Chapter 141: Under the Same Court
The massive projection screen in Kainan High School's audiovisual room displayed the intense battle between Ryonan and Sannoh in real time.
"The momentum's with them! Ryonan's in the lead!"
"Can they actually beat Sannoh?!"
"This is incredible..."
Last year's Inter-High national quarterfinals saw Kainan lose to Sannoh Industrial by a crushing thirty points. The memory of being completely dominated by overwhelming strength remained vivid. Now, watching their fellow Kanagawa competitor Ryonan actually leading against Sannoh, the players' emotions churned with complexity.
"Yagami, Sendoh, Fukuda—I never thought that when all three of them are on the court together, even Sannoh couldn't stop Ryonan's offense," Kiyota Nobunaga said with admiration.
He didn't want to admit it, but he felt the distance between himself and Yagami Sorato growing wider and wider.
"That's true," Maki Shinichi nodded, his voice steady. "But the key to opening up this lead is probably Sannoh's consecutive offensive mistakes."
"Their rhythm is disrupted." Coach Takato, seated in front of the players, slowly waved his folding fan.
"Domoto's adjustment at the end of the first quarter was certainly precise and decisive, but wanting to keep Kawata Mikio on the court is too presumptuous. Or perhaps... too impatient."
Still, Coach Takato could understand Coach Domoto's decision.
Currently, Sannoh's main rotation had only Sawakita Eiji as a second-year. Fukatsu Kazunari, Kawata Masashi, Matsumoto Minoru, and Nobe Masahiro were all third-years. If they wanted to develop an inside prospect with Mikio's rare physical gifts, naturally the sooner he gained tournament experience, the better.
From a long-term planning perspective, this was understandable.
However, game situations changed in an instant, and Coach Taoka of Ryonan wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.
The whistle blew.
"Sannoh requests a timeout."
After Fukuda Kicchou's thunderous dunk extended the lead once more, Sannoh Industrial called timeout.
"Fukuda..." Kanzaki Ichiro watched his former teammate enjoying the cheers on the court, genuinely happy for him from the bottom of his heart.
Coach Takato seized this timeout to analyze Fukuda Kicchou and Kawata Mikio's matchup, rising to point at Fukuda on the screen with his fan.
"You should remember that Fukuda's biggest problem on the court is his defensive lapses. His defensive awareness is poor, he bites on fakes easily, and opposing forwards can often deceive him with a simple fake and drive straight into the paint for scores."
"However, Mikio doesn't possess a forward's agile breakthrough ability. He moves slowly, and his offensive patterns on the court tend toward using his height and weight to catch the ball near the basket for spot-up shots or power moves. This relatively one-dimensional offensive style perfectly conceals Fukuda's weaknesses in defensive judgment and lateral movement."
"Not only that, but because Fukuda's height and leaping ability aren't bad, when facing this kind of high-release shooting, he can actually provide decent contest."
"It could be said that Mikio is completely neutralized by Fukuda in this matchup."
In fact, Sannoh had gradually realized this in the second quarter. Sometimes Kawata Mikio would post up directly under the basket, letting Kawata Masashi attack Fukuda Kicchou instead.
But if that happened, Mikio's presence on the court became meaningless.
"Now look at the perimeter. Using Ichinokura Satoshi to stick to Sendoh—the intent behind that move was good. Ichinokura's 'rubber cement' defense can certainly create trouble for Sendoh." Coach Takato extended his analysis further. "But his weakness is equally obvious—insufficient offensive ability."
"Snap!" Coach Takato closed his fan and couldn't help but smile.
"This creates a chain reaction. With Matsumoto Minoru locked down by Yagami Sorato, and Mikio unable to open things up inside, Sannoh's offense can only rely on Kawata Masashi."
"Fukatsu Kazunari had to force shots to try to break this situation, but the results didn't change anything."
"Wait, there's that much strategy involved?" Kiyota Nobunaga muttered blankly. He thought it was just Ryonan playing a bit better with higher shooting percentage while Sannoh's touch was off.
Behind it all was this complex coaching chess match? The image of Coach Taoka from Ryonan floated through Kiyota's mind—he still just looked like an ordinary middle-aged guy.
"Was it just luck?"
"Smack!" Maki Shinichi withdrew his right hand. "Nobunaga, you should be learning from Yagami, not getting closer and closer to Sakuragi's way of thinking."
"...I got it." Kiyota Nobunaga held his head.
Maki-senpai was too much. How could he be anything like that red-haired monkey?
