(Dear readers, this article is definitely long and satisfying!
Today is still 5 chapters, a guaranteed ten thousand words!
Please help me promote my book!
My data is so bad that I can't even bear to eat two steamed buns.
Please!
!)
Maki Shinichi stood at the three-point line with the ball, sweat dripping down his jawline, creating a small dark stain on his bright red jersey.
Sato Takashi was crouched, staring at him, his calloused hands slightly open, like a beast poised to strike.
"Not all teams can be like Ryonan, with an inherent suffocating feeling that makes opponents gasp."
Maki Shinichi repeated this sentence in his mind, then suddenly exerted force with his feet, dribbling the ball and charging towards Sato's left side.
Sato immediately moved to block, but just as the two were about to collide, Maki Shinichi suddenly flicked his wrist, and the basketball, like a black lightning bolt, passed under Sato's armpit, landing precisely in Jin Soichiro's hands outside the three-point line.
Kobayashi Yu of Hakata Shodai High School immediately rushed towards Jin Soichiro, but the "Sharpshooter" didn't rush to shoot this time; instead, he lightly flicked his wrist, passing the ball back to Kiyota Nobunaga, who had cut into the paint.
Kiyota twisted his body in the air to avoid Tanaka Tsuyoshi's block, and although his layup missed, Takasago Kazuma grabbed the offensive rebound and slammed it in with both hands!
79:80!
Hainan's bench erupted in thunderous cheers, but Takato Riki stood still, his eyes fixed on the court—this tactical play was exactly the "wheel-breaking" strategy he had just devised, and the players executed it more decisively than expected.
During Hakata Shodai High School's offensive possession, Miyamoto Kenta once again accelerated and drove, Muto Tadashi desperately tried to defend, but Miyamoto shook him off with a change of direction.
Just as Miyamoto was about to lay up, Maki Shinichi suddenly chased him from diagonally behind, leaping high and swatting the ball out of bounds!
"What a block! Maki Shinichi's chase-down block!" the commentator roared, "This defense is too crucial!"
Miyamoto stood frozen, looking at the basketball that had rolled out of bounds, his eyes showing disbelief for the first time—the explosive power in that instant almost made him think his opponent was a giant.
Sato Takashi walked over to Miyamoto and patted his shoulder, then turned to his teammates and growled, "Don't rush! Stick to the plan!"
Hakata Shodai High School's inbound pass was made, and Matsumoto Satoru received the ball near the free-throw line. Kiyota Nobunaga immediately stuck to him, blocking the passing lanes as instructed by Takato Riki.
Matsumoto indeed chose to dribble and drive, but after only two steps, Kiyota seized the opportunity to steal the ball. Although he didn't succeed, he forced Matsumoto to make a mistake, knocking the ball out of bounds.
Hainan Team gained possession again.
Facing Sato's high-pressure defense, Maki Shinichi gritted his teeth!
"Believe in myself, no matter who it is? Even if the opponent is Gu Jin, my steps cannot be stopped again."
"Even more so for you, Sato Takashi, take this!"
This time, Maki Shinichi didn't pass. He drove directly into the paint against Sato's defense, colliding with the help defender Tanaka Tsuyoshi in the air, but he managed to adjust his body mid-air to avoid the block, banking the ball in from behind the backboard!
"2+1! Maki Shinichi's play was so tough!"
81:80! Hainan took the lead!
After landing, Maki Shinichi clutched his bruised waist but looked up at Hakata Shodai High School's bench, his eyes filled with undisguised provocation.
He knew that this shot was not just about scoring, but also about shattering the opponent's psychological defense—Hainan was not a soft persimmon to be easily manipulated, nor was it prey that could be easily subjected to a "Ryonan-style crush."
The rest of the game completely entered a white-hot stage.
Miyamoto of Hakata Shodai High School made two consecutive mid-range shots, and Matsumoto Satoru also grabbed a crucial rebound and scored on a put-back;
On Hainan's side, Jin Soichiro sank two three-pointers, while Kiyota Nobunaga scored 4 points on fast breaks.
The score seesawed, with neither side able to pull away.
With 1 minute left in the game, the score was tied at 92:92.
Hakata Shodai High School had possession. Miyamoto Kenta was tightly guarded by Maki Shinichi, unable to find any opportunity to drive, so he had to pass the ball to Sato Takashi.
Sato drove aggressively but was defended by Takasago Kazuma and Muto Tadashi working together, and the ball bounced out of bounds.
Hainan Team got the chance for the final possession.
Takato Riki called a timeout, drawing only a straight line on the whiteboard—from the three-point line to the basket.
"A Mu, the last possession is yours," Takato Riki's voice was unusually calm, "Don't overthink it, just charge."
Maki Shinichi nodded, sweat dripping onto the whiteboard, blurring the straight line.
He knew this was a gamble—gambling on his explosiveness, on Hainan's tenacity, on Hakata Shodai High School ultimately not being Ryonan, and on their ability to withstand these last few tens of seconds.
When the timeout ended, the entire audience stood up.
Maki Shinichi slowly advanced with the ball, Sato Takashi following him closely, his eyes full of vigilance.
10 seconds on the countdown.
Maki Shinichi suddenly accelerated. This time he didn't change direction, didn't fake; he just charged straight into the paint head-on!
Sato tried desperately to block him but was forcibly pushed back half a step by Maki Shinichi.
5 seconds on the countdown.
The other three players from Hakata Shodai High School simultaneously rushed towards Maki Shinichi, attempting to surround him.
Just as the four defenders were about to form an impenetrable wall, Maki Shinichi suddenly stopped short, leaned back slightly, and raised his right hand high—
It was a shot!
Tanaka Tsuyoshi and Matsumoto Satoru jumped simultaneously to block, but Maki Shinichi's release was faster than expected, and the basketball flew past Matsumoto Satoru's fingertips.
1 second on the countdown.
The basketball arced perfectly through the noisy air, falling precisely into the hoop.
"Swish!"
The final buzzer sounded simultaneously.
94:92!
Hainan Da Affiliated High School won!
Maki Shinichi stood still, watching the basketball ripple the net, then suddenly clenched his fists and roared towards the sky.
Takato Riki rushed onto the court and embraced his players tightly. The Hainan fans in the stands were already in a frenzy, their cheers almost tearing off the roof.
The Hakata Shodai High School players stood with their heads down on the court. Miyamoto Kenta squatted on the ground, covering his face with a towel.
Sato Takashi looked at the scoreboard, his eyes filled with unwillingness, but he still nodded towards the Hainan Team—they lost, but they didn't lose ignominiously.
Maki Shinichi walked to the sideline, picked up a towel, wiped his sweat, and looked out the window.
He knew this victory was just the beginning; there were stronger opponents waiting for them, perhaps even the Ryonan team that made all other teams feel suffocated.
But so what?
What Hainan had lost, he would personally take back, bit by bit.
Even if there were mountains of daggers and seas of fire ahead, he would lead his team, step by step, through it all.