The Queens continued their rigorous training and preparation for the upcoming playoffs, dedicating countless hours to improve their speed and agility. The team's unwavering works ethic was evident as they practice before the morning assembly and after school hours, earning them the reputation for being the hardest workers in the school
"Faster! Faster! The technique I want to teach you relies heavily on speed!" Mrs. Lawal yelled as the players dashed across the gym, their shoes squeaking against the polished floor
Training was indeed intense, but the players didn't complain. They knew that achieving greatness required dedication and sacrifice. Their dreams were big, and they were willing to put in the work to make them a reality
Mrs. Lawal blew her whistle, calling her players to gather around her. "Girls, I commend your efforts thus far. You've been amazing. The training regimes have been brutal, and yet you've been putting up with it. There are always rewards for hard work. However, we still aren't as fast as we need to be, which means we still have a long way to go"
The Queens exchanged serious glances, fully prepared to give it their all
"Although we have a long way to go, time waits for no one," Mrs. Lawal continued. "The playoffs brackets and fixtures are out!"
"Who are we facing in the round of 16?" Tosin asked, anticipation evident in her voice
"Our first game this year will be against the Divine Standard High School, also known as the Falcons," Mrs. Lawal announced
"I've never heard of them. Are they strong?" Shalom inquired; her curiosity piqued
"They dominated the Christmas Champions Cup for almost three decades," Mercy chimed in. "Precisely, they've won the tournament for a record 28 times. No school comes close."
The Queens' eyes widened in shock, their collective gasp reverberating throughout the gym
"What? 28 times?" Tosin repeated, scarcely believing what she had just heard
"It's just like Mercy said, they used to be a super powerhouse school. They were nicknamed Super Falcons at one point during their dominant era. However, they are now simply known as Fallen Falcons or Flightless Birds. They haven't made it to the Christmas Champions Cup in 12 years," Mrs. Lawal explained
"Talk about an awfully painful story of falling from grace," Tosin commented, shaking her head
"However, I don't want you girls to underestimate them," Mrs. Lawal warned. "You all need to be at your absolute best. The game will take place in five days' time. Alright, that's it for today. Dismiss!"
As the Queens dispersed, with the night growing darker, Tosin and Shalom walked together, their laughter echoing through the quiet streets. Their conversation turned to the upcoming playoffs, and their next opponents
"I still can't believe a school has won the tournament 28 times," Tosin mused loudly, her voice tinged with amazement
"It's an impressive record, no doubt," Shalom agreed, her eyes wide with wonder. "It makes you wonder about the school that comes after them in terms of number of Christmas Champions Cup won, doesn't it?"
Tosin's curiosity was piqued. "Mercy did say that no one comes close"
Shalom replied, "I heard the stars who are the current defending Champions, have won it 9 times. I don't think any other school has won it more than five times"
Tosin's eyes widened, "The stars, huh? Sounds like a nickname to me. Do you know their real name?"
Shalom shook her head. "Nope. All I know is that they based in Abuja"
"If we want to win the Christmas Champions Cup this year, we will have to beat them." Tosin said
"True." Shalom agreed, her voice filled with determination
As the girls continued their journey home, Tosin's footsteps came to an abrupt halt. "Oh no, I forgot my further mathematics textbook in the gym!" She exclaimed, frustrated at her forgetfulness.
"We can go get it back." Shalom offered, ever the supportive friend
"No, it's okay. You can go home." Tosin insisted
"Are you sure?" Shalom asked
"Yes." Tosin assured, "I have the gym's spare keys. You should go home and get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow"
Shalom nodded, "Alright, if you say so. Goodnight Tosin"
"Goodnight Shalom" Tosin replied
The two friends exchanged a warm embrace as they parted ways
Tosin made her way back to the school, her footsteps quick and purposeful. As she approached the gym, the sound of a bouncing basketball reached her ears. Curiosity piqued, she cautiously made her way inside, her eyes adjusting to the lighting. What she saw made her freeze in her tracks as she watched from the entrance.
"Mercy?" Tosin called, surprise evident in her voice
Mercy froze, her eyes wide with surprise as Tosin called her name. Mercy's grip faltered, and the ball she had been holding tumbled to the ground
"Tosin!" She called out, surprise etched on her face. "What are you doing here? I thought you had gone home"
Tosin raised an eyebrow, mirroring Mercy's surprise, "I should be asking you the same thing. What are you doing here, Mercy?"
