Nango took a long breath as he sat on the bench, gulped down some water, then turned to Coach Anzai.
"Coach, shouldn't we switch to our rotation lineup?"
Coach Anzai's expression remained calm and unreadable. "Tell me your thoughts."
The wise Coach Anzai had already guessed what Nango was planning. Instead of declaring the decision himself, he let Nango speak—preserving the players' pride, especially the starters who'd been grinding since tip-off.
"At this point, both sides are exhausted," Nango said. "But we have the advantage."
He casually hooked an arm around Rukawa Kaede beside him—only for Rukawa to brush him off with a disdainful look. The meaning behind Nango's words was obvious enough.
Since the game began, Shohoku hadn't even used its strongest lineup. Considering that, being tied or slightly ahead was still acceptable.
But defeating Meihou Industrial with the current rotation would take too long—and time was something they needed to conserve for tomorrow's battle against Sannoh.
That was why Nango wanted Rukawa on the floor ASAP.
Coach Anzai pressed further. "Then who should be substituted out?"
Nango grinned and turned toward Akagi. "Captain, take a break. We'll need you at full power to deal with Morishige Hiroshi in the second half."
Akagi exhaled deeply. After wrestling with Morishige Hiroshi for fifteen straight minutes, even he was feeling it. But he still asked, "Then who will handle Morishige when I'm out?"
"I will!"
"I will!"
Nango and Sakuragi answered at the same time. They exchanged a glance—Sakuragi's eyes burning with competitive fire.
Nango held back a laugh. "Alright, you do it."
Akagi frowned. "Sakuragi, don't fool around. Let Nango defend Morishige."
Nango stopped Sakuragi before he could protest. "Captain, it's fine. Let him try. Our focus isn't defense right now—it's offense."
Akagi looked confused, but Nango didn't elaborate. He instead turned to the coach. "Coach, what do you think?"
Coach Anzai chuckled. "Just make sure you protect the rebounds."
"Old man, relax! Leave it to me!" Sakuragi declared confidently, thrilled to finally face Morishige head-on.
"Then I'll trust you, Sakuragi-kun. Ho ho ho…" Coach Anzai laughed lightly and settled back.
As the timeout ended, Sendo immediately noticed Rukawa replacing Akagi and smirked.
"So Shohoku wants to blow the score wide open."
Funny enough, Meihou Industrial was thinking the exact same thing.
They didn't want to drag this match out either. Morishige needed the rest if they wanted to challenge Sannoh tomorrow.
Neither team believed they would lose. Both were certain they would reach the finals.
The ball went to Meihou Industrial. Kawashima Naoto prepared to inbound as the battle between Sakuragi and Morishige began.
What the—this guy's insanely heavy?!
Morishige backed Sakuragi down, completely engulfing him with his massive frame. Sakuragi dug his feet into the floor and pushed with everything he had—every ounce of strength—but Morishige's steady march continued unhindered.
Okusu felt sweat drip down his temple. "Sakuragi… actually lost in strength?"
"I can't believe someone like this exists…" Noma groaned, holding his head.
Takamiya and Yohei swallowed hard. They honestly had no idea how Sakuragi was supposed to stop Morishige. The difference was absurd.
Even the Sakuragi Squad's confidence wavered.
Haruko, however, knew exactly when he needed encouragement.
"Sakuragi! Do your best!" she shouted.
But Sakuragi couldn't hear a thing. He was using everything he had—everything—yet Morishige still bulldozed his way into position under the basket.
Seeing the opening, Kawashima lobbed the ball in.
Morishige caught it, turned, and smoothly banked it in.
One simple, cruel action.
But after scoring, he glanced at Sakuragi and muttered, "Didn't expect this red-haired guy to be this strong… even stronger than the last one. What a weird kid…"
Even though Sakuragi was shorter than Akagi, his lower center of gravity and monstrous leg power made him harder to move.
But even so, he still couldn't stop Morishige.
As long as Morishige turned for his shot, not even Akagi could reach it.
Sakuragi felt the same frustration Akagi had earlier.
Nango didn't comfort him—instead, he poked fun.
"So? Still feeling confident?"
Sakuragi wanted to brag, but the words just wouldn't come out.
Nango chuckled, patting him on the arm. "Just wear him down. He can't beat you in stamina. You'll win the long game. Don't lose your cool just because he scored a few times."
"Just… wear him down?"
Sakuragi didn't like that answer one bit.
"Is that really the only way? Nango, isn't there something else I can do?"
Nango hesitated. He didn't want to lie.
"There is a way. But if we use it now, we'll lose our trump card for Sannoh tomorrow."
Sakuragi immediately panicked. "Tell me! Hurry!"
He only cared about stopping Morishige now. Tomorrow could wait.
Nango sighed. "Fine. Watch me the next possession. I'll show you how."
"Okay!"
Shohoku set up on offense. Without Akagi, Nango didn't bother going to the paint. Only Sakuragi stayed near the restricted area. Everyone else spread out beyond the arc.
Nango took the ball at the top. Kawashima defended him.
A clear invitation to attack.
Nango stepped back, dribbled, and burst forward, brushing past Kawashima's heavy frame with a simple speed change. Hayama rotated over, but after a lazy reach, he didn't even bother following.
Nango blinked.
What kind of half-hearted defense is that?
He drove into the paint.
Morishige didn't jump.
Didn't even take a real defensive stance.
He simply stretched his arms and… watched Nango lay the ball in.
Nango nearly tripped from confusion.
What? Why? What is this?
No perimeter pressure, no interior contest. Meihou was… intentionally giving up points?
Giving points away for free?
Apparently, that was exactly their plan.
Coach Murai frowned. He didn't expect Shohoku to remove Akagi—that was practically handing Morishige free scoring opportunities.
But they couldn't let Nango do whatever he wanted either.
If they couldn't stop him one-on-one, then they'd just double-team him.
The question was… who should help?
"Horiuchida will go," Murai decided.
That No. 11 kid played terribly yesterday. He shouldn't give Nango much trouble today either.
He called Horiuchida over and quickly laid out Meihou's newest plan.