As Shohoku advanced to the Top 8, matches on other courts also wrapped up with their own results.
After the first day of fierce competition, the list of Top 8 teams was officially out.
Shohoku High School (Kanagawa)
Takamisawa (Hokkaido)
Shugetsu High School (Tokyo)
Kainan (Kanagawa)
No one was surprised by these results.
Aside from Shohoku, the other three teams were all long-time powerhouses. Making the Top 8 was expected.
The next day.
Today, the remaining four teams for the Top 8 would be decided in the National Championship.
The players of Shohoku gathered early in the morning.
To better understand potential future opponents, they sat together and decided to go to the venue and watch other matches.
Aoi Kunisaku was there too.
Though he was totally unwilling, he couldn't shake off Shimizu Kanon dragging him along. In the end, he reluctantly gave in.
Of course, only the starting players went to watch the matches. The bench players could do as they liked.
The group quickly got ready and headed out.
Before long, they arrived at the Hiroshima Central Gymnasium.
They went to the match between Hakata High School and Shiramatsu High School.
As soon as they appeared in the stands, they drew attention from all around.
"Look! It's Shohoku. They came to watch too. Wonder which team they're here for?"
"I don't think they came for anyone in particular. Probably just here to observe."
"Shohoku's the top title contender now. None of the other schools can compare!"
"Not necessarily. I heard both Daiei and Meihou recruited some seriously strong first-years this year!"
…
The chatter buzzed around them.
But for the Shohoku crew, the noise was like wind in their ears—gone as soon as it came. No one paid it any mind.
Aoi Kunisaku, more than anyone, looked completely disinterested. His eyes drooped like he could pass out at any second. He was lazily slouched.
At that point, the game on court had only just started. The score sat at 4 to 4.
Mitsui Hisashi stared at the court, mentally reviewing all the data he'd researched on each team. He analyzed, "Hakata and Shiramatsu are pretty evenly matched overall. The main difference is their new first-years. Hakata's rookie has solid skills and is a strong offensive player. Shiramatsu's rookie leans more toward defense."
Miyagi Ryota heard Mitsui's breakdown and asked curiously, "So, who do you think will win?"
Mitsui gave a small shake of his head. "No idea. Depends on their luck, really."
Then Shimizu Kanon suddenly cut in. "I think… Hakata has a better chance."
Everyone from Shohoku turned to look at her.
Mitsui asked, confused, "Why's that?"
Kanon quickly organized her thoughts and explained, "Just like you said, Hakata and Shiramatsu are evenly matched overall. Normally, luck would decide it. But Hakata's coach is known as a 'court swindler.' He's got loads of experience with tactics and on-the-spot adjustments. Shiramatsu's coach isn't bad either, but he's younger and doesn't have nearly as much experience. So I think Hakata has the edge."
Everyone nodded in realization after hearing Kanon's explanation. They all seemed to agree with her logic.
If she hadn't brought it up, they might have totally forgotten about the coach factor.
Sakuragi Hanamichi spoke up. "So that means Hakata is gonna win?!"
Kanon shook her head gently. "That's just my guess. A game can change in a second—anything can happen."
At that moment, Ayako noticed Aoi Kunisaku looking half-asleep and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey! You're already here, so watch the match properly! These two teams might be our next opponents!"
Aoi's eyelids barely moved. He didn't even bother to lift his head.
But the faint glint in his blue eyes beneath the lashes carried a clear sense of disdain. "Teams like these… I can beat them with one hand. What's the point of watching?"
Ayako saw his drowsy face and couldn't help but pat his shoulder again. "Geez, there you go again. We know you're strong, but could you dial back the arrogance a little?"
"Hmph…"
Aoi snorted softly.
It wasn't arrogance. This was just how someone reacts when they've hit a certain level of strength.
Like, how's an elephant supposed to study ants?
Not just study—an elephant wouldn't even notice ants. It wouldn't even think about them.