With one minute left in the second quarter, Coach Domoto adjusted Sannoh's lineup once again.
"Number fifteen Kawata Mikio out, number five Nobe Masahiro in."
"Number six Matsumoto Minoru out, number nine Sawakita Eiji in."
"Hmm? Substituting Matsumoto instead of Ichinokura?" Coach Taoka noticed Sannoh's adjustment. "Looks like they're planning to change their offensive core. They're getting serious now."
However, he didn't immediately make his own adjustment. Not every player could adapt to game rhythm as soon as they entered. For this final minute, he chose to trust the players on the court.
The timeout ended and play resumed. Sannoh's ball.
"Sannoh Sannoh fight!"
"Sannoh Sannoh go!"
When Sawakita Eiji returned to the court, his expression had less of that playful smile and more focus.
"Looks like I don't need to say much," Fukatsu Kazunari said no more, immediately passing the ball after crossing halfcourt.
Sawakita Eiji caught it at the forty-five degree angle on the right side beyond the arc. Yagami Sorato immediately pressed tight on defense, their gazes colliding in midair with invisible sparks.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Sawakita's dribble rhythm alternated between fast and slow, the basketball seeming glued to his hand as it moved with his body. Then came an exaggerated drag step into a between-the-legs pullback.
"He beat him!!"
Sawakita exploded past on his drive, his first step hitting the hardwood with tremendous force.
Yagami Sorato reacted quickly, sliding over to cut him off.
At the instant before contact, Sawakita accelerated again, his entire body flashing past like a phantom.
"Bang!"
Fukuda Kicchou tried to help, but the ball went right between his legs!
Sawakita split the defense, catching the ball again before rising into the air with an exaggerated contortion to avoid Uozumi Jun's challenge, finishing with a reverse layup.
Ryonan 49, Sannoh Industrial 45.
"So fast!! Those moves looked straight out of streetball!"
"Sawakita! That's Sawakita!!"
Sawakita's spectacular one-on-three scoring not only got Sannoh Industrial's offense moving again, but instantly reversed the momentum on the court.
"Don't worry about it, we'll answer right back!" Sendoh Akira called to his teammates.
Possession changed, Ryonan on offense.
However, the moment Uekusa Tomoyuki caught the ball, Fukatsu Kazunari and Sawakita Eiji double-teamed him!
"Uekusa! Pass it out quick!" Sendoh Akira rushed up to receive.
"Damn it! Can't turn it over!" Uekusa was forced to retreat repeatedly. Forget about passing—he couldn't even maintain his dribble!
"Smack!"
Fukatsu Kazunari timed it perfectly and stole the ball. Sendoh Akira immediately rushed to pressure.
"Bang!"
The basketball went past Sendoh's side. Sawakita caught it and smoothly rose for the layup!
"Sawakita, watch out!" Fukatsu called.
Yagami Sorato leaped from behind him, but didn't rush the block attempt. Instead, he tracked Sawakita's shooting hand.
"Guess I'll do this then."
Sawakita's body flew out beyond the baseline, completely escaping Yagami's blocking range. Only in the final second before landing did he forcefully launch the ball.
The basketball traced a high arc, passing behind the backboard and dropping cleanly through the net ahead!
"Swish!"
Nothing but net!
Ryonan 49, Sannoh Industrial 47.
"!!!"
"What was that?!!"
"Did he just shoot it in from behind the rim?!"
Most of the audience in attendance hadn't watched Ryonan's game against Touou, but some who had seen it once could never forget that sequence.
"...That's Aomine Daiki's move!!"
"Sawakita can do it too..."
"Wait, if Aomine can do it, I guess it's not that surprising Sawakita can... right?"
Somehow, some spectators convinced themselves.
"That guy, heh." Aomine Daiki chuckled softly. "That's an interesting thing to watch. Too bad if we hadn't lost to Rakuzan..."
"How was that?" Sawakita Eiji asked Yagami Sorato excitedly. "I watched your game against Touou—that dark-skinned kid's shots are all really creative. I've been wanting to try something like that!"
"I don't care about you." Yagami looked at him coldly. "Anyway, bring it on!"
Less than thirty seconds remained in the second quarter. Barring the unexpected, only time for one possession.
Coach Taoka hadn't expected Sannoh to full-court press at this moment, much less use both Fukatsu Kazunari and Sawakita Eiji to trap Uekusa Tomoyuki together.
"Are they going to catch up again in just this one minute?" Coach Taoka clenched his teeth. Sannoh really was the toughest team he'd ever faced.
