Chapter Sixty: Kanagawa's Strongest First-Year!
"They're catching up! Catching up!"
"Only 3 points separating them—Kainan needs one three-pointer to tie!"
"Ryonan has no answer for Kainan's dual-shooter tactics. Momentum favors Kainan!"
"Tweet!"
"Ryonan requests timeout."
"Uozumi, your movements are too stiff!" Coach Taoka said. "You've controlled fouls well this game. Defense requires boldness with precision—how can Ryonan's paint be easily scored on!"
"YES!!" Uozumi shouted loudly.
After Takasago's easy basket, Uozumi immediately awakened. Standing on court uselessly was even less acceptable than fouling out!
"First, we must limit Miyamasu's three-pointers. Facing Kainan's screens, we need to anticipate their passing lanes one step early."
Coach Taoka drew on the tactical board:
"Kainan's tactical finishing points are both wings' shooters. But Jin is limited by Yagami with almost no shooting space. So they choose screening weak-side Miyamasu to create shooting opportunities."
"When Takasago screens baseline Fukuda, Ikegami—you directly rotate to Miyamasu."
"But won't that leave Kainan's first-year (Kiyota) open?" Ikegami asked puzzled.
"Kiyota's outside shooting ability falls far short of Miyamasu. And if he tries cutting inside—" Yagami took over Coach Taoka's analysis, "Uozumi-senpai anchors the paint."
"I see!" Ikegami suddenly felt clarity.
Coach Taoka nodded appreciatively, satisfied with Yagami's response. Originally, Uozumi struggled following Takasago's movement, forcing the perimeter into outnumbered situations. But thinking inversely—just force opponents to only score driving inside.
Uozumi was the interior strong point. He must be utilized!
"Uozumi, you won't let that first-year score in Ryonan's paint again, right?" Coach Taoka asked.
"Of course!" Uozumi responded loudly.
As timeout neared its end, players prepared to enter.
"Coach, I have an idea." Yagami walked to Coach Taoka's side, taking the board to quickly sketch. "Perhaps we could have Hikoichi defend Miyamasu?"
"Hmm?" Coach Taoka raised an eyebrow, gaze unconsciously glancing toward Aida behind.
"I'm involved too?" Aida perked up, immediately leaning forward.
Yagami drew the matchups on the board: "Previously having Fukuda-senpai defend Miyamasu was because Kiyota's drive threat required Ikegami-senpai's focused coverage. But targeting Miyamasu specifically, we could actually have Hikoichi body-defend him full-time."
"Hikoichi?" Coach Taoka stroked his chin pensively. "Has some merit..."
"Hikoichi," Yagami turned to Aida, "after observing this long, you've figured out Miyamasu's movement habits, right? Just like Yosen's Fukui stuck to you—use that same method clinging to Miyamasu, denying any shooting space."
He continued drawing a winding route on the board: "Even if they use screens, you can navigate around using agility. Miyamasu has almost no self-creating ability. During his catch-and-adjust moment, there's enough time for you to reattach."
The reason not considering having Fukuda execute navigation defense—both Coach Taoka and Yagami understood—Fukuda's defensive awareness remained immature, his movement patterns too straightforward for immediate reads.
Meanwhile, Uekusa and Koshino's movement awareness didn't match Aida's keenness. So this role couldn't be anyone else's.
"Why didn't you say this earlier?" Coach Taoka frowned.
Yagami candidly pointed at the board the coach had snatched back: "You gripped it so tightly just now. I had no chance."
"Ahem." Coach Taoka coughed lightly.
Seeing the coach's expression soften, Yagami added: "Besides, your tactical arrangement was equally effective. As long as we defend successfully, Fukuda-senpai's offensive value truly far exceeds Hikoichi's."
This earned a trace of satisfaction in Coach Taoka's eyes, while beside them Aida clutched his chest with a wounded expression.
"Tweet!"
The timeout-ending whistle sounded timely. Yagami waved, last to take the court.
"What were you discussing?" Sendoh asked with a smile, seemingly very interested.
"Sendoh-senpai," Yagami didn't answer directly, only turning to look at him, saying excitedly: "It's time—let's crush that old man together!"
"Oh?" Sendoh smiled unsurprised. "I thought you'd wait until the final quarter to say that line."
In his view, Yagami as point guard appeared even more aggressive than himself as a forward.
"Can't help it. I've never liked passive waiting." Yagami said.
Ryonan's offense.
After Yagami caught the baseline inbound, Kiyota and Jin immediately surrounded him.
"You guys are really clingy..."
Yagami exchanged glances with Sendoh—confirmed through eye contact—and passed out.
After catching, Sendoh signaled. Teammates immediately spaced for his isolation.
"Try it if you can." Maki said expressionlessly.