Nervous laughter escaped Mercy's lips as she attempted to brush off the inquiry. "Oh, nothing. I'm not doing anything"
Tosin's gaze remained steady, her skepticism evident as she folded her arms. "Really?"
Realizing she couldn't evade the question, Mercy stammered out a half-truth. "I was just putting the balls away. But I thought I should practice a little before leaving"
Tosin seemed to accept the answer for the moment, transitioning to the reason for her own return. "I forgot my further mathematics textbook here. Did you see it?"
"Yeah, I did," Mercy replied, her tone brightening with the opportunity to change the subject. "I was going to give it to you tomorrow in class, but now that you're here, let me fetch it for you"
Mercy rushed to her bag and returned moments later with the book, offering it to Tosin. "Here you go"
"Thanks," Tosin said, stowing the textbook away and closing her bag. "Now, Mercy, will you tell me what you're actually doing here?"
Mercy attempted to recycle her earlier explanation, but Tosin cut her off. "We both know you're lying. So, really, what's going on?"
With a heavy sigh, Mercy relented, "Well, I'm practicing my shooting."
Tosin's lips curved into a knowing smile. "This is about Teni, right?"
"Yeah," Mercy admitted, her voice a mix of resignation and determination
Tosin nodded, her eyes shining with understanding. "I thought as much. You know, it's good to have competition in the team, right? It pushes us all to be better"
"Y-yes." Mercy agreed, albeit hesitantly
Before she continued, Tosin dropped her bag and shrugged off her tracksuit jacket, an unspoken challenge in her moments
"What are you doing?" Mercy asked, taken aback by Tosin's sudden intensity
"From now on, I'll train with you after the main team's training session everyday." Tosin declared
"Hey! You don't have to-" Mercy began, only to be interrupted by the sound of a ball soaring through the air. Tosin had seized a stray basketball and launched a three-pointer while Mercy's attention was diverted. The ball sailed through the air and landed in the hoop with a satisfying swish
"Nah, this is a challenge, Mercy," Tosin said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "If you can't beat me in a three-pointer duel, you'll have to kiss goodbye to the starting line-up spot on our team"
Mercy's eyes narrowed, her competitive spirit flaring to life. "You're on! Bring it, Tosin!"
The Queens continued their preparation for their playoff round of 16 clash against the Divine Standard High School. Everyone had honed their skills, primed and ready for the impending battle; everyone but one…..
"Rebound!" Oluchi's voice pierced through the air as Eno leaped, tapping the ball into the hoop
"Huff, huff, huff," Mercy panted, her exhaustion palpable
"Mercy!" Mrs. Lawal's sharp, echoing with disappointment. "How could you miss such an easy shot?! You must focus, now more than ever!"
"Huff, huff, huff, yes, ma'am!" Mercy managed between gasps, her gaze trained on the ball
With a shrill whistle, Mrs. Lawal beckoned the Queens. "It's 5pm. I'm dismissing you early today. Rest up for tomorrow's game. But before you leave, collect your new kits from the staffroom. Also, remember, tomorrow marks our first game since last December. Let's show them what we're made of!"
"Yes ma'am!" The Queens chorused their acknowledgement, a blend of anticipation and resolve in their voices
As the Queens gathered their new kits, excitement bubbled within them. The fresh design was a testament to their team spirit, and they couldn't wait to don the colours in tomorrow's game. Tosin, clad in her number 10 pink kit, approached Teni, who was quietly staring at her own
"Nice kit, huh? Why number 12?" Tosin inquired, her tone friendly
Teni, unresponsive, turned away, a frigid silence trailing her departure
"Some things never change," Tosin muttered, her words heavy with the weight of unreciprocated camaraderie
An hour later, Mercy remained in the school's quiet embrace, practicing her shooting well after her teammates had retired for day
"Tosin didn't stay back today," Mercy mused, holding a ball. "Well, that's fine"
Her words hung in the air as she unleashed a shot, the ball rebounding off the hoop. The sudden squeak of sneakers jolted her from her thoughts, and she turned to see Tosin dashing towards the hoop. Tosin then leaped high and slammed the airborne ball into the hoop
"Nope, I'm here," Tosin declared, landing deftly
"I thought you'd gone home." Mercy said, surprised
"I figured you'd stay back as usual, so I did too." Tosin explain. "Mercy, Coach told us to go home and rest. Why are you still here?"
