the locker room, prepared to face the Queens with renewed focus and determination
Meanwhile in the Queens' locker room, the Queens found a new sense of hope and determination.
"Tosin, you surprised me out there. I can't believe you caught the pass," Mrs. Lawal praised
"Haha, Tolu did the majority of the work, though" Tolu said, acknowledging Tolu's role in their success
Mrs. Lawal agreed, appreciating Tolu's efforts, "Indeed! The pass itself is out of this world! Plus Tolu had to match Tosin's movements. She also had to get the timing right. All these while also sending that insane pass precisely to Tosin's hand. I must say, Tolu, well done"
The Queens gathered around Tolu in a show of admiration and support. Tolu, grateful for their appreciation, thanked them, "Thank you very much, ma,"
Rallying her team for the upcoming half, Mrs. Lawal said, "Alright, we've done well till now, but there is still one half of basketball to play, and we are down by 20 points. Let's win this game and become the undisputed best team in Lagos!"
"Right!" The Queens chorused, their spirits high and their determination unbreakable
Before heading out to the court, Tolu approached Mayowa, whose hand was heavily bandaged due to the earlier injury caused by Tolu's powerful pass. Tolu began to apologize for causing the injury, but Mayowa stopped her
"No, Tolu. I got hurt because I wasn't strong enough. When Victoria stopped Tosin and Oluchi, I was scared that that was it for us. But then when Tosin beat the buzzer, I started to believe again. It's thanks to you, Tolu. Your meteor pass brought hope to us again," Mayowa said, reassuring her teammates
"I see," Tolu said, a mix of emotions on her face
"So," Mayowa continued, "I don't want you to feel responsible for this injury. Now I want to work hard to recover in time for the Christmas Champions Cup and get stronger so that I can catch your Meteor pass. I promise you that next time we play, I will catch that pass, no matter what!"
"Right! Get well soon!" Tolu said, her face brightening with a warm smile
"Of course!" Mayowa replied, determined to keep her promise
Both teams returned to the court for the seconf half, tension filling the air. The Queeens huddled together one last time before the start of the second half
Tosin, leading the Queens' battle cry, "3, 2, 1, Charlie Queens! Fight!"
"YEAH!" The Queens chorused, their unity and determination echoing throughout the court
Both teams took to their positions on the court, the atmosphere electric as they prepare for the decisive second half of the game
As the tension mounted on the court, Victoria attempted to provoke Tosin with a taunting declaration
"Hey, Loser!" Victoria called
Tosin replied, uninterested in Victoria's mind games, Hmm? What do you want?"
Victoria continued, trying to elicit a reaction from Tosin, "Don't you want to hear about that idiot?"
Tosin remained unfazed, stating, "I couldn't care less"
Victoria persisted, relishing in her perceived victory, "Oh? I believe you have a right to know, though. Alright, I'll tell you. I used him, and once I was done with him, I dumped him. You need to see the look on his facel. Hahahahahahahaha.. he cried like a baby,"
Tosin, calm and collected, fired back, "Oh? You don't seem to get it. John? I was already fed up with him, to be honest. He doesn't call, he doesn't text, he doesn't visit, even when I call, he doesn't pick up, when I text, he doesn't reply. He doesn't care about me. That relationship was getting on my nerves. It was just one-sided. I'm a pretty babe who guys would kill to get. Just because you managed to snatch one of them, don't get ahead of yourself,"
Victoria, smirking, commented on Tosin's confidence despite the current score, "Hah! You sure are confident for someone who is losing by 20 points."
Victoria, then made her way back to defend
Ignoring Victoriia's taunts, Toain remained where she stood at the half court circle as the Queens resumed play. Tolu sent a normal pass to Tosin.
Tosin smiled and said, "Then how about we start closing the gap with this?"
With a leap, Tosin formed Steph Curry's shooting pose and unleashed a daring jump shot from the half court line.
Victoria's eyes widened in shock, questioning Tosin's bold move, "What? From there?"