Sendoh lowered his center of gravity, dribbling beyond the three-point line. Maki immediately pressed tight.
Though Maki stood two inches shorter than Sendoh, in speed, strength, and explosiveness metrics, Maki not only didn't fall short but could even continuously pressure Sendoh with superior overall attributes.
Sendoh used his left arm as a pivot, steadily holding off Maki's press, creating slight space between them.
Maki felt slight surprise—Sendoh's strength exceeded expectations—but didn't hesitate, pressing forward again while cautiously controlling arm range, avoiding creating foul opportunities.
At this moment, Sendoh's right hand suddenly exploded, bringing the ball left. Exploiting the gap where Maki couldn't reach, he feinted a strong left drive.
Maki reacted quickly, his body preemptively sliding to cut off position.
However, Sendoh's left drive was merely a fake. He pounded the ball forcefully—the basketball bounced with greater force. The instant Sendoh caught it, he changed direction again, his entire body accelerating right.
Maki had anticipated this. Confident in his defensive ability, he almost simultaneously changed direction to block the path.
However, he got screened!
Yagami needed no instructions from Sendoh, perfectly coordinating to cut off Maki's pursuit!
"Ryonan's dual aces' pick-and-roll!"
Sendoh navigated around Yagami, gaining precious shooting space.
He didn't hesitate, rising skyward for the three-pointer—
"Not happening!"
Jin and Kiyota, only shaken off momentarily by Yagami, now unhesitatingly jumped simultaneously to block Sendoh!
Sendoh's expression didn't change. He released the ball.
Not a shot! A pass!
Yagami, who'd screened for Sendoh, had smoothly cut into the paint. After catching, he rose with one step for a layup.
"Takasago!"
Maki shouted from behind. Front and back, they sealed Yagami in cramped space.
However, Yagami stabilized his form mid-air, gathering to dodge the block, releasing the ball just before landing.
The basketball circled the rim's edge before finally dropping through!
Ryonan 64 - Kainan 59
"Beautiful coordination! Ryonan's dual aces completely toyed with Kainan's defensive line!"
"Truly a 'divine combination!'"
"YAGAMI! YAGAMI!"
"SENDOH! SENDOH!"
Kainan quickly counterattacked. Maki pushed forward. After Takasago's high-post facilitation, he quickly moved for a screen.
However, this time Ryonan's switching left Miyamasu no open space!
"As expected?"
The basketball returned to Maki's hands. So-called tactics were really just countermeasures. Since Ryonan found methods handling Miyamasu's three-point threat, next came Kainan's offensive adjustment.
Kiyota cut into the paint. Uozumi defended out early, simultaneously blocking even Takasago's reverse-cut lane.
"Damn! Underestimating me!"
Kiyota shot a mid-range jumper from the right free throw line.
"Clang!"
He didn't disappoint Ryonan players' expectations—the basketball bounced off the rim.
Fukuda secured the defensive rebound.
Yagami quickly ran the floor. Jin followed closely.
Maki's retreat speed was equally shocking. Sendoh trailed behind ready to receive. Momentarily, Kainan's frontcourt formed a two-versus-two situation.
Yagami charged to the left three-point line's 45-degree spot, suddenly lowering his center of gravity, feinting a pass inside.
"Bounce pass?"
Jin stopped abruptly, blocking the passing lane.
However, Yagami quickly pulled the ball back, simultaneously stepping back to jump.
"Huh?!"
Distance instantly opened between them. Off-balance Jin couldn't even jump.
"Three-pointers aren't your exclusive skill."
Yagami maintained form mid-air, steadily releasing.
"Swish!"
Clean swish!
Ryonan 67 - Kainan 59
The score gap widened again!
Kainan's offense.
After Maki drove into the paint, he forced a shot over Sendoh's defense.
Two points, muscled in!
Ryonan 67 - Kainan 61
However, Sendoh seemed stimulated by this. Coming to the frontcourt demanding the ball, he similarly forced a shot over Maki's defense.
Actually made it—
Three-pointer, good!
Ryonan 70 - Kainan 61
Kainan's offense.
Kiyota cut into the paint, catching Maki's pass charging toward the basket.
Uozumi's help defense timing was excellent, establishing position in Kiyota's drive lane before reaching the free throw line.
Facing Uozumi's massive frame's defensive pressure, Kiyota's layup motion visibly deformed. The basketball bounced off the front rim.
"Rebound!"
Takasago, with positional advantage, jumped first—seemingly about to secure the offensive board.
However, Uozumi roared, jumping a second time. With absolute height and wingspan, he arrived late yet swatted the ball forcefully toward the sideline!
In a flash, Maki with shocking explosiveness arrived first, intercepting before Sendoh could touch the ball.
After observing, Miyamasu was completely locked down by Ikegami with no receiving space. Takasago and Kiyota hadn't adjusted either.
