CHAPTER 46 - A Bastard's Grandeur

The first round of the playoffs between the Queens and the Falcons tipped off, and the court erupted into a frenzy of motion. The crowd's roar became a constant hum, punctuated by bursts of cheers and groans. The air was thick with tension, the smell of sweet and exertion hanging heavy over the court. The Queens, however seems to be their own enemies. The team that had once been a well-oiled machine now found itself at odds, with internal conflicts threatening to dismantle their dreams of victory

"Pass the ball, Teni!" Mercy called out, her frustration mounting as Teni continued to hold onto the ball

"I've got this!" Teni retorted, dismissing Mercy's plea

The Falcons, recognizing the Queens' vulnerability, pounced on the opportunity, snatching the ball from Teni and executing a fast break

"So, after that big showing in the first quarter, it looks like you're done for today, Miss. Big Talk," taunted Tombari, the Falcons' point guard, a sly grin spreading across her face

Nimota, the Falcons' shooting guard, picked up the loose ball and dashed towards the Queens' hoop, executing a fine layup

Mercy, irked by Teni's refusal to cooperate, lost her cool, grabbing Teni's shirt, she confronted her teammate. "What is wrong with you? Basketball is a team sport! You can't win this game on your own!"

Teni, unfazed by Mercy's outburst, replied, "It's the job of the ace to lead the team to victory. We don't need to pass the ball around; we need me to score!"

Kevwe, witnessing the conflict unfold, attempted to intervene. "Knock it off, guys! We can't afford to be divided right now"

Despite Kevwe's efforts, the game continued to spiral out of control for the Queens. Possession after possession, they found themselves unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Each missed shot and stolen ball chipped away at their resolve, leaving them floundering in the face of the Falcons' relentless assaults

With the first half's final buzzer just seconds away, the Queens seized possession with Teni leading the attack. As usual, the Falcons triple-teamed Teni, but she refused to pass the ball. Predictably, she lost the ball, but Mercy was quick enough to pick it up and launch a three-pointer

The ball bounced off the rim, creating a rebounding opportunity. Charity, the Falcons' center, screened Mercy out and won the rebound, releasing a pass to Taiye, the Falcons' power forward. Taiye dribbled past Kevwe with ease and launched a pass into the air to the soaring Kehinde, the Falcons' small forward, and Taiye's twin sister. Kehinde then unleashed a slam dunk, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the first half

As the halftime buzzer sounded, both teams retreated to their respective locker rooms, each faced with their own challenges and revelations. The Queens burdened by a 27-point deficit, entered their locker room with heavy hearts and simmering tensions

"39-12, huh?" Mrs. Lawal's voice echoed through the room, her disappointment and frustration palpable. "I thought we were going to be the best this year. How are we losing by 27 points?"

Mercy spoke up, "Coach, it's Teni. She held on to the ball too long even when she was facing three defenders at the same time"

Teni countered, her frustration mounting, "Well, I'm not the one who missed every shot she has taken today."

Mercy shot back, "And I'm not the one who has 14 turnovers in a single half"

As the bickering escalated, Tosin intervened, her voice cutting through the argument. "Guys, knock it off already! Coach is still talking"

Mrs. Lawal, turning her attention to Mercy, questioned her performance. "Mercy, you said Teni didn't pass the ball, but why didn't you make your shots when you had the chances?"

Realizing her own shortcomings, Mercy replied sheepishly, "I'm sorry, Coach"

"As long as you understand what's at stake here, it's fine," Mrs. Lawal said, her tone firm yet forgiving. She then turned to Teni, addressing her blatant lack of teamwork. "You need to trust your teammates. Without trust, we can't move forward"

Teni, her irritation evident, remained silent, her gaze locked on Mrs. Lawal

Seeking a solution, Mrs. Lawal acknowledged the dilemma they faced. "Now, after all that's been said, nothing has changed. We are still behind by 27 points. On offense, our opponents are wary of Teni's shooting abilities, so they triple-team her. Teni, however isn't a team player, leading to numerous turnovers. And when the ball lands in Mercy's hands, she misses. What do we do?"

As the Queens pondered their strategy, a voice broke through the silence. "Coach…"

Meanwhile, in the Falcons' locker room, the atmosphere was jubilant yet focused

"Well done out there girls," praised Miss Kess, the Divine Standard High School Team's Coach. "However, we are not facing the Queens at their best today"

Curiosity piqued, Tombari asked, "What do you mean, Miss Kess?"

Miss Kess, her gaze sweeping across her team, divulged her suspicions. "I think the Queens have an internal issue that they want to solve very quickly. They probably want to use this match to solve it"

Charity, understanding the implications, chimed in. "That's why they aren't using their strongest lineup, right?"

"Probably," Miss Kess replied. "Their Coach, Mrs. Lawal is a smart woman, but she's outdone herself this time. Let's make sure they regret this!"

"RIGHT!" The Falcons roared in unison, their resolve strengthening as they prepared to return to the court

As the 10-minute break came to an end, both teams reemerged, the weight of the game and their own inner battles resting heavily on their shoulders. The second half was about to commence. With each player eager to prove their mettle and secure a place in the quarterfinals

As the players took to the court, the energy within the arena reached a fever pitch. Spectators roared in anticipation, their cheers reaching a deafening crescendo. Amidst the sea of fervent supporters, a mysterious figure sat, cloaked in a black suit and donning a pair of dark sunglasses, his hair impeccably combed

His gaze locked onto Tolu as she took to the court, his voice a mere whisper. "That must be her. The first was a disaster but that's fine. I hope you're going to show me something amazing in the second half. Right, Tolu?"

The falcons initiated the second half, their progress momentarily halted by the Queens' newly implemented defensive strategy. Each player was tightly guarded, the tension on the court mounting with each passing moment

"I see you've changed some things, huh?" Tombari, the falcons point guard, observed, addressing Tolu's new role. "And now you're the point guard. Right, Tolu?"

Without waiting for a response, Tombari leaped into the air, releasing a three-pointer that swished cleanly through the hoop. Her confidence grew as she taunted Tolu. "You can't stop me. This is going to be a walk in the park"

Unfazed by Tombari's boastful remarks, Tolu calmly scanned through the court as the Queens launch their attack taking stock of the Falcons defensive formation. "Are you sure about this?" she questioned, a hint of confusion in her voice

"About what?" Tombari retorted

"From your current formation, you only have one player guarding three of our players," Tolu pointed out, her strategic mind assessing the vulnerability in the Falcons' defense

"Let me also remind you that you guys are down by 30 points, thanks to this same formation." Tombari said, her confidence unwavering

"Is that so?" Tolu asked

Meanwhile, on the bench, Oluchi turned to Mrs. Lawal with a concerned expression

"Coach, will Tolu be okay? she has played point guard before" Oluchi asked

Chioma, seated beside Tosin, nodded in agreement. "The point guard role is extremely technical. It's where both attack and defense begin. You need a lot of training and experience to succeed in that role. I'm worried about Tolu"

Mrs. Lawal, however was quiet as she continued to observed Tolu's movement. She then closed her eyes for a moment

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