Just like Steph Curry, Tosin started jogging back to defend even before the ball entered the hoop. The ball soared through the air and swished smoothly through the net, eliciting a thunderous cacophony of applause and cheers from then Queens' supporters
Mercy, both impressed and awestruck, asked, "Damn! Is that copycat copying Steph Curry now? He starts jogging back to defend even before the ball drops in the hoop"
Coach Bankole couldn't help but admire Tosin's skills, thinking, "Tosin, you are truly dangerous! If we don't stop you, we won't win this game"
Victoria, her confidence slightly shaken, resolved to stop Tosin at all costs, thinking, "I can't believe she shot from there. I must stop you, Tosin, no matter what!"
"Fisayo, keep sending the ball my way!" Victoria commanded, her determination unwavering
Fisayo, understanding Victoria's resolve smiled and said, "It seems you are ready to go, huh"
"I feel we have to use all of cards in this game if we want to win" Victoria replied
"Alright, Captain!" Fisayo agreed, fully supporting Victoria's decision
The Rose Newton High School Female Basketbaal Team resumed play, with Fisayo leading the charge. Her advance was halted by Oluchi's tight defense. Fisayo adapted quickly, bouncing a pass to Victoria, who was closely guarded by Tosin in the paint. Undeterred by Tosin's defense, Victoria executed a skillful layup, scoring a crucial basket
"Tolu, let's attack with your Meteor Pass, now!" Tosin called out, eager to strike back against her opponents
"Yes, Ma'am!" Tolu responded
The game resumed with the Queens in possession, Oluchi launched a pass high up in the air for Tolu, who leaped and spiked the ball, unleashing her unstoppable Meteor pass. The ball cut through the full court with a speed faster than the speed of sound, lamding safely in Tosin's capable hands
Unwavering in her focus, Tosin launched a perfectly executed teardrop over Victoria, sending the ball swishing through the hoop. The spectator's excitement grew as the Queens continued to challenge the seemingly unbeatable Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team
As the Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team resumed play, Tosin's thoughts drifted to a past conversation with Mrs. Parker during one of her training sessions
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Flashback
Tosin, holding a bottle of water as she took a short break, began to contemplate a suggestion, "Mrs. Parker," she called out
"Yes? What is it?" Mrs. Parker asked, her attention focused on Tosin
"Maybe it's just me, but slam dunks seem to score just 2 points," Tosin pointed out, her curiosity evident in her voice
"Well, yeah, that's how it is in basketball," Mrs. Lawal replied, accustomed to the nature of the game
"This is just me being curious…" Tosin continued, "…but aren't there slam dunks that score 3 points?"
Mrs. Parker's eyes widened in shock at the question, taking a moment to process the idea
"Except…." Mrs. Parker finally spoke up, "Except in situations where the attacker is fouled while making the shot, creating an opportunity for an extra free throw, there isn't any slam dunk that scores 3 points. At the very least, I haven't seen one myself"
Tosin, undetererd by the uncertainty, shared her thoughts, "I was wondering… every slam dunk starts and ends in the paint, and they score 2 points. Maybe that's why. But what if the slam dunk starts from the 3-point line?"
Mrs. Parker considered Tosin's ide, intrigued by her student's innovative thinking, "Hah! I haven't seen such a thing before. It's super hard to pull off a slam dunk like that because of the distance between the hoop and the three-point line. However, it may be possible for people like you, Tosin. Wiith your super jumps, that is"
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Back to the present
Back in the present, Victoria received a pass from Fisayo in the paint. Guarded by Tosin, she leaped into the air, attempting her powerful signature move, "Incredible Hulk Dunk!" she yelled
Tosin, however, leaped into the air to challenge the shot, the two engaging in a fierce battle for dominance. With Victoria trying to force her dunk in, and Tosin doing her best to stop it, Tosin overpowered Victoria, successfully blocking the monstrous dunk and causing her to stumble and fall. The ball bounced out of bounds, leaving the entire arena in shock
"Sorry, Victoria, it seemed I used too much strength," Tosin said, breaking the stunned silence
"Tsk," Victoria clicked her tongue in frustration as she couldn't hide her annoyance
Eshe, watching from the stands, couldn't help but be impressed with Tosin's feat. "Damn! Did Tosin just block that monstrous dunk? That dunk is strong enough to bring down a basketball hoop. Yet Tosin blocked it? Incrdible!" she mused, her eyes wide with shock
Coach Bankole, recognizing Tosin's immense potential, thought to himself, "Tosin is good, but stopping Victoria's slam dunk? She is on a different level now. The only way we can win this game is to stop her. If we can't stop her…. We're in trouble,"
Mercy, proud of Tosin's achievements, thought, "Teams that have members of the Victorious Varsity on them are blessed by chance. However, we have our own ridiculous player! I'm just glad Tosin attends our school"
Fisayo, still trying to process Tosin's impressive performance, commented, "How she stopped Victoria's slam dunk is beyond me."
