Chapter Seventy-Three: Alley-Oop! Monster Slam!
"TWEET!"
"Shohoku requests timeout."
"So if we hadn't double-teamed Yagami that day, we'd have ended up like this too?" Kiyota Nobunaga said incredulously.
Opening with three consecutive three-pointers, each shot taken decisively—this terrifying shooting ability rivaled even Shohoku's Mitsui-senpai and his own teammate Jin-senpai!
Even more frightening? Yagami Sorato's previous two games had primarily showcased elite playmaking and penetration ability. Who could've imagined his three-point shot being this lethal?
Beside him, Jin Soichiro remained silent, mood growing heavier.
He saw the gap between them more clearly than anyone. Yagami Sorato's precise grasp of fast-break timing, his unhesitating decisiveness shaking defenders—these were things Jin himself couldn't accomplish in games.
"Is this... what a genius is?" The thought surfaced uncontrollably from his heart.
"Jin." A steady voice interrupted his thoughts. Maki Shinichi looked at him seriously. "You're not him."
Jin Soichiro met Maki Shinichi's gaze. The determination gradually returning to his eyes restored the gentle confidence Kainan's players knew so well.
"I understand. He and I are different types of players. I'll do what I need to do—my own way."
"Mitsui, can I entrust him to you?" Coach Anzai asked.
Yagami Sorato's three-point assault had caught Shohoku somewhat off-guard, but Coach Anzai immediately identified the real issue.
Shohoku's two failed offensive possessions being instantly converted into Ryonan fast breaks—that was the critical problem. If they let Yagami Sorato intimidate them from the opening tip, double-teaming and denying him touches, Shohoku's rhythm would easily collapse under Ryonan's control instead.
Miyagi Ryota's size disadvantage was too significant—complete defensive mismatch. Meanwhile, Sakuragi Hanamichi lacked defensive experience. One-on-one coverage of Yagami Sorato would barely restrict him.
After consideration, only Mitsui Hisashi suited this assignment.
"No problem, Coach!" Meeting Anzai Mitsuyoshi's gaze, Mitsui Hisashi wouldn't say "no" even if it cost him his life.
"Sakuragi, I need your focus in the first half to be on rebounding. That way, other players can attack with confidence."
Sakuragi Hanamichi was still sulking over Uozumi Jun blocking his dunk, offering no response.
"This is something only you can accomplish." Coach Anzai spoke seriously. "We must leverage rebounding to shift the game's momentum."
"Only I can do it..." Sakuragi Hanamichi's ears perked up. "You leave me no choice! At crucial moments, you can only count on me stepping up!"
Coach Anzai nodded with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, Old Man! A mere ten points? I'll catch up in the blink of an eye!"
The timeout ended. Play resumed.
Shohoku's possession.
Miyagi Ryota advanced to the frontcourt, delivering the ball inside to Akagi Takenori.
Right now, Shohoku's most important task was breaking the scoring drought—even if they had to grind it out!
"Big brother!" Akagi Haruko shouted nervously.
"Let's go, Gorilla!" Sakuragi's Army also banged their water bottles while cheering.
Akagi Takenori established deep position, firmly sealing his spot. After receiving, he adjusted slightly before dropping his shoulder, using his back to ram forcefully into Uozumi Jun behind him, attempting to create shooting space.
Immovable!
Uozumi Jun planted his stance solid, thick forearms pressing firmly against Akagi Takenori's waist, answering every collision with full body strength.
"What's wrong, Akagi?" Uozumi Jun's low voice rumbled. "Didn't eat enough?"
"Shohoku's interior can't score inside?" Discussion rippled through the sideline crowd.
Finding no advantage through power, Akagi Takenori rapidly adjusted strategy. Using his left foot as pivot, his body suddenly spun for a turnaround jumper!
Uozumi Jun reacted instantly. Almost simultaneously with Akagi Takenori's rise, he leaped with full effort, his massive palm swatting toward Akagi Takenori's shooting hand.
"This idiot! Always gets this excited facing Akagi..." Coach Taoka cursed from the sideline.
Just as Uozumi Jun's hand descended toward the ball, Akagi Takenori's shooting arm rose to meet it.
"PAP!"
Uozumi's palm struck the basketball solidly, but simultaneously—unavoidably—contacted Akagi's forearm.
"TWEET—!"
The referee's whistle sounded immediately, pointing toward Uozumi Jun.
"Ryonan number 4, defensive foul!"
Akagi Takenori landed steadily, expression unchanged. Uozumi Jun didn't argue, honestly raising his hand to acknowledge the call.
Akagi Takenori sank both free throws.
Ryonan 10 - Shohoku 2
"Hmph. Consider those two points a gift," Uozumi Jun muttered.
"Keep telling yourself that." Akagi Takenori retreated quickly on defense.
Possession changed. Ryonan's offense.