"That's no business of yours!" Mercy retorted, defiance in her voice
"You need to be in top shape tomorrow!" Tosin pressed on, concern colouring her tone
"Who do you think you are? My mum?" Mercy challenged, her frustration mounting
"I'm your friend! Come on, buddy, let's go home," Tosin urged, her voice a gentle plea
"Go home if you want to! Me? I'm not leaving until I'm done training! Leave me alone!" Mercy snapped, her words ringing in the empty gymnasium
A heavy silence followed before Tosin gathered her belongings, the sound of her retreating footsteps punctuating the quiet.
Unfazed, Mercy continued her solitary training, honing her skills until the clock struck 8pm
The next day, the Queens' anticipation grew as they carried out their daily academic routines, eagerly awaiting the 4 pm game. With Mrs. Lawal strict instructions in mind, they gathered at the school's gymnasium at 2pm, their determination etched upon their faces
"Is everyone here?" Mrs. Lawal inquired, her gaze sweeping across the team
"Mercy isn't here yet," Shalom replied, concern tinging her voice
"Where is she?" Mrs. Lawal questioned, her tone firm yet laced with worry. "Fetch her, please"
"Yes ma'am," Shalom obliged
A brief moment of silence settled upon the Queens until Mercy's voice rang out, cutting through the quiet scene.
"Don't worry, I'm here now," Mercy said
As her gaze met with Tosin's, a silent understanding seemed to pass through them
"Now, that everyone's here," Mrs. Lawal continued, her commanding presence reasserting itself. "Let's ensure we have everything we need for the game"
The Queens hastily rummaged through their bags, ensuring no essential item had been forgotten. Once satisfied, they responded in unison, "Yes, ma'am"
"Today, we face the Falcons at 4pm." Mrs. Lawal declared, her voice heavy with determination. "We must arrive at the arena by 2:30 pm, giving ourselves ample time to prepare and focus."
The gym thrummed with the shared resolve of the Queens, their dedication to claiming victory infectious
Mrs. Lawal's expression turned fierce. "Alright guys, let's go get that title!"
The Queens responded with a loud, unified chant, "YEAH!" Their camaraderie and determination were palpable, filling the air with an electric sense of anticipation as they zoomed off to the arena
As the Queens arrived at the arena, they quickly changed into their warm-up kits. The Queens, now adorned in their warm-up kits, exuded an air og confidence as they prepared for the impending clash. Yet, beneath the surface, a simmering unease threatened to unsettle the team's harmony
"Tosin," Mayowa called out, her voice tinged with confidence. "You seem ready to go. Aren't you nervous?"
"No," Tosin replied, her steely resolve unwavering, "I'm eager to get on the court and show them what I'm capable of."
"Great! I feel the same." Mayowa said, her confidence evident in her smile
Turning their attention towards Mercy, who had just missed a shot, Mayowa voiced her concern. "Mercy has missed every shot she's taken during this warm-up session. Is she okay?"
Tosin, her brow creased with worry, replied, "I hope she's okay. She hadn't been herself ever since Teni joined. I'm worried about her."
"Me too," Mayowa said, empathizing with her friend's distress. "Speaking of Teni, she's on fire today. She's only taken three-pointers, today and she hasn't missed a single shot"
"Teni is not the team's best shooter for nothing," Tosin affirmed, her admiration for Teni's skills evident in her voice
"If only she were a little more approachable," Mayowa mused, echoing the team's sentiment regarding their newest member
"You can say that again, girl," Tosin agreed, a hint of exasperation in her tone
As the warm-up session drew to a close, both teams retreated to their respective locker rooms to receive their final instructions
"Listen up, girls," Mrs. Lawal began, her voice commanding the attention of her team. "Mayowa, Kevwe, Tolu, Mercy, and Teni, our starting five for today's game will be you guys."
"Right!" The chosen players chorused, their spirits bolstered by their coach's decision.
"Coach," Oluchi interjected, her confusion apparent. "We're starting with two shooting guards but no point guards?"
"That's my decision," Mrs. Lawal said firmly, her authority on the matter unshakable. "These five are our starting players for this game."
"Oluchi, trust us. We will win this game!" Mercy said, a reassuring smile gracing her lips
"Well, if you say so," Oluchi conceded, her faith in her teammates unwavering
"Alright, girls," Mrs. Lawal declared, her eyes blazing with determination. "Let's go give them hell!"
The Queens huddled together, their bond forged in the fires of adversity. Tosin stood at the center, the heart of the team
"In 3…. 2…. 1… Charlie Queens! Fight!" Tosin yelled, her voice ringing with conviction
"Yeah!!!" The Queens roared in unison, their spirits united as one