Kogure Kiminobu spoke in a doubtful tone. "Honestly, I also think Hakata and Shiramatsu are kinda weak."
"Hah? Four Eyes, don't tell me you've been infected by that dead-eye freak?" Sakuragi Hanamichi said in surprise.
In his mind, Kogure Kiminobu was always the type who got nervous over everything, yet remained optimistic.
So why was he suddenly so confident this time?
'You're getting cocky, Four Eyes!'
The flow of the game went about how everyone expected.
Hakata and Shiramatsu started off neck and neck. They went back and forth, and the score stayed tight.
But after Hakata called a timeout halfway through the game, things started to shift subtly.
The once-close score slowly began to stretch apart.
By the end of the first half, Hakata had unknowingly pulled ahead by 6 points.
The gap wasn't huge, but everyone from Shohoku felt a spark inside.
They'd all just heard Shimizu Kanon's prediction.
Sure enough, just like she said, Hakata started steadily overpowering Shiramatsu.
Soon, the second half began.
Right at the start, Shiramatsu launched an aggressive offense against Hakata.
But it was as if Hakata had expected it. They reinforced their defense and stood strong under the bombardment.
Mitsui Hisashi analyzed carefully, "Looks like Shiramatsu's intent has been seen through. With both teams evenly matched, it won't be easy for Shiramatsu to catch up now."
Ayako nodded seriously. "That Hakata coach really is a 'court swindler.' Looks like he's not even trying to widen the lead. He just wants to hold the 6-point advantage and win it like that."
Miyagi Ryota chimed in, puzzled. "That's pretty gutsy. Isn't he afraid Shiramatsu might catch up if they slip?"
"Not possible," Aoi Kunisaku finally spoke. "Hakata and Shiramatsu are even only because their offense and defense balance out. But Shiramatsu's offense isn't as good. If they want to tie the score, they have to rely on defense. Problem is, Hakata has no plans to go head-to-head. Their only goal is to keep their field goal percentage up."
Shimizu Kanon nodded in agreement. "Exactly. As long as Hakata keeps scoring consistently, winning is just a matter of time."
Tweet—
The referee blew the whistle.
Everyone from Shohoku turned their eyes to the court.
Shiramatsu had called for a timeout.
Miyagi Ryota seemed to notice something. "Looks like Shiramatsu's coach figured out Hakata's plan."
He continued, "Whether they can turn it around depends on what their coach does next."
The timeout ended quickly.
Shiramatsu switched to a 'two-attack, two-assist, one-anchor' formation.
Two on offense, two supporting the attack, and one holding down the rear to play it safe.
This strategy aimed to boost offensive efficiency, improve shot success, and strengthen the back line as insurance.
Shimizu Kanon observed the setup, then murmured, "Shiramatsu's strategy…"
"Stupid," Aoi Kunisaku cut in bluntly.
Ayako blinked. "Huh? What do you mean? You're talking about Shiramatsu?"
Aoi replied, "On the surface, there's nothing wrong with their formation. But that's exactly the problem."
"The problem?" Ayako asked.
Aoi explained, "Shiramatsu's strength lies in their defense. But to chase points, they threw that away. Even if their offense improves and they start scoring, they still won't match Hakata's offense."
"Right," Kanon agreed with a nod. "They're basically digging their own grave."
…
Time ticked on.
Just like Aoi and Kanon had said, after switching strategies, Shiramatsu did increase their scoring. But their defense suffered.
Hakata saw the opening and attacked like a beast. Their offense poured down like a storm, hammering Shiramatsu's basket.
As the game continued, the score gap widened.
Hakata's momentum grew stronger. In contrast, Shiramatsu's energy collapsed fast.
Tweet—
The sharp whistle echoed across the gym.
The scoreboard clock hit zero.
Final score: 86 to 69.
Hakata won by a 17-point lead.
Hakata High School advanced to the Top 8.