Damn it, Ryonan actually scored four points in a row?
Minoru Matsumoto wiped his sweat fiercely, then spat to the side of the court, his tone a bit stifled.
Gu Jin's block on Zawa Kita just now was too dazzling, and Sendo, taking advantage of Fukatsu's underestimation, sank a fadeaway.
He clenched his fist, "What kind of start is this?"
Masahiro Nobe didn't say a word, his brows just furrowed tighter than usual, and his fingers picked at his wristband at his side.
Sawakita Eiji stood in place; he didn't speak, but his ears were red, clearly flustered by that block.
Masashi Kawata gave Matsumoto a sidelong glance, "What are you yelling about?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a heavy weight.
Matsumoto pouted and didn't speak again, but he still had his shoulders hunched.
"Steady," Kazunari Fukatsu walked over at this moment, patted Matsumoto's arm, then looked up and scanned Zawa Kita and Nobe.
"Don't rush, it's just two baskets."
His voice was flat, without much fluctuation, but it calmed down the few people who had been a bit agitated.
Zawa Kita's hand, gripping the ball, loosened.
Nobe also straightened his back, and Matsumoto grunted, his steps steadier as he walked towards the mid-court line.
Sannoh inbounded.
After Kazunari Fukatsu received the ball, he didn't rush to find Zawa Kita again.
He steadily advanced, his fingertips tapping the ball.
Sendo's fadeaway jump shot just now was like a thorn in his heart.
He looked up and scanned Ryonan's defense, finally passing the ball to Minoru Matsumoto on the wing.
Minoru Matsumoto was half-turned when he received the ball.
As soon as Fukuda closed in, he suddenly changed direction with a crossover step, using his body to create a half-step of space, and his wrist was extremely steady as he jumped.
The basketball flew in a flat arc, swishing through the hoop—the mid-range shot hit squarely.
The scoreboard changed to 4:2.
A few low cheers erupted from the Sannoh bench.
Minoru Matsumoto nodded to Fukatsu as he landed, acknowledging the pass, and the stifled feeling on his face also dissipated a bit.
Ryonan's offensive possession.
After Sendo brought the ball past half-court, he didn't rush to break through, raising his hand to signal.
Sakuragi Hanamichi and Fukuda spread out to the baselines, and Gu Jin roamed near the free-throw line, completely clearing the middle.
Sendo flicked his wrist, and the ball was steadily passed into Uozumi's hands under the basket.
Uozumi had his back to the basket when he received the ball.
Masashi Kawata had already closed in, his elbow digging into Uozumi's lower back.
Kawata's strength was heavier than expected.
Uozumi pushed forward half a step but was pulled back by sheer force.
In the stands, Karazawa Kazuo nudged Shanshan Shouta next to him, "Look at Uozumi's drive; he's more assertive than before."
Shanshan Shouta squinted, "But he's up against Kawata.
Do you think he can win?"
Karazawa Kazuo shook his head, tapping his palm with his folding fan, "There's still a gap.
Last year's National Tournament, Kawata could defend from guard to center.
Uozumi now only has some advantage in height... Let's see first; you know I'm not looking at the current Uozumi!"
On the court, Uozumi stumbled from the bump but didn't retreat.
He suddenly took a deep breath, pushing back with his back into Kawata, while simultaneously pulling back the ball with his right hand and using the momentum of his turn to squeeze under the basket—he was going for a tough shot!
Kawata was pushed back half a step, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, then he pushed back with even more force.
The two collided with a thud under the basket.
Uozumi gritted his teeth and raised his arm to shoot, but Kawata reached out to swipe at the ball.
Just then, the referee's whistle suddenly blew.
"Beep—offensive foul!"
Uozumi's hand paused in mid-air; the ball hadn't been shot.
He stared blankly at the referee, who was pointing at his waist—when he turned, his elbow had instinctively lifted a bit, brushing against Kawata's ribs.
Shanshan Shouta "tsk"-ed from the stands, but then clapped, "Even if it was a foul, that play was beautiful enough.
Uozumi's fierce drive wasn't for nothing."
Karazawa Kazuo closed his folding fan, his eyes darkening, "He's fierce enough, but trying to match Kawata in strength is still a bit too green."