Sendoh pressed close. Maki helplessly could only pass left wing.
The instant Jin caught, Yagami's defense was already positioned.
After simple attempts, Jin discovered he couldn't shake Yagami at all, so could only force a stepback jumper.
Yagami saw through his intent immediately, stepping forward to leap for the block. Though not touching the ball, he completely disrupted Jin's shooting rhythm.
"Clang!"
The basketball again bounced off the rim.
"ROAR—!"
This time, Uozumi steadily secured the rebound.
The counterattack launched instantly. Fukuda and Sendoh charged forward like twin blades.
Maki and Kiyota reacted timely, retreating quickly.
After catching Uozumi's pass, Yagami faked past Jin, then unhesitatingly delivered a full-court pass—the basketball precisely flew toward the basket's right side!
A figure rose skyward. Fukuda, with Kiyota chasing, leaped high, catching the basketball at his apex single-handedly and smoothly hammering through the rim!
Ryonan 72 - Kainan 61
"Alley-oop poster! Ryonan's aerial connection!"
"This is a guaranteed top-five play! Yagami's full-court guidance and Fukuda's telepathic finish perfectly demonstrate court chemistry!"
"Tweet!"
"Kainan substitution, number 9 Muto in, number 15 Miyamasu out."
Since Miyamasu's three-point threat disappeared, Coach Takato decisively brought Muto back to strengthen interior height.
Play continued.
Kainan's other players were marked tightly, but Muto still slipped free from Fukuda's defense for a give-and-go with Maki.
Maki drove to the basket. The instant he caught, Uozumi and Sendoh double-teamed.
He didn't hesitate, directly passing to baseline left. Takasago caught for a layup.
Uozumi jumped, spinning for a rejection!
"Smack!"
The basketball flew out of bounds.
"Whistle!"
"Ryonan number 4, shooting foul!"
Uozumi honestly raised his hand. That slap rang loudly. Anyway, he'd disrupted the layup—this time he had no complaints.
"Uozumi, you're at three fouls."
Takasago walked to the free throw line, attempting to pressure Uozumi.
"Heh, game's almost over anyway." Uozumi snorted contemptuously.
"Clang!"
The first shot missed.
"This bastard hits hard." Takasago cursed inwardly.
He rubbed his wrist, adjusting before steadily hitting the second.
Ryonan 72 - Kainan 62
Offensive transition. Ryonan's offense.
To Kainan's surprise, Ryonan's ball-handler became Sendoh!
"What? Still double-team Yagami? Or switch?"
During Kainan players' momentary confusion, Sendoh casually passed. Yagami caught near halfcourt.
Wrong—very wrong!
"Nobunaga! Stop him!" Maki shouted loudly.
Yagami immediately launched. Kiyota lunged to intercept but got shaken clean by a behind-the-back dribble.
Jin quickly rotated, but Yagami's speed had fully built—one acceleration swept past his side.
Such a familiar scene!
Sideline spectators and Kainan players' minds simultaneously recalled the shocking moment when he beat four Shoyo defenders.
Maki's expression grew grave, accelerating with large strides to meet Yagami.
"Must stop him! Kainan absolutely cannot become this guy's highlight reel!"
Just as the two were about to meet, Yagami changed direction left. Maki moved to follow but got blocked by a figure!
This time, Sendoh screened for Yagami.
Yagami's speed didn't decrease—actually accelerating. Beaten Kiyota and Jin chased desperately from behind. Under the basket, Takasago and Muto simultaneously lunged nervously.
When Yagami charged to the left paint edge, Kainan had four defenders surrounding him!
He directly gathered mid-air, passing the ball toward Sendoh's direction.
"It's a pass!"
Kainan players startled by his motion—Maki, Kiyota, and Jin actually three simultaneously lunged toward Sendoh.
However, that was an incredibly realistic fake!
Yagami pulled the ball back mid-air, calmly floating up a shot just before landing.
Every person on both Kainan and Ryonan benches simultaneously stood.
Coach Taoka unconsciously leaned forward, eyes locked on the basketball. Coach Takato held his breath, gripping his fan tighter and tighter.
The basketball hit the front rim, bouncing upward, then under everyone's gaze slowly falling, bouncing again. Time seemed infinitely elongated at this moment.
"Swish."
The crisp net sound finally rang out.
Ryonan 74 - Kainan 62
"WOOOOO!"
Ryonan's bench instantly erupted. Towels flew through the air.
"Crack."
Coach Takato's fan broke into two pieces.
"Can I do that move?" Kise's body trembled slightly. He was already too excited to control himself.
"Yagami Sorato toyed with Kainan's entire defensive line again!" The announcer shouted hoarsely. "I unilaterally declare—he is Kanagawa's strongest first-year!!!"
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