(I haven't rested well these past few days; my head is splitting!)
(Only two chapters left!!!)
(I'm going all out!!!)
(I humbly ask for ratings and recommendations from all you esteemed readers!!!)
There were still 3 minutes left in halftime.
The lights in the player tunnel flickered. The Ryonan team gathered around Taoka Moichi and walked towards the court. The words "Zone Defense" on the tactical board were circled in red, but no new defensive markings were added.
Taoka tugged at his tie, his voice three points deeper than in the first half. His gaze swept over Sendoh, Gu Jin, and Fukuda, finally settling on Uozumi and Sakuragi: "Don't hold back anymore."
"On defense, stick to the zone defense as usual. Don't obsess over steals; just guard the paint and don't give up any three-pointers." He tapped his fingertip heavily on the blank space of the tactical board. "The key is offense—winning against Rikawa in this final game is a certainty. Now, let everyone see just how fierce Ryonan's offense truly is."
He stared at Sendoh: "You don't need to deliberately organize plays anymore. Drive when you have the chance, pass when you don't."
"Gu Jin, don't wait for the rhythm for your three-pointers; shoot as soon as you catch the ball."
"Fukuda, play freely with your drives. Uozumi and Sakuragi will box out for you."
Taoka paused, a hint of ruthlessness entering his voice, "Open up all three points. Whoever has the chance, take it, and score like crazy!"
"Understood!" The five responded in unison. Sakuragi Hanamichi clenched his fists and shook his red head, his breathing even quickening by half a beat.
Fukuda Kiccho's eyes shone frighteningly, his hand already pressed against the court. Sendoh Akira's lips curved into a smile, his fingertips spinning the ball, the nonchalance from the first half gone from his eyes.
When the referee's whistle blew, the Rikawa players still intended to continue the rhythm from the first half—Kawaguchi Shota stood at the baseline to inbound, Itakura Yuta bent down to box out under the basket, Watanabe Kenji stuck close to Gu Jin, even his footwork was identical to the first half.
But this time, Ryonan's defense gave them no chance.
Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly charged from the free-throw line, his arms spread like an eagle's wings as he jumped, forcefully swatting away the ball Kawaguchi had thrown towards Itakura!
The ball flew straight to the top of the arc, where Sendoh Akira was already waiting. He didn't stop when he caught the ball, turning and charging towards Rikawa's half.
Just as the Rikawa players were about to retreat on defense, Sendoh suddenly tossed the ball into the air—Fukuda Kiccho chased up from the right sideline, his body almost flying horizontally as he jumped, grabbing the ball with his right hand and slamming it into the hoop!
"Clang!" The dunk shook the stands, silencing them for half a second. The scoreboard jumped to 45:28.
"Great play! Fukuda's fast break dunk was too fierce!" The commentator's voice cracked.
Rikawa didn't panic. Kawaguchi dribbled past half-court, still trying to lob the ball to Itakura.
But Uozumi Jun didn't retreat this time. Instead, he pushed forward, boxing out tightly behind Itakura, his fingertips brushing the ball and forcing it to Gu Jin.
Gu Jin quickly dribbled past half-court. As Watanabe Kenji rushed over, he changed direction, arriving at the three-point line. He flicked his wrist, and the ball flew out in an arc—"Swish!" It went in cleanly, 48:28.
"5 points in a row! Ryonan is firing on all cylinders from the start!"
Rikawa was still trying to find their rhythm.
Takagi Yuta dribbled past half-court, trying to set a screen for Itakura, but Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly charged from diagonally behind, reaching out to steal the ball! Takagi panicked, slamming the ball to the ground, but Sakuragi snatched it up on the rebound.
Sakuragi didn't stop, carrying the ball and charging towards the basket. Itakura tried to block him, but Sakuragi jumped directly, dunking the ball over him into the hoop! "2+1!" The referee's whistle blew, and Sakuragi thumped his chest as he landed, shouting: "Rebounds and points, they're all mine!"
The free throw was made (still that unique granny shot!!!), 51:28.
Coach Sato stomped his foot anxiously in front of the bench: "Defense! Stick closer!" But the Rikawa players were already showing signs of fatigue—Watanabe Kenji's footwork was half a step slow when guarding Gu Jin.
Nomura Masato's arms trembled as he tried to stop Fukuda's drive.
On the next possession, Sendoh Akira dribbled past half-court, not looking for teammates, but driving directly at Kawaguchi Shota.
He faked twice with his footwork. Just as Kawaguchi tried to block, Sendoh suddenly accelerated, darting past him and reaching the basket. Facing Itakura's block, he gently flicked his wrist, and the ball bounced off the backboard and dropped in. 53:28.
Rikawa finally scored—Itakura muscled his way under the basket, faked out Uozumi, and laid the ball in.
On defense, Rikawa had just gotten into position when Gu Jin received the ball outside the three-point line. This time, Takagi Yuta rushed over quickly enough that his fingertips even touched Gu Jin's arm, but Gu Jin still threw the ball out—"Swish!" The ball went in, and the referee even called a foul on Takagi! "3+1!"
Gu Jin stepped to the free-throw line, flicked his wrist, and the ball went in cleanly. 57:30.
"That's outrageous! Gu Jin's 3+1 just extended the lead to 27 points!" The commentator's voice was full of awe.
Rikawa's offense became increasingly difficult—they could only score once every two possessions: Kawaguchi used a screen to drive to the basket, barely getting the ball in.
But in a flash, Sendoh assisted Sakuragi in grabbing a rebound, scoring with a fast break dunk.
Itakura drew a foul on Uozumi under the basket, making one of two free throws; Gu Jin immediately answered with a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
Sakuragi Hanamichi was like a tireless little motor, jumping higher than anyone else for rebounds. Nine out of ten balls thrown by Rikawa players would be grabbed by him.
He grabbed the rebound and threw it to Sendoh, who either drove himself or passed to Gu Jin or Fukuda. Ryonan's offense was like an unstoppable machine; each score was more relentless than the last.
Time hadn't run out yet, but the scoreboard had already jumped to 78:42.
The Rikawa players bent over, gasping for breath. Itakura Yuta's jersey was soaked with sweat, and Watanabe Kenji leaned on his knees, almost out of strength to even look up.
On Ryonan's side, Sendoh Akira was still smiling, Gu Jin wiped away sweat, Fukuda Kiccho's eyes were still bright, and Sakuragi Hanamichi was still bouncing around, shouting "One more!"
In the stands, Maki Shinichi frowned, squeezing the mineral water bottle in his hand until it deformed: "Ryonan has unleashed all its firepower..." Jin Soichiro nodded, his gaze fixed on the court: "Rikawa can't hold on. The lead will only get bigger."
Sure enough, on the next possession, Fukuda Kiccho drove, but instead of going straight for a layup, he passed the ball to Gu Jin. Gu Jin, after receiving the ball, passed it to Sendoh at the top of the arc—Sendoh smiled, raised his hand and shot, and the three-pointer swished into the hoop. 81:42.
When the referee's timeout whistle blew, the Rikawa players stood on the court, watching the five Ryonan players high-five, for the first time lacking the fighting spirit they had in the first half.
Taoka Moichi stood in front of the bench, looking at the scoreboard, a smile playing on his lips—Ryonan was going to win this game for sure.