As the Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team resumed with Fisayo leading the charge yet again, Tolu masterialized out of nowhere and tapped the ball off Fisayo's grasp, stealing it and creating a fast break opportunity. Tosin grabbed the loose ball and dashed towards the opposite hoop, seemingly unstoppable. Victoria caught up, determined to defend her team's basket, and stood in Tosin's way
"I can't keep losing to you guys from the Victorious Varsity! Enough is enough! I must win now!" Tosin yelled, her determination unwavering
Just then Tosin leaped from the three-point line, soaring high into the air. Victoria leaped as well, in an attempt to stop Tosin's attack
Mrs. Parker, watching from the stands, thought, "What? Tosin is unleashing that now? It's a shot unlike any other. An unstoppable slam that was only created recently by Tosin herself. Powerful enough to destroy the world when unleashed!"
As Victoria began to fall, despite having jumped after Tosin, Tosin continued to float, defying gravity itself
Victoria, shocked and fearful, thought, "What? How am I the first to fall when I jumped second? How can Tosiin float in the air like that? Does she have wings?"
"Asteroids Slam!" Tosin yelled, forcefully throwing the ball. The ball landed in the hoop, destroying the basket and tearing the net, sending shockwaves throughout the arena. The spectators watched in awe and amazement, astounded by Tosin's incredible display of skill and power
Due to the broken basket and torn net, the referee announced a technical timeout for repairs. As the broken basket underwent repairs during the technical timeout, the Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team gathered to reflect on their performance and discuss strategies for the remainder of the game
Coach Bankole seized the opportunity to address his team, "Fisayo, do you get it now?" he asked
"Yes, the Queens are much stronger than they were last year," Fisayo replied, finally acknowledging the Queens' strength
"Tosin might be the headline of today's game, but to me, the most troublesome player is their number 6, Tolu," Coach Bankole asserted
Uzeoma questioned Tolu's significance, "What's so special about her? She hardly scores"'
"Exactly," Isioma agreed
"The fact that she doesn't score makes her dangerous," Coach Bamkole explained, addressing his team's doubts
"Huh?" The team reacted in confusion
"Coach, what do you mean?" Isioma asked for clarification
"You see," Coach Bankole began, demonstrating as he spoke, "Tolu is the best defender the Queens have. But because she doesn't score points, her opponents tend to ignore her, thinking she poses no threat whatsoever. In other words, she operates in the shadows, wreaking havoc on teams while also increasing the potency of her team's attacks"
"Yeah," Fisayo nodded in understanding, giving the 'I understand' geature
Coach Bankole, "Nope, you don't understand, Fisayo. It's a lot more difficult than you think. Even when you try to focus on her, you just end up being losing sight of her. The more you try to focus on her, the more you become an easy prey to her trap,"
"So what do we do, then?" Fisayo asked for guaidance
"Victoria's hands are already full with Tosin. The rest of you, wherever and whenever whoever sees Tolu, make sure she doesn't do as she pleases," Coach Bankole instructed his team
The Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team chorused in agreement, "YEAH!"
