So I gathered wind and jumped as high as I can. The ball in my left hand pass my croutch as I bend my knees to let it pass smoothly as I took it with my right dominant hand and as I approached this small guy- he look scared for his life- and didn't even jump, I slammed the ball violently to the basket. I hanged for a bit to feel the dunk more and let go right away.
Coach Anzai can not help but stand seeing that dunk. 'Yazawa, I thik I found someone who have the potential to reach your dream.' as the sound of cheers coming from everyone from Shohoku was drowned by nostalgia.
===================
Sendoh slows the pace 'I think I have to step up. They're better than I expected.'
He runs a stagger screen with Ikegami and Koshino. He gets free at the top and nails a floater over Kogure. Cracking the Ryonan's big egg.
The Ryonan side felt like their blood being injected with a punch of sugar, cheered loudly.
'I knew I can depend on Sendo' coach Taoka felt relieved that the drought ended already.
Shohoku 6 – Ryonan 2
On the inbound, Sakuragi waves Yohei off. "Let me run it."
He dribbles up—Koshino shades him left, but Sakuragi crosses and dishes to Rukawa cutting baseline.
Rukawa draws a double from Sendoh and Uozumi, kicks it back—Sakuragi catches, spins past Koshino, and hits a short jumper.
Shohoku 8 – Ryonan 2
"They're doing really well" Ayako expressed her delight with the team's performance so far.
"HOHOHOHO"
"Hanamichi-kun and Rukawa-kun is doing really well. They worked together amazingly" Haruko beamed. Face flushed red.
"Hanamichi is surprisingly have good teamwork with that guy. I was half expecting for them to have a fight." Yuji and the others started laughing
Ryonan pushes hard. Koshino drives from the wing, but Kogure steps in and draws a charge.
Next play, Yohei threads a bounce pass through traffic—Sakuragi catches in stride, goes up strong, gets fouled by Ikegami.
He hits one free throw, misses the second. Akagi tips it back—
Shohoku 11 – Ryonan 2
During the inbound, Sakuragi grabs it between Uozumi and Koshino, and scores again.
Shohoku 13 – Ryonan 2
Sendoh starts probing. He fakes Rukawa with a shoulder dip, drives baseline, and finishes with a reverse layup past Akagi.
Shohoku 13 – Ryonan 4
Next possession, Sakuragi sets a hard screen on Ikegami for Rukawa, who curls and score.
Shohoku 15 – Ryonan 4
Now with just 5 mins in the game, and the their team behind by 11 points, Ryonan calls a timeout. Coach Taoka is pacing obviously fuming. "What are you people doing? Where is the drive you guys have when we agreed to dump 30 points minimum in this game??Ha!!?"
Sendoh sits, towel over his head, eyes scanning Sakuragi.
On Shohoku's bench, Ayako, Haruko, Matsui and Fujii hand out towels. "Sakuragi, great job out there. You are everywhere!"
Coach Anzai, with his calm and serene voice " Great job everyone. But we need to make some changes. Rukawa, You need to up your game. Try to limit Sendo as much as you can. Sakuragi, keep doing what you are doing. There is a big mismatch with you and your guard. Help out Akagi with Uozumi, Taoka-san would definitely make adjustments. He will definitely focus on Sendoh."
"Yes coach" Echoes Sakuragi and Rukawa
"No changes with the line up for now. I want to see if you have what it takes to go to the finals as early as now."
Everyone in the team look solemn hearing it. They know coach Anzai never took this coaching position seriously. But now, it seems that the coach see something that worth his time.
Back to the ball game
Ryonan returns from timeout as Sendoh dribbles up slowly, eyes scanning. 'That redhead's energy is throwing off our rhythm.'
'That Rukawa though...Hmmm' He calls for a high screen from Uozumi. Rukawa tried to follow as Akagi sticks with Uozumi.
