Hainan Team's adjustments quickly showed results.
Jin Soichiro and Miyamasu, the two shooters, positioned themselves on either side, like two sharp knives aimed at Ryonan's defense, finally finding a breakthrough for their stalled offense.
Fukuda's defense was already weak, and flexible movement would cause him to be overwhelmed; Sakuragi, though full of spirit, ultimately lacked experience in perimeter defense.
These two weak points were precisely captured by Coach Takato.
When Maki Shinichi held the ball, he deliberately slowed the pace, locking his gaze on Gu Jin—he knew very well that as soon as he moved, Gu Jin would immediately come to double-team.
In a one-on-one matchup, he indeed found it difficult to break Sendoh's defense, but Hainan's pick-and-roll tactics were already perfected.
As Maki Shinichi drove into the paint using Takasago's screen, Gu Jin indeed came over to defend from the wing.
At that moment, Maki Shinichi flicked his wrist, and the ball flew precisely into Miyamasu's hands in the right corner.
When Miyamasu received the ball, Sakuragi had not fully arrived; he jumped steadily, and his three-pointer swished through the net!
16:5.
This basket finally broke Hainan's scoring drought, and a long-suppressed cheer erupted from the bench.
Taoka Moichi's eyes darkened on the sideline as he looked in Takato Riki's direction, a cold, sharp curve on his lips: "Takato, you think you can turn the tide with these little tricks? I won't give you any chance."
He turned and shouted to the bench: "Koshino! Ikegami! Warm up, get ready to play!"
The two immediately stood up, and Taoka leaned in to instruct: "Ikegami, go in there and stick to Jin Soichiro like glue, don't give him any chance to shoot!
Koshino, you guard Miyamasu; no matter how agile his movements are, you have to stick to him!"
"Yes, Coach!" Koshino and Ikegami responded in unison, their eyes filled with determination.
On Ryonan's offensive possession, Fukuda received a pass from Sendoh under the basket and attempted to end the play with a turnaround jump shot, but due to Takasago's tough defense, the shot went wide.
Takasago secured the rebound, and Hainan Team immediately launched a counterattack.
It was the familiar pick-and-roll, still Maki Shinichi's 牽制, and the ball ultimately landed in Jin Soichiro's hands at the left 45-degree angle.
He didn't hesitate, and his three-pointer swished through the net!
16:8.
Possession changed!
"Ryonan requests a substitution!" The referee's whistle blew.
Sakuragi Hanamichi and Fukuda were subbed out, and Koshino and Ikegami quickly stepped onto the court.
Takato Riki looked at Ryonan's new lineup, his brows tightly furrowed, and he muttered to himself: "Senior Taoka, you are really ruthless... This is to completely cut off our perimeter offense."
He knew Ikegami's defensive ability too well—it was this person who made so many scorers doubt themselves back then;
And Koshino's speed was just right for dealing with Miyamasu's movement.
Taoka's move was a direct attack at the root, cutting off Hainan's newly found offensive rhythm.
The tide of the game seemed to be shifting again.
"Sendoh, switch defenses later. You guard Muto Tadashi, Maki Shinichi is mine." Gu Jin's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable resolve.
Sendoh Akira raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips as he nodded: "Alright, then I'll leave it to you."
Gu Jin's gaze turned to Maki Shinichi not far away, his eyes sharp as knives, a silent declaration of war permeating the air: "Maki Shinichi, this time, I won't give you any chances, otherwise, I wouldn't be Gu Jin!"
Ryonan Team inbounded the ball, and after several passes, it landed in Gu Jin's hands. As soon as he had possession, Maki Shinichi and Muto Tadashi immediately formed a double-team, one in front and one behind, almost completely blocking all routes.
"Don't think you can pass the ball out easily." Maki Shinichi lowered his center of gravity, his tone carrying an oppressive sense of certainty.
Gu Jin, however, suddenly smiled, the smile not reaching his eyes, only a cold sharpness: "Pass the ball? Against you two, it's not necessary."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly broke through to the left, and the moment Muto Tadashi's weight shifted, he suddenly made a sharp stop and change of direction, slipping through the gap between the two like an eel!