Meanwhile, at the Queens' bench, Mrs. Lawal and her team were still trying to wrap their heads around Tosin's earlier Asteroids slam
"Wow! What a slam!" Mrs. Lawal exclaimed
Kevwe expressed her amazement at the team's progress, "What the heck did you guys do this summer? First, it was Tolu's Meteor Pass, and now, even Tosin's Asteroids slam has debuted, too?"
Mercy chimed in, poking fun at the names, "The names are lame, though"
"Don't forget about my rainbow shot!" Oluchi said
"Rainbow shot isn't new. It's well known. I'd rather praise Chioma and Teni for their alley-oop three-pointer in our last game" Eno pointed out
"Why you?" Oluchi said playfully
The Queens erupted into laughter, their camaderie stronger than ever. Mrs. Lawal then seized the moment to address her team
"Guys, this proves that we are stronger now. We can take on any team right now. Also, no matter the outcome of this game, I'm super proud of you guys. However, we've come this far already. We are not turning back now! Let's close the gap further!"
The Queens chorused in response, their determination resounding throughout the court, "YEAH!"
With the basket fixed, both teams returned to the court, each filled with a renewed sense of determination and strategy to secure their victory in this pivotal game
The game resumed with Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team in possession, with Fisayo leading the charge. Their advance, however, was halted by the Queens' tenacious defense
Fisayo, surprised by their opponents' progress, thought to herself, "Wow! I never saw this coming. I didn't expect the Queens to be this good this year. They're probably the most improved team this year and probably one of the top schools currently," she continued bouncing the ball rhythmically, maintaining her focus
"Well, Fisayo, what do you say? Still not impressed?" Oluchi asked, a small smile playing at her lips
"Well, I must admit. You guys are strong." Fisayo replied, acknowledging the Queens' strength, "But, we will still win!"
Without missing a beat, Oluchi attempted to steal the ball as soon as Fisayo finished speaking. Fisayo reacted quickly, passing the ball to Victoria inside the paint
"Hey, listen when others are talking!" Fisayo said, an amused tone in her voice
Oluchi, realizing her missed opportunity, muttered, "Tsk, that was close. I almost stole the ball there"
Victoria leaped into the air, preparing her signature move, "Incredible Hulk Dunk!" she yelled, ready to attack
Tosin, determined to stop Victoria's attack, leaped into the air as well, "No, you don't!" she called out, attempting to block the shot
Victoria adapted swiftly, executing a double clutch layup that sent the ball swishing through the hoop. The Rose Newton High School Female Bakeetball Team exchanged passionate high fives, celebrating their successful play
"Tsk," Tosin, disappointed by the outcome, clicked her tongued in frustration
"Tosin, don't worry about it," Tolu said, offering her support
"Yeah," Tosin replied, and jogged up the court, refocusing her energy on the game
The Queens resumed play with Oluchi tossing the ball high into the air for Tolu. Tolu leaped into the air almost simultaneously with Tosin.
"Meteor Pass!" Tolu whispered, spiking the ball straight into Tosin's hands. The ball moved so quickly that it appeared to have teleported to its destination
Victoria, sensing the danger, leaped to stop Tosin's attack. However, Tosin anticipated Victoria's move and passed the ball to Mercy
"Sweet," Mercy whispered softly, a small smile playing at her lips
Mercy took the opportunity to unleash a three-pointer. The ball soared through the air and landed smoothly in the hoop, provoking s cscophony of cheers from the Queens supporters, who celebrated their team's impressive play
The Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team resumed play with Fisayo leading the charge. Bouncing the ball rhythmically in front of Oluchi, Fisayo devised a strategy
"If I try to shoot from here, Oluchi might block the shot. But what if I dribble past her? Tosin might try to stop me, leaving Victoria free. I see. That might work," Fiayo thought to herself
Fisayo attempted to dribble past Oluchi, but Tolu anticipated her move and tapped the ball out of her hands.
