The second half of Ryonan versus Qingfeng was more like a no-suspense exhibition game.
The Qingfeng Team tried to adjust their tactics, but they repeatedly hit a wall against Ryonan's impenetrable defense and fluid offense.
Gu Jin remained in hot form; during a fast break, facing two defenders, he executed a pull-up layup in mid-air, evading the block and softly sending the ball into the hoop.
Sendo continued to display his court vision, a half-court-spanning long pass accurately finding a fast-breaking Fukuda, who easily completed the layup.
When the final whistle blew, the numbers on the scoreboard settled at 138:52.
Qingfeng's players walked off the court with their heads down, even their coach just hastily shook hands with the referee before leading his team away.
Meanwhile, Ryonan's players high-fived each other in celebration on the court, and the cheers from the stands were continuous.
Gu Jin and Sendo stood side by side at mid-court, their gazes inadvertently sweeping over Sannoh's location at the same time, where it was already empty—evidently, Sannoh's people had left after seeing there was no suspense in the second half.
"It seems our performance was decent enough," Sendo said with a smile.
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Just as the Ryonan Team was celebrating their victory, in another gymnasium, the game between Hakata Shodai High School and Hainan Da Affiliated High School was entering a white-hot stage.
Hakata Shodai High School's #7 Miyamoto Kenta dribbled like lightning; just past half-court, he suddenly accelerated using #8 Matsumoto Satoru's screen, tearing through Hainan's defense like a gray flash of lightning.
Hainan's Muto Tadashi tried to recover defensively but was shaken off balance by Miyamoto's sudden stop-and-go change of direction—this mid-range pull-up jump shot came quickly and accurately, the basketball swishing through the net, making the score 78:74 and giving Hakata Shodai High School a 4-point lead again.
"Miyamoto's speed is terrifying!" the commentator exclaimed, "It's like he has an engine!"
The Hainan Team quickly inbounded the ball; as Maki Shinichi drove with the ball, Hakata's #4 Sato Takashi was already pressing him.
As the team captain, Sato's defense was like a wet sponge, sticking tightly to Maki Shinichi's side, his arms constantly disrupting the dribble rhythm.
Maki Shinichi suddenly turned, attempting a forced breakthrough, but Sato remained unmoving, shouldering him while also signaling teammates for help defense, effectively forcing Hainan's fast break into a half-court set.
"Sato's defense is so tough! He's truly Hakata Sho's core defender!"
In the deadlock, Maki Shinichi suddenly flicked his wrist, and the basketball passed under Sato's armpit, accurately reaching Jin Soichiro who was on the move.
Hakata Shodai's #10 player Kobayashi Yu reacted extremely quickly, immediately pouncing from diagonally behind to block, but the "Sharpshooter's" release was as fast as lightning—a three-pointer swished through the net, 78:77!
Cheers erupted from Hainan fans in the stands; Jin Soichiro immediately returned to defense after landing, but Kobayashi Yu narrowed his eyes, staring at his back. That chase-down defense had clearly been in position, yet the opponent's split-second release rhythm had evaded him, adding a sharp competitive edge to the first-year's eyes.
Hakata Shodai High School's offensive possession: Miyamoto accelerated and broke through again, attracting two Hainan defenders before suddenly dishing the ball.
Matsumoto Satoru received the ball near the free-throw line; facing Hainan's center Takasago Kazuma's defense, he didn't shoot directly but dribbled one step into the paint, colliding with the recovering Kiyota Nobunaga in mid-air, yet he managed to twist his body in the air, banking the ball in off the side of the backboard!
"2+1! Matsumoto Satoru's shot was so tough!" the commentator roared, "As Hakata's ace, he not only grabs rebounds but his finishing ability in the paint is also terrifying!"
Matsumoto shook his arm after landing, looking towards Hainan's bench with undisguised fighting intent in his eyes.
His average of 12+ rebounds didn't come from nowhere; finishing under such high-intensity confrontation was his strong suit.
