Both teams opened with the same idea: feed the big men. If the inside game worked, the defense would collapse, creating space for the perimeter.
For Ryonan, this tactic had always been effective. Many of their wins last year came from Uozumi overpowering other centers.
For Shohoku, it was a good plan too, but their perimeter players weren't strong enough to balance the inside-out game like Ryonan could.
Now that the two teams clashed, Akagi completely dominated. Even after only a few possessions, it was clear: Uozumi's height couldn't hide the gap in strength and skill. When Akagi attacked, Uozumi was easily shaken off. The difference was glaring.
That left Ryonan with one question: What happens when Uozumi can't open the game?
The answer was obvious. Give the ball to their ace. Let Sendoh take over.
Sendoh took the ball. Rukawa immediately spread his arms wide, lowered his stance, and locked his eyes on him.
He'd heard the stories: last year, Sendoh scored 47 points against Shohoku. There was no way he'd allow anyone to score like that on him. If anyone was dropping 47, it would be him.
Sendoh noticed Rukawa's expression and smiled. Interesting. He wanted to toy with the freshman, but this wasn't the time for fun—the team came first.
Ikegami rushed over to set a screen. Rukawa got caught, and suddenly Sendoh was face-to-face with Nango. With a burst of speed, he blew past him. Nango tried to keep up but couldn't match Sendoh's agility. At the free-throw line, Sendoh shook him off completely.
Now only Akagi stood under the rim. Sendoh rose as if to finish, forcing Akagi to leap up and contest. But in mid-air, Sendoh shifted, dishing the ball to Uozumi for an easy layup.
"Damn it, that trick again…" Akagi clicked his tongue. Every time he jumped, Sendoh would pass the ball out, making him feel like a gorilla dancing to their rhythm.
Shohoku's turn. Akagi battled Uozumi inside again, but this time, Nango didn't linger on the perimeter. As Akagi posted up, Nango slipped past Ikegami and cut toward the basket.
Akagi spotted him and fed the pass. Before Uozumi could react, Nango laid it in.
"Ho ho ho…" Coach Anzai's smile deepened. A player's worth wasn't only shown when he had the ball. A true impact player could threaten the defense with or without it.
His evaluation of Nango had risen steadily. Not only could the freshman score, but he also read the game well. Coach Anzai let him take more initiative in directing the team.
Ryonan adjusted quickly. They tightened up on Nango's cuts, which eased the pressure on Akagi.
Sendoh nodded in approval. "Very active for a first-year." This match was becoming more fun. What he thought would be an easy game now felt like a real challenge.
"Uekusa, I'll run the offense," Sendoh said calmly.
"Got it." Uekusa didn't mind. When Sendoh had the ball, Ryonan's confidence only grew.
This time, Ryonan spread the floor, leaving Sendoh isolated against Rukawa. The crowd buzzed. Everyone knew what was coming.
Sendoh dribbled casually, testing the defense, then pushed Rukawa toward the baseline. Suddenly, with a behind-the-back crossover, he slipped past him and charged straight into the paint.
Akagi rotated over, but Sendoh was already airborne—soaring and slamming a thunderous dunk over the captain's head.
"Sendoh! What a beautiful dunk!" The crowd erupted, the loudest cheer yet.
"Whoa, he beat Rukawa so easily. That's terrifying…"
"Shohoku's in trouble," the Sakuragi Gang muttered, awestruck.
Nango frowned as he dribbled past half-court. So Sendoh's really turning it on now… my influence on the story must be deepening.
At that moment, Rukawa stepped back and demanded the ball. His pride burned after being beaten.
Nango smirked. That's just like you, Rukawa. You'll never pass here. He fed him the ball and cleared space for the duel.
Rukawa jab-stepped, shook Sendoh's stance, then exploded forward. After two crisp crossovers, he pulled up for a clean mid-range jumper.
"Swish!" Revenge was his.
"Rukawa! So cool!" His fan club shrieked, while Haruko's eyes shone.
"Nice one, Rukawa!"
"Looks like he's even with No. 7 now!"
"Ha! Sakuragi will need a hundred years before he can catch up!"
Sakuragi nearly lost it. That Fox… and that Sendoh! Didn't Hikoichi say he was amazing? How could he let Rukawa shine like this?! He lunged toward Coach Anzai again. "Old man, let me play already!"
But neither coach was planning substitutions. Both were satisfied watching their stars trade blows.
From then on, Ryonan shifted fully into Sendoh's hands. His gravity on the court opened chances for teammates, and he picked apart Shohoku's weaker defenders, especially Kogure and Yasuda.
Shohoku stuck to feeding Akagi inside, with Nango cutting and Rukawa attacking in isolation. The plays worked, but they couldn't keep up with Sendoh's orchestration.
By halftime, the scoreboard told the story: Ryonan 47 – Shohoku 39. Shohoku trailed by 8.
----------
Support me at patréon com/DaoOfPeeking