Ryonan inbounded again, but with Sendoh Akira handling the ball.
Sannoh no longer concealed their intent. Sawakita Eiji rushed to pressure immediately, while Fukatsu Kazunari cut in from the wing nearly simultaneously. Two white jerseys instantly formed a pincer!
Sendoh Akira didn't hesitate, passing the ball back baseline before the trap could close.
Uekusa Tomoyuki had just stepped onto the court when the ball came back to his hands unexpectedly.
Fukatsu Kazunari showed no surprise, charging straight at Uekusa. He believed the previous steal had left a shadow in the opposing point guard's mind. If he could steal this ball too and stabilize the offensive rhythm, Sannoh would have a chance to take the lead!
"Uekusa!" Sendoh Akira shouted.
Among the teammates Uekusa could see, no one was in good passing position.
Passing back to Sendoh would just trap him in the double team again. He wanted to pass to Yagami Sorato, but Fukatsu blocked the passing lane between them, and Ichinokura Satoshi was constantly fronting to disrupt Yagami's ability to receive.
The pressure crashed down like a collapsing mountain as Fukatsu closed in!
Uekusa Tomoyuki didn't panic. He heard Sendoh's shout and could vaguely guess his intention, but he didn't simply hand everything to his teammates.
"Right now, the first thing to do is fulfill a point guard's responsibility—protect the ball, draw the defense, create time and space for teammates!"
"Alright."
Uekusa lowered his center of gravity, trying to dribble right to create distance. Even dragging Fukatsu for one more second would help.
However, Fukatsu Kazunari's speed and pressure far exceeded expectations! In just one step, that suffocating presence had closed in, his long arms blocking every passing angle.
"Damn it!" Uekusa was forced to gather. He couldn't even manage to stall for one second.
"Whoosh!"
Uekusa fired the ball back toward Sendoh's direction.
The corner of Fukatsu's mouth moved almost imperceptibly. Everything was going as expected. He stopped, turned, and instantly formed perfect front-and-back pressure with Sawakita Eiji, who'd been sticking to Sendoh!
"Smack!"
A crisp sound of ball contact rang out.
Sendoh Akira, caught in the trap, didn't try to catch the ball at all. Instead, he swung out with one palm, redirecting the ball's trajectory.
"This guy's getting more and more skilled at that." All three Generation of Miracles members in the stands felt something odd.
"Whoosh!"
The basketball threaded through the crowd, arriving right in front of Yagami Sorato.
The instant Yagami caught it, he didn't pause. First came a forward jab step, forcing Ichinokura Satoshi to retreat hastily, then he seamlessly chained into a step-back, instantly creating precious shooting space before pulling up!
Ichinokura tried to close out and disrupt Yagami's lift again, only to find his opponent actively leaning into contact.
"Whoosh!" The basketball launched.
"Smack!" Ichinokura hit Yagami's wrist.
The referee's whistle blew.
"Swish!" The basketball fell cleanly through.
Chaos erupted on the court, but one thing was clear—Yagami Sorato had hit the three!
"Sannoh number eight, shooting foul! Basket counts, one free throw!"
Only point-eight seconds remained until the end of the second quarter.
Sannoh Industrial's bench sat in silence, while Ryonan's side erupted in triumphant celebration.
Yagami Sorato stepped to the free throw line. Under the entire arena's gaze, he regulated his breathing and smoothly released the ball.
Free throw good!
Sannoh hastily inbounded. Fukatsu had barely caught the ball when—
The buzzer sounded.
"Second quarter over!"
Ryonan 53, Sannoh Industrial 47.
Coach Domoto Goro's adjustment hadn't helped Sannoh tie the score.
Yagami Sorato's near-buzzer-beater three-plus-one let Ryonan end the first half with a six-point advantage!
After the fifteen-minute halftime break, the third quarter began.
Sannoh kept their lineup unchanged. Ryonan substituted Ikegami Ryoji for Uekusa Tomoyuki. Both teams had deployed their "strongest lineups" for the decisive battle.
Just one quarter had left Uekusa Tomoyuki feeling as exhausted as if he'd played an entire game.
"You did well, Uekusa." After the players took the court, Coach Taoka said quietly.
"Yes!!" Uekusa on the sideline responded loudly.
Aida Hikoichi glanced over in surprise. This was the first time he'd heard his upperclassman respond so energetically.
"Coach, I'll work even harder until I can be out there with them..." Uekusa suddenly choked up, his view of the court blurring against his will.
"I believe in you." Coach Taoka said with a smile.