As Success observed Tosin's struggle against Cynthia, her mind drifted to her own encounters with the prodigious talent that was Cynthia James. "Back in my primary school basketball days, I never faced a team with a member of the Victorious Varsity," Success reminisced. "I was naïve enough to believe that I could defeat them. It wasn't until I joined the basketball club in Wyse International High School that I received a reality check, coming face-to-face with one of those monsters during our first training session – Cynthia James"
The frustration etched on Tosin's face was a testament to the overwhelming challenge that Cynthia presented. Time and time again, Cynthia's skill proved insurmountable
"Tch," Tosin grunted, her irritation mounting as Cynthia effortlessly bested her once more. Shalom and Mercy sprang into action to halt Cynthia's advance, but their efforts were in vain. Cynthia sent the ball soaring towards the hoop, bouncing off the rim before leaping into the air to meet it for a self alley-oop slam. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, the sheer talent on display both awe-inspiring and disheartening for the Queens
"That's Cynthia James for you! Nobody can stop her when she's in her groove." Exclaimed one spectator, marveling at the spectacle before them
"Isn't that her 26th point of the game? It's still just the first quarter." Another spectator questioned, incredulous at Cynthia incredible talent
On the court, the Queens found themselves gasping for breath, the weight of Cynthia's talent bearing down upon them. The feeling of helplessness was palpable as they struggled to regain their footing against a formidable opponent
"Huff… huff… huff… I can't believe she pulled off a self alley-oop. Huff…. Huff…" Mercy muttered, frustration tinging her voice. "How good is she?"
As the clock ticked down to the 12 seconds of the first quarter, the Queens found themselves in a precarious position, trailing Wyse by a significant margin. Determined to turn the tide, they resumed play with Oluchi leading the attack. Her advance, however, was abruptly halted by Success, visibly frustrating the Queens' point guard
Desperate to create something, Oluchi passed the ball to Tosin, who found herself closely guarded by Cynthia. Cynthia offered words of encouragement to her opponent. "Don't let the score scare you, Tosin. Play like the game is tied"
Tosin, perplexed by Cynthia's suggestion questioned her motive. "And why should I do that?"
Cynthia, sensing Tosin's confusion, reminded her of their conversation before the game. "Why? Are you kidding? I told you, didn't I?"
Tosin's expression turned from confusion to surprise. "Huh?"
Cynthia's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement. "I'm searching for a worthy opponent. Someone who can at least make me try a little harder, and my intuition tells me that you, Tosin, have what it takes."
Tosin's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? And why is that?"
Cynthia's response was intriguing. "Well, I have this feeling that you're nowhere near your full potential. Which makes me believe that you have what it takes to beat me. Unless you think I'm mistaken"
Tosin's resolve flared, "DON'T STATE THE OBVIOUS! CYNTHIA JAMES!" her determination palpable as she leapt into the air, unleashing an unconventional one-handed shot from the three-point line
Cynthia's eyes never left Tosin's face. "What a hot-blooded fellow," she muttered, before jumping into the air and blocking the shot with ease, leaving Tosin stunned
As Cynthia broke away for a fast-break attack, Tosin gave chase, determined to keep up and stop Cynthia. Cynthia looked at her in the face as she took a defensive stance, a mischievous glint in Cynthia's eyes. "Hey, that shot you just attempted, this is how it's done." With a fluid motion, Cynthia leaped into the air, unleashing the very same unusual one-handed shot that Tosin had attempted moments ago. The ball soared through the air, on a straight line, at an insane speed, forcefully striking the rim before sinking into the net as the buzzer sounded signaling the end of the first quarter
The crowd erupted in applause, impressed by the raw talent of the prodigious ace of Wyse – the unstoppable scorer, a member of the Victorious Varsity, Cynthia James
The benches were alive with the cacophony of squeaking sneakers and laboured breaths as the players regrouped, their expressions betraying the weight of the reality that now pressed upon them. A 36-point deficit loomed, the seemingly insurmountable chasm casting a heavy gloom over the Queens. Four fruitless timeouts had done little to shift the tide, and a pervading sense of despair had begun to seep in
Mrs. Lawal surveyed the scene on the Queens' bench, her gaze lingering on the crestfallen faces before her. "Hmmm, this is hard to take," she mused silently. "We're down by 36 points and we've already used 4 timeouts. Their spirits seem to have broken. What should I do?"