'Akagi won't leave the cap alone.' *sigh' looks like I really have to do it myself'
Sendoh drives, while Rukawa tries to stay in front, he thought he got him but...
whooshh---Sendo jumps up falling further instead...a fadeaway shot..
15-6
Rukawa responded immediately. Asking the ball from Yohei, he ran straight to Ryonan's court.
Sendo tries to hinder but was surprised instead to find Hanamichi in front him- blocking his view.
"Hey redhead, I thought my guard is that guy?"
"Well I can't let you free, can I? Coach is letting him burn some gas and show off for a bit. So hang in there for a while." Sendo's lips can't help but twitch as Hanamichi smiled at him with a harmless but annoying smile.
Ryonan's team have no choice as Ikegami post in front of Rukawa's way. Not effective at all, as Rukawa drives left and hits a soft floater.
17-6
Sendo past the ball to Uozumi and tries to muscle his way in , but his eyes went wide when he found that Akagi is not alone as Hanamichi jump behind Akagi to give additional defense. The ball hit the rim. Sakuragi grabs the loose ball and immediately looks for Yohei.
"Nice block Hanamichi!" as Yohei took the ball. He pushes the ball, threads a bounce pass to Rukawa, who finishes with a reverse layup.
19-6
Sendo ran fast crossing the midcourt, Yohei and Rukawa also caught up. However, Sendo made a sudden stop just half a step away from the 3-point line and....
SWOOSSHHH------nothing but net...
19-9
Hanamichi's eye went wide ' OK, I don't remember him shooting 3's in the anime. GOD DAMN Sendo. But, this is better. I can practice more. Let Rukawa do his thing first. If he can't stop him, which I know he can't then I'll step up...Coach wants that to train the other member's skills.'
Yohei past the ball to him. Hanamichi scanned the court and saw Rukawa raising his hands, looking really eager to get the ball and pay back Sendo, even tho Hanamichi can see Sendo had already locked him up. Feeling amused inside, he decided to pass the ball to Rukawa to give him a chance.
Rukawa caught the ball with a snap of his wrist, eyes already narrowing at Sendoh. He jab-stepped once, twice, but Sendoh didn't flinch. No lean, no twitch—just that calm, smiling, unreadable stare.
He's not biting. Damn, Sendoh's like a statue with a brain.' Hanamichi can see the gap between the two. And Sendo is clearly ahead.
Rukawa drove left, shoulder low, trying to create space. Sendoh slid with him, smooth as water. Rukawa stopped, pivoted, rose for a fadeaway—classic form. But,
CLANK. The ball hit front rim and bounced out. Sakuragi lunged for the rebound, but Uozumi boxed him out hard, elbows wide. Akagi stepped in, grabbed the ball clean, and reset.
"It's ok, let's take it easy." Yohei called for spacing, motioning Kogure to rotate. Hanamichi drifted to the weak side, watching Rukawa jog back, jaw tight.
Hanamichi nodded, eyes flicking toward Rukawa. 'He's pissed. Good. Maybe now he'll pass once in a while.'
Akagi kicked the ball out to Yohei, who dribbled calmly, then zipped a pass to Kogure curling off a screen. Kogure caught, hesitated, then fired a mid-range jumper.
Swish.Shohoku 21 – Ryonan 9
Coach Taoka didn't blink, but his jaw clenched. Sendoh jogged up the court again, this time slower, scanning.
'I thought because Rukawa was the MVP in junior high, they will have no one else but him. But, they're not relying on Rukawa. That newbie point guard's got rhythm. And the Redhead… he's a headache too. Haisss more for me. What a drag.'
Rukawa shadowed him again, jaw tight, but Sendo didn't even glance his way. Instead, he pointed to Uozumi and gave a subtle nod.
Uozumi planted himself deep in the post. Akagi held his ground, but Uozumi was already leaning into him, elbows wide, feet firm. Ikegami lobbed the entry pass perfectly.
Uozumi caught, drop-stepped hard, and powered up through Akagi's chest.
