Everything was ready, and the players from both sides officially stepped onto the court.
Shohoku's entrance drew cheers—warm, familiar—but they were quickly swallowed by the deafening roar of the crowd supporting Meihou Industrial and Morishige Hiroshi. The entire gymnasium shook with excitement, as if this were the NBA Finals rather than a high school tournament match.
Even though Shohoku had mentally prepared themselves, the overwhelming support for their opponents still stung a little.
Normally, this was the perfect moment for Sakuragi to jump out and rant about "how the crowd didn't understand basketball," but today he was unusually silent, eyes glued to Morishige Hiroshi. Who knew what was going on inside that red head of his.
Morishige Hiroshi wore a faint smile, looking calm… or maybe simply uninterested. The rest of Meihou Industrial seemed equally relaxed, as though Shohoku wasn't worth taking seriously.
Miyagi touched his earring, expression cold. "Just wait. They'll see soon enough."
Mitsui rolled his wrist, a silent declaration that he intended to shoot straight through them.
After the side selection, Akagi and Morishige Hiroshi met at center court for the jump ball.
Standing directly in front of Morishige Hiroshi, Akagi finally understood—he had underestimated this monster.
Kanagawa's four major centers were all tall and powerful, but not even one of them had ever given Akagi this kind of oppressive pressure.
Morishige Hiroshi stood like an iron tower. The height difference was only two centimeters, but his frame was massive, exaggerated, wrapped in dense muscle. Compared to him, Akagi felt like he had shrunk a size.
This was the first time Akagi faced someone whose physical gifts simply overshadowed his own. As he was still processing that shock, Sakuragi walked over.
"Gorilla, let me take the jump ball."
Akagi's eyebrows shot up. "Don't joke around!"
He tried to shove Sakuragi aside, but Sakuragi planted his feet and refused to budge.
"Gorilla. Let me do it."
This time, Akagi could tell he was serious. After a second of silence, Akagi stepped aside.
Sakuragi clapped his shoulder. "Thanks, Gorilla." Then he walked straight up to Morishige Hiroshi. "Prepare yourself, big fatty."
Morishige blinked, then smiled faintly. "I'm not fat. I'm just… strong."
Sakuragi was caught off guard by his honest reply. That threw him off more than any insult could. "…Whatever. Just be ready."
Morishige's gentle expression didn't change.
The referee raised the whistle, glanced left and right, and tossed the ball upward.
Both players leapt. Sakuragi's explosiveness sent him above Morishige first—but the instant they made contact, everything changed.
Seventeen kilograms of pure muscle mass translated to overwhelming force. Sakuragi was knocked aside instantly, losing the battle in midair.
Morishige tipped the ball cleanly to a teammate. Sakuragi landed and stumbled, catching himself just before falling.
"Damn it! That big fatty!"
Frustrated, Sakuragi sprinted back on defense. He had intended to intimidate Morishige… but ended up being the one taught a lesson.
Besides Morishige (199 cm) and Kawashima Naoto (205 cm), Meihou's perimeter players were also freakishly tall:
— SF Horiuchida: 189 cm
— SG Hanaoka Jugo: 185 cm
— PG Hayama Kazuto: 180 cm
This height advantage spelled trouble for Miyagi. He was almost certainly going to be targeted.
Hayama dribbled calmly, waiting for Morishige and Kawashima to establish position inside.
Sakuragi tried to body Morishige again, but this time Akagi shoved him aside.
This wasn't Sakuragi's battle—Akagi needed to test Morishige himself.
Akagi pushed with everything he had, trying to force Morishige away from the basket. But Morishige, solid as a mountain, established position effortlessly near the restricted area. With one call for the ball, Hayama lobbed it in.
Morishige caught it, turned, and powered forward. Each collision knocked Akagi a step back. After three bumps, Morishige spun and banked the ball in.
He didn't need space. He didn't need finesse. His sheer size made him unstoppable.
Was there really no way to stop this guy?
Akagi grabbed the ball under the hoop, frustration eating at him. The fear that kept him awake last night was proving true—he couldn't stop Morishige's offense.
"Akagi is trying his best, but against a talent like Morishige Hiroshi, effort alone isn't enough," Sugiyama Shota said, understanding the pain of an inside player confronted with superior physical gifts.
Coach Takasato nodded. He hoped Akagi could find a way, even if Morishige was a first-year. Championships weren't won in the future—they were won now.
"I can't believe even Gorilla can't handle this guy…" Noma muttered.
"I thought Monkey Boss was tall enough," Takamiya added, "but these two from Meihou Industrial are built different."
Yohei frowned. "I'm more worried about Sakuragi. Can he handle that giant pole?"
Kawashima Naoto stood near the free-throw line like a towering utility pole. Sakuragi, beside him, looked tiny by comparison.
Miyagi dribbled across half-court and immediately passed to Nango.
As in the previous game, Nango was playing small forward, and Horiuchida was guarding him. But Kawashima's eyes were already locked on Nango, ready to help defend.
They're fronting me from the front and waiting to trap me from behind… They're seriously targeting me.
Nango narrowed his left eye slightly, thinking about the best breakthrough… but after a few seconds, he abandoned strategy for simplicity.
He'd test them directly first.
Faking left and right, he suddenly exploded past Horiuchida in a single step.
Even Nango was surprised—he didn't expect it to be that easy.
He shifted his focus to Kawashima closing in and Morishige under the hoop.
Kawashima had height and length, but his speed was slow—no threat. The real danger was Morishige.
So Nango stopped two steps away from Fatty and went up for a jumper.
Morishige lifted his hands lazily—not even trying to contest.
Swish!
The shot went in, but Morishige's relaxed reaction weighed heavily on Nango.
Looks like I'll have to bring out something stronger…