As if compelled by an unseen force, her attention was drawn to Tosin, the team's captain and beacon of hope. "Tosin," she called out, her voice steady and reassuring
Tosin's eyes flitted upward, meeting her coach's eyes with a flicker of uncertainty. The unspoken question hung between them, and after a moment, Mrs. Lawal probed gently, "Your matchup is Cynthia, right? What do you think?"
Tosin hesitated, her lips pursing as she weighed her words. "Well," she began, her voice tinged with resignation, "Cynthia is too good. She is just too good. I'm no match for her. It's over. We've lost this game."
A wave of shock rippled through the Queens; this was not the same Tosin they had come to admire over their three years together. It was now clear that something was wrong with their captain
Shalom leaned in, concern etching lines across her forehead. "Hey, this isn't like you," she murmured. "What's going on with you?"
Before Tosin could respond, Mrs. Lawal interjected, commanding, "Girls, quiet!"
The team fell silent, their attention riveted on Tosin.
Mrs. Lawal continued, her tone probing, "Tosin, why do you think you are no match for Cynthia?"
Tosin inhaled sharply, her eyes flashing with a sudden fire. "Her insane speed! She's too fast. If you want to score a fast break, she thwarts it easily. If she's attacking, you can't do anything against her. she's practically unstoppable!"
Mrs. Lawal listened attentively, her eyes never leaving Tosin's face. "Hmmm, her speed, huh?" She murmured. Turning to Tosin, she inquired, "Tolu, can you tell us what you noticed while watching from the bench?"
"Alright, Coach," Tolu began, her voice steady and measured. "I'll admit, Cynthia is on a whole different level. But Tosin, you aren't playing like yourself. It seems like something is bothering you"
Tosin stiffened, her eyes widened as Tolu's words seemed to strike a chord within her.
Mrs. Lawal nodded, a small smile on her face. "Thank you, Tolu."
Mrs. Lawal, then shifted her attention to Tosin. "Tosin, you've heard it yourself. I wanted someone else to say what she noticed so you wouldn't feel as though I'm the only one who feel that way about your performance in this game. Cynthia is fast, huh? You've gone up against a lot of opponents in the past. All of them felt like it was unfair for someone to be able to jump as high as you do. Cynthia James is no different from you. Just like you feel she's unstoppable because her insane speed, those teams we've beaten also feel you are unstoppable because of your insane jumps. I'm sure you've gotten an answer by now. But if you can't beat Cynthia with speed, she can't beat you in the air. Don't forget that. Whatever it is that's bothering you, it's up to you to choose whether to share it or not."
A sense of resolve seemed to settle over the team as Mrs. Lawal turned her attention to the rest of the players. "Shalom, you're out. Tolu, you are in. Eno, you're out. Mayowa, you are in." Shalom and Eno nodded, relinquishing their spots for Tolu and Mayowa as the former changed into her pink number 6 kit
"Starting with the second quarter, we are going to close the gap little by little and eventually stage a comeback!" Mrs. Lawal declared, her confidence galvanizing the team
"Right!" The Queens chorused; their spirits reignited with a newfound determination
Meanwhile at Wyze's bench, Cynthia surveyed her teammates with a self-assured smile. "Guys, this game is over. So, from here on out, send the ball my way, okay?"
"Right!" Wyse chorused in unison, their resolve mirroring that of their formidable ace
With the second quarter about to begin, the players took their positions on the court, ready to face off once again
Meanwhile, in a modest living room, somewhere in the heart of Lagos, the Fashola family's television flickered with the intensity of a basketball match. Segun, the eldest of the Fashola siblings, sat engrossed in the game, his eyes fixed on the screen
"Tolu is coming off the bench," Segun mumbled to himself, a hint of concern laced through his words. "I'm not sure she can turn the tide in this game. It seems all but over. Unless, of course, they have a plan up their sleeves,"
Segun was alone in the house; his parents were out running errands. Just then, the doorbell chimed, echoing through the quiet home
"Coming!" Segun called out, rising from his seat to answer the door. Upon opening it, he was met with the warm familiar face of his mother. Mrs. Fashola
"Welcome, Mummy," Segun greeted her, taking the heavy bag of groceries from her grasp
"Segun, how are you?" Mrs. Fashola inquired, stepping into the house
"I'm fine, Mummy," Segun replied with a smile, "How was your day?"
"It was fine," Mrs. Fashola said, her eyes briefly flitting the television. "Would you mind fetching me a glass of chilled water?"