Uozumi walked back with his hands down.
As he passed Gu Jin, Gu Jin patted his arm, "It's okay, just pay attention next time."
Uozumi nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't speak.
However, the look in his eyes when he glanced at Kawata held a hint of unwillingness.
Sannoh's possession.
Kazunari Fukatsu steadily advanced.
Sendo had already closed in early, his center of gravity extremely low, his fingertips almost touching Fukatsu's dribbling hand.
Fukatsu, however, didn't panic.
He suddenly accelerated to the right—Sendo immediately followed, his elbow almost brushing Fukatsu's jersey.
Just as the two were about to get stuck, Fukatsu suddenly stopped, flicked his wrist back, and the basketball, like a black lightning bolt, shot through the gap beside Sendo, flying precisely to Sawakita Eiji beyond the three-point line.
"Great pass!"
As the commentator's voice just began, Gu Jin had already closed in front of Zawa Kita.
It was one-on-one again.
Zawa Kita tapped the ball with his fingertips, first a crossover dribble to his left hand, then immediately accelerated with his left-hand dribble, pushing forward half a meter, his body's center of gravity also sharply tilting to the left, as if to use this move to open up a breakthrough path.
Sawakita Eiji used the rhythm of his dribble and his body's center of gravity to fake out opponents, a feint exclusive to him.
But Gu Jin didn't move, his feet seemed nailed to the floor, his eyes fixed on Zawa Kita's dribbling hand, not even shifting his center of gravity a bit.
Seeing this, Zawa Kita suddenly increased his dribbling frequency, the ball rapidly switching between his left and right hands, his body tilting to the left, as if to force a drive.
Gu Jin slid to the left with him, his arm slightly raised, ready to intercept—just then, Zawa Kita suddenly changed direction, pulled the ball back with his right hand, and cut to the right using the momentum of his turn!
This change of direction was both fast and sudden, almost professional-level rhythm.
Sannoh fans in the stands had already started cheering, and even Coach Tang Ben leaned forward slightly.
But Gu Jin's reaction was even faster.
He seemed to have anticipated Zawa Kita's change of direction, his feet twisting sharply, not only not being shaken off but actually gaining half a step forward.
Just as Zawa Kita was about to gather the ball for a layup, Gu Jin's right hand shot out like lightning—
"Slap!"
With a crisp sound, the ball was forcefully slapped out of Zawa Kita's hands!
The entire stadium fell silent for half a second, then erupted in deafening cheers.
"He stole it! Gu Jin actually stole the ball from Zawa Kita!"
The commentator's voice trembled, "Oh my goodness! How many years has it been? To steal the ball from Sawakita Eiji in a one-on-one from the front, this is almost a first in the National Tournament!"
Off the court, Coach Tang Ben suddenly stood up, his brows tightly furrowed, staring intently at the court.
Zawa Kita himself was momentarily stunned, evidently not expecting to have the ball stolen.
After Gu Jin stole the ball, he didn't hesitate at all, charging towards the frontcourt with the ball.
Sannoh's players hadn't even reacted yet; he had already crossed half-court.
Minoru Matsumoto chased from diagonally behind, reaching out to block—but Gu Jin didn't dodge at all.
He forcefully pulled back the ball with his right hand, then leaped up, his body arching in the air, and slammed the ball into the hoop over Minoru Matsumoto!
"Boom!"
The basketball slammed into the hoop, shaking the backboard.
When Gu Jin landed, Minoru Matsumoto was knocked back two steps before regaining his balance.
The scoreboard changed to 6:2.
On the Ryonan bench, Coach Taoka was red in the face, shouting with his fists clenched.
On the court, Sakuragi Hanamichi jumped even higher, pointing at Gu Jin and shouting, "Gu Jin! Great job!"
Gu Jin didn't look back, only glanced at Zawa Kita.
Zawa Kita stood in place, his face a bit pale, his fingertips tightly clenching his fists.
In the stands, Karazawa Kazuo slowly fanned himself with his folding fan, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "This kid... he's even more formidable than I thought."
Shanshan Shouta didn't speak, only stared at Gu Jin's back, a touch of complexity in his eyes.