Maki Shinichi reacted extremely quickly, reaching out to pull, but only grasped at thin air.
Gu Jin drove into the paint, and facing Takasago's help defense, he slightly adjusted his shot in the air, avoiding the block, then flicked his wrist to send the ball into the basket!
18:8!
The moment the basketball swished through the net, Gu Jin landed, his gaze meeting that of the pursuing Maki Shinichi, no extra words, but it was as if he was saying: This is just the beginning.
"Damn it!" Maki Shinichi clenched his fists, his knuckles white; Gu Jin's breakthrough just now was like a thorn in his heart.
Hainan Team inbounded the ball, Muto Tadashi passing it to Maki Shinichi. This time, Gu Jin stuck to him like a shadow, his footwork tight, his eyes fixed on Maki Shinichi's dribbling hand.
The stands instantly erupted.
"Look! Gu Jin is guarding Maki Shinichi!" Someone suddenly stood up, their voice full of excitement, "This is getting intense! Ryonan is determined not to give Hainan any chances!"
"Exactly, before Maki Shinichi could still break through with a pick-and-roll, but now that Gu Jin is guarding him one-on-one, it won't be that easy!" The person next to them discussed, their gaze glued to the two players' matchup.
On the sideline, Taoka Moichi stood by the line, a sudden gleam appearing on his face.
He watched Gu Jin and Maki Shinichi's offense and defense on the court, and couldn't help but praise in his heart: "This kid Gu Jin, he actively switched defenses with Sendoh, making this defensive lineup completely impregnable... I truly didn't misjudge him."
He raised a hand to adjust his collar, the certainty in his eyes deepening—Ryonan was going to win this game.
"Takasago!" Maki Shinichi shouted softly, giving a look to Takasago in the paint.
Takasago immediately understood, moving to set a screen.
But Gu Jin seemed to have anticipated this move, taking a step sideways to the right in advance, deftly circling around Takasago's screen, which instead made Takasago an obstacle in front of Maki Shinichi.
"Maki Shinichi!" Gu Jin stood firm, his gaze coldly fixed on his opponent whose path was blocked, his voice clearly reaching his ears, "Bring it on. I want to see if you can score in front of me."
Ever since he personally witnessed Hainan win against Ryokufu with those dirty tactics in the previous game, Gu Jin had nothing but disgust for this so-called "King's Team."
At this moment, the look in his eyes as he guarded Maki Shinichi carried undisguised defiance—he wanted to personally tear apart Hainan's halo, to let everyone see that this kind of victory, maintained by crooked means, was not worth mentioning at all.
Maki Shinichi was stuck in place, looking at the coldness in Gu Jin's eyes, his brows furrowing even tighter.
He knew that the person in front of him had come with anger.
Splat!
A crisp sound of a steal cut through the gymnasium.
"A steal?! Gu Jin actually stole the ball from A Mu!"
Takato Riki's voice was filled with anger!
The stands instantly erupted, gasps and cheers intertwined: "My God! That's Maki Shinichi! He was actually directly stolen by Gu Jin?!"
On the court, Gu Jin showed no hesitation after the steal, rushing to the frontcourt like an arrow released from a bow.
Hainan Team's players hadn't even reacted from the shock of the steal when he had already charged to the basket alone.
Facing an open basket, Gu Jin leaped up, holding the ball with both arms and fiercely slamming it into the hoop—
"Bang!"
The rim let out a dull thud, and the basketball swished through the net!
20:8!
Ryonan's bench completely went wild, Taoka Moichi excitedly jumped up and hugged Aida Hikoichi next to him;
The spectators on the sidelines stood up, shouting desperately in Gu Jin's direction, the applause and cheers almost tearing off the roof.
When Gu Jin landed, his chest rose and fell slightly, but his eyes remained sharp.
Although Hainan Team desperately tried to catch up, Ryonan's offense was even more incisive.
At the end of the first half, the score was 55:31, and the point difference had already been extended to 24 points.