After Coach Anzai's instructions, Shohoku's defensive formation showed noticeably more organization.
Rukawa Kaede matched up with Sendoh Akira. Miyagi Ryota covered Ikegami Ryoji. Mitsui Hisashi locked onto Yagami Sorato.
"No need to guard so tightly. Today I'm just the point guard." Sendoh Akira smiled at Rukawa Kaede, casually passing toward the right corner.
Fukuda Kicchou received. His shoulder twitched—one acceleration step blew straight past Sakuragi Hanamichi!
"Huh?!"
Akagi Takenori rotated right to help. Fukuda Kicchou contorted mid-air with a folding layup, smoothly banking it home.
Ryonan 12 - Shohoku 2
"Nice job, Fukuda!"
"I won." Fukuda Kicchou told Sakuragi Hanamichi seriously.
"Dammit!"
"Don't worry about it! Remember what Coach said!" Akagi Takenori patted Sakuragi Hanamichi's shoulder. "We'll get it right back!"
Possession changed. Shohoku's offense.
Miyagi Ryota continued feeding the post. Akagi Takenori's offensive motion flowed more smoothly—still the turnaround jumper.
Uozumi Jun stood with both arms raised, blocking vision.
"CLANG!"
Akagi Takenori's touch was off. The basketball rattled out.
"Rebound!"
Unable to establish position, Akagi Takenori focused on sealing Uozumi Jun. Sakuragi Hanamichi grabbed the board.
"Here!"
Mitsui Hisashi crashed inside for support. Receiving the ball, he immediately rose for a mid-range attempt.
"Tch!"
Ikegami Ryoji once again disrupted Mitsui Hisashi's shooting motion.
"Rebound!"
All four interior players battled. Once more, Sakuragi Hanamichi secured possession.
"Sakuragi! Excellent!"
Miyagi Ryota exploited a momentary lapse in Yagami Sorato's attention, quickly cutting inside to the left side of the free-throw line.
Sakuragi Hanamichi keenly sensed his movement, firing the ball out forcefully.
"PAP!"
The instant Miyagi Ryota received, Yagami Sorato stripped it from his hands!
"How?!" Miyagi Ryota's eyes widened.
On the opposite side, Sendoh Akira sprinted in transition. Rukawa Kaede stuck tight to his hip.
Seeing this, Yagami Sorato didn't pass. Instead, he pushed the fast break himself.
Shohoku's entire team retreated rapidly. Just as they recovered defensive position and prepared to relax while reading Ryonan's offensive setup—
Yagami Sorato lobbed the ball toward the right side of the rim.
A blue blur cut sharply, leaping high.
Akagi Takenori turned and jumped to help. Fukuda Kicchou posterized him, hammering the ball violently through the net!
Alley-oop poster dunk!
Ryonan 14 - Shohoku 2
"FUKUDA!! FUKUDA!!" Fukuda Kicchou basked in the cheers with evident satisfaction.
"Akagi! You okay?!"
"So that guy's not good at handling this type of player?" Kasamatsu Yukio pondered thoughtfully. "Hayakawa, observe Fukuda's movements carefully. His cutting is practically prefecture-elite level."
"YES!!"
"Against Kainan, didn't Ryonan's Fukuda carry heavy offensive load in the first half?" Kise Ryota considered.
"Correct." Kasamatsu Yukio nodded. "His defensive holes are pretty obvious. So if they're keeping him on court, they've got to maximize his offensive threat."
"Yagami's earlier attacks unknowingly shifted Shohoku's defensive emphasis toward him. Shohoku can only rely on Sakuragi to limit Fukuda."
"But right now? That approach clearly isn't working at all."
Possession changed. Shohoku's offense.
After inbounding from the baseline, Akagi Takenori didn't immediately establish low-post position. Instead, he followed ball-handler Miyagi Ryota along the wing.
The moment Yagami Sorato stepped up pressuring Miyagi Ryota, Akagi Takenori immediately moved forward, sealing position to solidly block Yagami Sorato's movement path.
Miyagi Ryota seized the opportunity, cutting sharply inside.
Uozumi Jun stepped up to help, but after setting the screen, Akagi Takenori didn't hesitate—immediately spinning while simultaneously charging toward the paint.
Uozumi Jun was forced to slide laterally, stopping the more threatening Akagi Takenori.
Fortunately, Yagami Sorato's recovery speed was excellent. He nearly closed back on Miyagi Ryota.
Miyagi Ryota didn't miss the defensive switch timing. Rather than risk the shot, he used his right hand—away from Yagami Sorato—to lob the ball toward the right side of the rim.
A red figure slipped in from the baseline, soaring skyward. At his apex, Sakuragi Hanamichi caught the basketball cleanly, both hands slamming it violently through the hoop!
Ryonan 14 - Shohoku 4
The same alley-oop slam! Shohoku immediately answered in kind!