As if she had predicted Tolu's actions, Tosin had already started running towards the opposite hoop, unnoticed
Without hesitation, Tolu unleashed her infamous Meteor Pass yet again, sending the ball flying past Victoria and into the hands of the soaring Tosin, who had jumped from outside the 3-point line. The ball moved at an incredible speed, cutting through the air and reaching Tosin faster than the speed of sound
Chioma and Teni, who had previously executed a barrage of alley-oop three-pointers in the Queens' previous match, watched in awe from the bench as Tolu and Tosin flawlessly executed the advanced version of the same maneuver
Tosin, catching the pass mid-air, unleashed an alley-oop three-pointer instantaneously. The ball soared through the air and swished through the hoop, narrowing the gap to just 10 points
Eshe, observing from the stands, realized she had underestimated the Queens too quickly, "Wow! I wrote them off too quickly. They might actually win this game," she admitted
As the gap closed, the Queens and their supporters felt a renewed sense of hope and belief in a potential comeback victory. The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers, making communication on the court challenging. Tosin, feeding off the energy of the fans, flung her hands, encouraging them to cheer even louder
With their confidence bolstered by the deafening support, the Queens became increasingly determined to secure victory against the Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team
The Rose Newton High School Female Basketball Team resumed play, led by Fisayo. However, her advance was halted by Oluchi's defensive pressure. Distracted by her thought, Fisayo lost focus, allowing Oluchi to take advantage and tap the ball out of her grasps. The ball bounced out of bounds, but since it had last touched Fisayo, possession was awarded to the Queens
Victoria, observing the situation, acknowledged Tolu's key role in the Queens' offensive and defensive strategy, "The backbone behind the Queens, both offensively and defensively is number 6, Tolu Fashola. Her passes are second only to Eshe in the whole country. And there is the trouble of her Meteor Pass, too. To stop the Queens, I shouldn't worry about Tosin. Tosin only becomes a threat when she has the ball. It's simple. I will stop the Meteor Pass!"
The Queens resumed play, with Oluchi tossing the ball high up into the air for Tolu.
Victoria, determined to disrupt their strategy, yelled, "Bring it on!"
Tolu leaped into the air, assuming a spiking pose, and spiked the ball straight to Tosin. Victoria, anticipating the pass, attempted to intercept it with an oustretched arm. However, the ball moved faster than sound, pushing Victoria's arm away and landing safely in Tosin's hands. The crowd was stunned by Tolu's powerful pass, as Isioma tried to stop Tosin's attack, leaving Eno unguarded. Tosin seized the opportunity, passing the ball to Eno, who slammed it into the hoop
Impressed by Tolu's new pass, Oluchi grinned, thinking, "Damn! Tolu's new pass is something. Not even the almighty Victoria can catch it!"
Mrs. Lawal equally amazed, commented, "The force of the pass was too great that it pushed Victoria's arm away. It's like a bullet, I must say."
Eshe noted the Queens' progress in mounting a comeback, stating, "With juat 8 seconds left in the third quarter, the Queens will head into the final quarter, trailing by a single-digit deficit"
Determined to maintain their momentum, Tosin ordered, "Queens! Not yet! Let's switch to plan B immediately"
The Queens responded with a resounding, "YEAH!" and trasitioned into their full court defense, putting pressure on their opponents
Isioma, attempting to avoid a potential turnover, called for a pass. Feranmi obliged, tossing the ball towards her, seemingly unguarded. However, Tolu intercepted the pass and tossed it high into the air. Tosin leaped into the air, attempting a slam dunk, but Victoria leaped as well, trying to block the shot
Tosin, anticipating Victoia's move, smiled and said, "I thought you might try that."
Tosin then passed the ball to the unguarded Oluchi, who was positioned in the three-point area
Oluchi muttered, "Nice pass, Captain!" and unleashd a rainbow shot. The buzzer sounded as the ball sailed through the air and swished through the net
The third quarter ended with a score of 71-66, the Rose Newto High School Female Basketball Team still leading. Both teams returned to their respective benches as the crows roared in excitement. The Queens exchanged passionate high fives, celebrating their successful play and determined to carry their momentum into the final quarter