+THUD.
"BLOCKING FOUL! RED NUMBER 4, BASKET COUNTED, 1 FREE THROW" called the referee as he pointed to Akagi
And-one!!!
Akagi have no choice but to raise his hand
OHHHHHHHH!" The crowd liked what they saw.
Uozumi grinning "Too light, Akagi!"
"HMPF"
He sank the free throw.
21–12
Shohoku inbounded quickly, trying to regain rhythm. Yohei pushed the pace, passed to Kogure, who swung it to Rukawa. Rukawa hesitated, then drove to baseline—but Sendo was already there, cutting him off.
Rukawa kicked it out to Yohei, who reset. Hanamichi called for the ball, waving one arm. Yohei passed it to him, and Hanamichi tried to play smart by passing it to Kogure who is free outside the 3-point line, unfortunately, Kogure, who saw the charging defender, missed a corner three.
Sendo took off, gliding upcourt with that signature calm. Rukawa chased, but Sendo stopped at the top of the key, gave a slight fake, and pulled up.
SWISH.
21–14
Hanamichi shakes his head as he instead looked at coach Anzai, who was also looking at him. As their sights crossed, Coach Anzai seemed as like he knew why Hanamichi looked at him. So the White-haired Buddha/Demon, gave Hanamichi a nod as if giving permission.'Release the KRAKEN'
When Hanamichi saw the coach nodding, he nods as well giving confirmation.
Yohei inbounded to Sakuragi, who caught it.
He dribbled up, eyes flicking between Rukawa and Kogure. Rukawa was already calling for the ball, hand raised, jaw clenched. But Sakuragi ignored him.
'Rukawa's still locked up. Let him stew. I'll cook something better.'
Uozumi stepped up to meet him at the top of the key, arms wide, stance heavy.
'Big guy wants to bully me? Fine. Let's dance!'
He faked a drive right, then spun left—just enough to make Uozumi shift his weight. Then, instead of forcing a shot, he slipped a bounce pass behind Uozumi's leg.
Kogure, cutting from the weak side, caught it in stride and laid it in off the glass.
"OHHHHHH!"
"Good Job Kogure!"
"Nice pass Hanamichi"
23-14
"Nice pass, Hanamichi!"
"Of course it was. I'm a genius."
Coach Taoka barked from the sideline, furious at the defensive breakdown. Uozumi looked stunned for half a second, then shook it off and jogged back.
Sendoh took the inbound with his usual relaxed gait, dribbling like he had all the time in the world. The crowd buzzed, sensing something. Hanamichi tracked Sendoh from the wing, eyes narrowed. He wasn't guarding him directly, but he was watching.
Sendoh crossed half court, then shifted gears—one hard dribble left, a shoulder fake, and suddenly he was gliding past Yohei and Rukawa. Uozumi sealed off Akagi with a wide stance, giving Sendoh a clear lane. But instead of driving all the way, he stopped just inside the arc. He made a step back and..
Swish.
23-17
Sakuragi took the inbound again, this time with exaggerated calm—mimicking Sendoh's slow dribble, head tilted back like he was surveying a kingdom.
The players in and out of the court, along with the coaches and managers noticed something "…He's doing the Sendoh walk."
"Tch. Idiot." Rukawa said flatly
Ikegami stepped up, arms low, eyes skeptical. "You're not shooting that." trying to assert some dominance '…He's not actually gonna—'
Sakuragi rose into his shooting form. Without second thoughts
SWISSSHHHH
26-17
Coach Anzai signals. Kogure and Yohei jog off, both nodding to Sakuragi as they pass. Yuji and Chuichiro enter.
'Coach probably wanna test the other newbies since it's still early and we are ahead. He knows I will make a move.
So as the game continues. Just like what Hanamichi was thinking. Coach Anzai is really experimenting with the team dynamics.