It was Hainan's turn to attack; Maki Shinichi didn't give Sato a chance to stick close this time, driving directly into the paint using Takasago's screen.
Hakata Shodai High School's #5 Tanaka Tsuyoshi immediately abandoned his matchup with Muto, standing under the basket like an iron tower—as a defense-focused center, his rim protection awareness was top-notch.
Seeing this, Maki Shinichi didn't force a shot but passed the ball back to Jin Soichiro on the perimeter, but just then, Hakata's #10 Kobayashi Yu suddenly burst out from the side, stealing the ball!
"Kobayashi Yu's steal! His defensive coverage is too wide!"
Kobayashi Yu immediately launched a fast break after the steal, with Miyamoto Kenta already rushing ahead like a whirlwind.
The two completed a give-and-go at mid-court; Miyamoto drove into the paint with the ball, and facing the recovering Kiyota Nobunaga, he executed a soft scoop layup—80:77!
Hakata Shodai High School's bench instantly erupted; as Miyamoto and Kobayashi high-fived, Sato Takashi patted both of their shoulders from behind, the captain's eyes filled with calm encouragement.
Matsumoto stood near the free-throw line, his gaze sweeping over Hainan's half, a confident smile playing on his lips—in this close contest, they were clearly better prepared.
Hainan Team's timeout was called; Maki Shinichi wiped his sweat, looking at his teammates, but there was no hint of panic in his eyes.
Hakata's "twin stars" had great chemistry, Matsumoto's versatility, Sato's defense, and Kobayashi Yu's dynamism indeed made them a tough nut to crack.
But behind him, Jin Soichiro was gripping the basketball, adjusting his breathing, and Kiyota Nobunaga's competitive spirit burned even brighter in his eyes.
It was clear that they had only just entered the true stage of battle.
In the timeout huddle, Takato Riki slammed the tactics board onto the floor, his brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping over his panting players: "Heads up, all of you! Now is not the time to be catching your breath!"
He slapped the tactics board: "Got it all clear? Their rotation is fast, but there are gaps in the transitions. A Mu, you set the pace; A Shen is responsible for creating space; Kiyota, go stir up their inside; Takasago and Muto, hold the receiving points in the front and backcourt. We're not trying to out-muscle them; we're going to make them run at our pace—"
Takato Riki suddenly raised his voice, his finger emphatically tapping the score on the board: "It's only a three-point difference now, not an insurmountable chasm. When we go back, the very first play, we need to play with fire, let them know that Hainan's territory isn't so easy to conquer!"
When the whistle blew, Maki Shinichi looked up at Hakata Shodai High School's half; the burning sensation from being closely guarded by Sato Takashi earlier seemed to still be on his skin, but now, his palms, gripping the basketball, were sweating with excitement.
Maki Shinichi's knuckles, gripping the basketball, were slightly white; Takato Riki's tactical instructions still echoed in his ears, but what surged in his eyes was a fire more intense than any strategy.
He looked up at Hakata Shodai High School's half—these guys were indeed strong; the toughness of their defense, the speed of their counterattacks, all exuded a fierce determination to bring Hainan to its knees.
But so what?
Maki Shinichi took a deep breath, a fire seeming to ignite in his chest.
Hakata Shodai High School wants to win? Not that easy.
Not all teams can, like Ryonan, exude a suffocating feeling that leaves opponents breathless.
"Hainan reduced to an A-rank team..." he repeated softly, a cold, hard curve forming on his lips.
All that was lost, all that was questioned, all the voices saying Hainan was "nothing special"—
He suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp as knives, sweeping over every Hakata Shodai High School player on the court.
Maki Shinichi dribbled, the sound of rubber hitting the floor like a countdown to the impending battle.
He raised his head and charged towards Hakata Shodai High School's half, each step carrying a do-or-die resolve.
Everything Hainan has lost, I, Maki Shinichi, will personally take back!