Segun nodded, making his way to the kitchen as Mrs. Fashola settled, her gaze was immediately drawn to the game, her brow furrowing with confusion and a hint of disappointment
"Segun, what on earth are you watching?!" she yelled as he returned to the living room with a glass of chilled water. "Instead of focusing on your studies, you're wasting your time with this nonsense?"
"It's a quick break, Mummy," Segun explained, handing her the glass. "I'll get back to my books once the game is over"
Mrs. Fashola took a small sip of water, her eyes never leaving the screen. "Wait! Isn't that Tolu I see out there?" she asked, incredulity colouring her tone as she set the glass down on the table. "Or am I imagining things?"
"Yes, Mummy," Segun confirmed, guilt churning on his gut. "That's Tolu"
"So, this is the excursion she claimed she was attending for her club activities?" Mrs. Fashola questioned, her disappointment swiftly giving way to anger. "Just wait until your father gets home."
"But, Mummy," Segun protested, "Tolu is not a child anymore. She's capable of making her own decisions. She has chosen basketball, and there is nothing wrong with that. All she needs from you and Daddy is support. You shouldn't force her into doing things she doesn't want to do"
"That's enough!" Mrs. Fashola snapped, silencing Segun with a stern look. "Go to your room! Now!"
"But Mummy, it's not right. It's not right at all." Segun said as he reluctantly made his way upstairs, leaving his mother alone with her thoughts.
Left to her own devices, Mrs. Fashola found her mind returning to the basketball game and Tolu's involvement. "Other children are striving to become successful adults," she muttered, her voice edged with disapproval. "Meanwhile, mine are squandering their potential on stupid pursuits like basketball. They expect supports? Nonsense!"
Meanwhile, in Abuja, the atmosphere had taken a dramatic turn, as dark clouds gathered and thunder rumbled through the air. Lightning illuminated the night sky, and the heavens opened up, unleashing a torrent of rain upon the city. People scurried for shelter, seeking refuge from the downpour
But inside the arena, however, the spectators were oblivious to the storm raging outside. Their attention was focused on the court, where the teams were preparing for the second quarter
As the second quarter began with Wyse in possession of the ball, their ace, Cynthia at the helm. Undeterred by the intensity of the game, Cynthia barked out words of encouragement to her opponent, Tosin. "Tosin, like I said earlier, forget about the score. Play like it's tied!"
Tosin, her competitive spirit ignited, accepted the challenge. "Alright then. You're on!"
Cynthia's smile was a harbinger of the challenge to come as she bounces the ball rhythmically. With lightning-fast reflexes, Cynthia expertly bounced the ball between her hands, creating a mesmerizing rhythm that left Tosin struggling to keep up. In a bold move, Cynthia maneuvered the ball between Tosin's legs, leaving her stunned and immobile as Cynthia sprinted past her in pursuit of the ball
"What?! Just how fast is she?!" Tosin thought, her mind reeling from the speed and agility of her opponent
Determined to stop Cynthia, Mercy and Mayowa joined forces. But she was unstoppable. She jumped into the air, attempting a shot, and Mercy and Mayowa jumped with her, blocking her shot view. Confident in their defensive strategy, Mercy and Mayowa watched as Cynthia appeared to be heading out of bounds, only to be stunned once more as she unleashed an incredible unforeseen move
With a precise and powerful throw from behind the hoop, Cynthia sent the ball spinning through the air, soaring above the glass, and sinking effortlessly into the net. The entire arena fell into a brief, awestruck silence before erupting into a cacophony of cheers and applause, a testament to the sheer talent and dedication of the players on the court
Amidst the cacophony of cheers, Tolu seized the opportunity to showcase her own skills. With a powerful spin, she unleashed a lightning-fast pass that sailed across half the court, landing securely in Tosin's awaiting hands. The Wyse team, caught off guard by Tolu's precise play, struggled to catch up as they realized their defensive strategy had been compromised
Success, wide-eyed with surprise questioned her teammates, "When did she get there?" Wyse's players frantically rushed back in an attempt to stop Tosin. But in a blur of movement, a player surged past them, leaving both friends and foes alike in a state of disbelief
Confident in her advantage, Tosin leaped into the air to execute a layup, only to have the ball suddenly pushed out of bounds by an unseen force. Disbelief washed over her as she questioned the seemingly impossible turn of events. "What happened? How could anyone close that distance quickly?"
Tosin's gaze lifted, searching for the answer and her eyes locked on a familiar figure. Her jaw dropped in shock. "What?! How?! How did you catch up instantly?! Cynthia James!" she thought