Shohoku's momentum was steady and disruptive. Ryonan's offense struggled to find rhythm, especially without Fukuda, and with Sendoh being outplayed and Ikegami getting burned on defense.
At the end of the first half the score finished with 45-26
Ryonan stats
Sendoh 13points 3 assists 3 steals 0 rebounds
Uozumi 7points 4 rebounds none in assist and steals as Akagi and Hanamichi limits him from contributing more to his team.
Ikegami 4 points 1 assists nothing in rebound and steals as he is guarding Hanamichi he can't really do much
Bench 2points 2 assist 1rebound
Sakuragi's unpredictability and rising court IQ created mismatches and forced Ryonan to over-adjust.
Akagi's steady interior play anchored Shohoku's defense and punished Ryonan's lapses.
Substitutions (Yuji and Chuichiro) injected pace and kept Shohoku's momentum alive.
Ryonan's offense lacked rhythm without Fukuda, and Sendoh couldn't dictate pace even if he wants to as Hanamichi's play and coach Anzai's strategy disrupted already.
Sakuragi 25 points with two 3 pointers hit 7 rebounds 4 assist 2 steals
Akagi 5 points 5 rebounds 1 assist 0 steals
Rukawa 7 points 3 rebounds 2 assist 1
Yuji 4 points 2 rebounds 2 assists 1 steal
Chuichiro 2 points 3 rebounds 1 assist 1 steal
Kogure 2 points 1 rebound 1 assist 0 steal
Yohei 0 points 2 rebound 8 assists 2 steals
-------
Fujii handed the score sheet with the teams' data to Ayako " Senpai, here is the score and data sheet."
"Thanks Fujii, you did very well. Matsui, you will do the score sheet for the second quarter" facing Matsui this time.
"Yes senpai."
"OK listen up people, these are your stats for the quarter." she listed the stats. Coach Anzai's eyes gleamed as he heard the stats...particularly Hanamichi's score and the teams rebound stats.
In one quarter, the teams' total rebound is a staggering 23 rebounds and each member contributing rebounds.
"HOHOHOHO I am really satisfied with you all. Especially you Sakuragi-kun. Each one of you rebounding made our scoring chances bigger and that is why we such big lead. continue doing this and we will go home with a win. Don't be shy tro take a shot as everyone of you are strong under the basket. Later, we will give the chance to others as well to play."
The bench members who hasn't played yet brightens hearing the coach. "Yes COACH!"
"HOHOHOHOH"
Ryonan Bench
Coach Taoka's face is really dark as the main line-up go back to rest. You can't really blame him since....
19 points!!! almost double than their current score!!
Are you people sleeping?? Did you guy not have breakfast ?? You move like a grandma that can't jump!!!
Aida!!!
"Yes coach" Panicking internally as he doesn't know ehat he did wrong...
"Get the score sheet and report everyones stat...including the Shohoku stats."
"Yes coach" Nervously picking the paper and reading the stats outloud.
"Did you guys notice it???"
Sendo wrinkling his brows notice it " All their member have rebounds. Even the freshmen subs."
The whole Ryonan team eyes went wide hearing that as their whole body froze with shock
"YES!!EXACTLY!! THEY HAVE 23 TEAM REBOUNDS IN ONE QUARTER.!!! AND THAT IS WITH AKAGI ONLY HAVING 5 REBOUNDS. AND THAT IS EVEN MORE THAN UOZUMI'S REBOUND. !!!" hufff huffff....Taoka's heart thumping loudly...
He continued, this time much calmer "All of them fight for rebounds. And so they have more chances to score. They are almost monsters under the ring. And depending on our Uozumi is not enough. Their players are not scared of physicality."
"I want you all to do the same. Understood?!!"
"Yes coach!!!"
"Now GO BACK IN THERE AND WIN!!!"
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP
2ND QUARTER BEGINS....
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a LITTLE EARLY CHAP FOR YOU GUYS...GIVE ME REVIEWS...AND POWERSTONES...EVEN THO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR...