Chapter 143: Crunch Time
"Aw, I thought that was a three!" Aida Hikoichi sighed, though his face beamed with a conspicuous smile. Sorato's amazing!!
"Just a two-pointer?"
Yagami Sorato looked down at where he'd landed. Although he was currently outside the three-point line, when he'd jumped he'd definitely stepped on it.
"Heh, looks like you haven't given up yet." Sawakita Eiji tilted his head slightly. "That's good."
In the first three minutes of the second half, Ryonan had scored six points—Sendoh Akira four, Yagami Sorato two. Meanwhile, Sannoh Industrial had scored ten—Sawakita Eiji eight, Fukatsu Kazunari two.
Possession changed. Sannoh on offense.
Sawakita caught the inbound pass from the baseline and pushed it up himself. Since he was going one-on-one anyway, no point wasting time having Fukatsu-senpai bring it up.
"This guy's getting selfish again." Fukatsu curled his lip, though he didn't actually stop him.
Yagami Sorato immediately stepped up on defense, but the already-accelerating Sawakita blew past with a crossover straight into the paint for a mid-range jumper.
"Swish!"
Four for four!
Ryonan 59, Sannoh Industrial 59.
Sannoh had tied the score again.
Possession changed. Ryonan on offense.
After Sawakita's bucket, Yagami Sorato immediately sprinted upcourt. Sannoh's transition defense was fast.
Sendoh Akira caught the baseline inbound and immediately fired a long pass. When Yagami caught it, the opposing defensive formation was just settling into position.
Yagami didn't slow down, attacking the paint from the right side and immediately drawing a double team from Sawakita Eiji and Ichinokura Satoshi!
"The same approach won't work twice."
Fukatsu Kazunari stuck tight to Sendoh Akira, giving him no chance to come up and receive from Yagami.
Sannoh's players all had extremely solid fundamentals. Their defensive system was excellent. Because of this, Ryonan's scoring came primarily from individual one-on-one ability.
If the other players' off-ball movement wasn't outstanding, then only when the ball handler drew multiple defenders could it create offensive space for teammates.
The current situation on the court was that Yagami Sorato, Sendoh Akira, and Fukuda Kicchou were each being defended individually, making it difficult to attract additional help.
However, this fast break was an opportunity.
Uozumi Jun posted up under the basket, covered by Kawata Masashi.
Ikegami Ryoji had open space on the left side of the free throw area. He hadn't scored yet today. But Sannoh was leaving him open not just because his offensive threat was low—at Ikegami's shooting position and release speed, Kawata Masashi had plenty of ability to help defend when Yagami passed.
After being stopped, but before the trap could fully form, Yagami leaned against Ichinokura and raised the ball up for an overhead pass.
Nobe Masahiro couldn't stay with Fukuda Kicchou!
This was Ryonan's wild card. Fukuda cut through the middle. Ichinokura read it sharply and lunged toward him.
However, Yagami didn't actually release the pass. His palm gripped the ball firmly and pulled it back, using the space Ichinokura had vacated to smoothly attack the rim.
The trap positioning had actually left Sawakita trailing behind.
"Swish!"
Clean two-pointer.
Ryonan 61, Sannoh Industrial 59.
"Beautiful fake! Even Sannoh's defensive specialist got fooled!"
"With that bucket, Yagami's scored over thirty points this game! Scoring ability that doesn't pale next to Sawakita at all!" the announcer shouted excitedly.
Yagami Sorato currently had the highest point total on the court, but that was because Sawakita Eiji had missed nearly an entire quarter.
Looking purely at efficiency, from when Sawakita returned to the court, he'd scored fourteen points in five minutes.
This was no time for heroics. Coach Taoka signaled from the sideline. After Sannoh's transition offense, Sawakita Eiji drew a double team from Yagami Sorato and Fukuda Kicchou.
Ichinokura Satoshi was open, but Sawakita passed instead to Kawata Masashi, who'd retreated to mid-range.
Kawata caught and hit the jumper.
Ryonan 61, Sannoh Industrial 61.
"Great shot, Kawata-senpai!"
"If you hadn't passed out of that double team just now, I'd have had Coach bench you again." Kawata gave Sawakita a high-five.
"Heh, as if." Sawakita smiled as he got back on defense. Though he genuinely felt Fukuda's trap was laughable, better not to take risks.
Possession changed. Ryonan on offense.
After Sendoh Akira penetrated inside, he kicked it to Fukuda Kicchou, who'd used an Ikegami screen to shake free. Fukuda finished the layup.
Ryonan 63, Sannoh Industrial 61.
Possession changed.
Fukatsu Kazunari dribbled past halfcourt. Sawakita cut into the paint, forcing up a shot through the double team from Yagami and Fukuda.
Bucket good, plus the foul on Fukuda Kicchou.
Free throw made.
Ryonan 63, Sannoh Industrial 64.
Over the next several possessions, Yagami and Sendoh's isolation plays combined with Fukuda's cuts kept Ryonan scoring—difficult but steady.
On Sannoh's end, with Sawakita's massive threat, shots became easier for Fukatsu Kazunari and Kawata Masashi.
Before anyone realized it, Sannoh had not only stabilized their lead but extended the gap to four points.
The game entered the fourth quarter.
Ryonan 74, Sannoh Industrial 78.
Ryonan's ball.
Sendoh drove inside. On the perimeter, Yagami used an Ikegami screen to create a momentary opening. Sendoh fired a no-look pass to the top of the key.
Sawakita fought over the screen, chasing Yagami.
Yagami caught it and attacked the paint, avoiding Nobe Masahiro's help defense before pulling up from mid-range.
"Swish!"
Two-pointer good.
Ryonan 76, Sannoh Industrial 78.
Possession changed. Sannoh on offense.
Fukatsu lobbed it inside. Kawata Masashi used post footwork to shake Uozumi Jun for the layup.
Ryonan 76, Sannoh Industrial 80.
The situation on the court remained unchanged. Sannoh steadily maintained a two-to-four point advantage.
"Too stable." Coach Taoka's brow furrowed.
Just as predicted before the game, Sannoh's true terror was their defense. Despite only a few points separating the teams, entering the final quarter, Ryonan couldn't see any hope of taking the lead.
Fukatsu Kazunari—though the outside world generally considered his defense stronger than his offense, Coach Taoka actually felt that his ability to organize the offense without mistakes while maintaining constant threat was already terrifying enough.
Basically an enhanced, enhanced version of Uekusa Tomoyuki.
Five minutes remained.
Ryonan 85, Sannoh Industrial 90.
The whistle blew.
"Ryonan requests timeout."
Coach Taoka knew clearly that without adjusting the lineup, this game would slowly bleed out to its conclusion. And the normally defense-oriented coach made a final adjustment that was—
"Number twelve, Aida Hikoichi in. Number five, Ikegami Ryoji out."
"Senpai! Your brother!" Nakamura Heisuke exclaimed from the bench.
"Hikoichi!" Aida Yayoi covered her mouth. She hadn't expected Coach Taoka to put Aida Hikoichi in at a time like this. Was he giving up on defense?
"Oh, Coach Taoka's made quite a bold decision!" The announcer flipped through player stats. "Like Yagami, Aida is also a first-year who just joined the team this year."
"Though he's only one-sixty-five centimeters tall, he averages one-point-six three-pointers per game. Quite a capable shooter."
"Hey, is that kid gonna be okay?" Spectators on the sidelines muttered in confusion.
More than his short height, the fact that Hikoichi was only a first-year stood out. In this battle between Ryonan and Sannoh, only two first-years had seen the court—Yagami Sorato and Kawata Mikio.
And at this critical juncture, he was clearly the key piece Coach Taoka believed could change the situation.
"Do well out there, Hikoichi!" Ikegami Ryoji said between gasps.
During the timeout, Ikegami suddenly seemed to deflate. He propped one hand on his knee, the other on Hikoichi's shoulder just to barely stay standing.
"Ikegami-senpai!"
Hikoichi steadied Ikegami, seeing up close the exaggerated streams of sweat on his face. Though normally capable of playing full games, Ikegami's legs now trembled slightly beyond his control—he clearly couldn't stand steady.
No wonder. Ikegami had first defended Matsumoto Minoru, then matched up against the much larger Kawata Mikio and Nobe Masahiro. Even though he'd had almost no offensive impact this game, the endless defensive contests, box-outs, and help rotations had drained his mental and physical reserves just as much as his teammates on the offensive end.
That he'd held on this long was already the limit of his willpower.
This was precisely one reason Coach Taoka had no choice but to make this substitution now.
"I... I will." Hikoichi trembled with nerves. Though he'd imagined countless times contributing to the team in situations like this, now that the moment had arrived, enormous pressure and surreal feelings instantly overwhelmed him.
Just like the doubtful voices from the stands—at this critical moment, with the score trailing, could he really change things?
Hikoichi's hands and feet went cold, his heart pounding. Just as the nervousness threatened to drown him, Yagami Sorato's hand settled firmly on his other shoulder.
"It's okay. You can do this, Hikoichi."
Yagami looked directly into Hikoichi's somewhat panicked eyes. "Five minutes left. Run your heart out—don't stop for even a second!"
"Then I'll pass you the ball."
"And you just need to make the shot. Just like practice."
"Sorato..."
Hikoichi clenched his fists.
"Haven't you been putting in extra shooting practice this whole time? I figured you were already ready." Sendoh smiled.
"I... I'll do it!"
The timeout ended. Both teams returned to the court.
Ryonan's ball.
Sendoh Akira caught the baseline inbound, and after pushing past halfcourt, his eyes became completely different. The lazy smile vanished from his face, replaced by a sharp, cutting edge.
"You seem a bit different." Fukatsu Kazunari settled into his defensive stance. "Don't tell me you're only getting serious now?"
"Not quite." Sendoh crouched into a quick dribble. "I just think I can't dump the whole burden on our first-years."
"Ah, I agree with that—"
"Bang!"
Before Fukatsu finished, Sendoh used a fake to draw his weight right, then exploded left off his right foot.
Fukatsu reacted quickly without being completely beaten. He chose to stay pressed tight, denying Sendoh any shooting opportunity.
Passing lanes were locked. Hikoichi began running wild on the court, but hadn't found space yet.
Sendoh accelerated into the paint, entering the restricted area. Kawata Masashi rotated over to form a trap with Fukatsu!
"Sendoh!" Uozumi Jun flared outside, ready to receive.
But Sendoh didn't slow down, colliding with Kawata's front. His left shoulder leaned into his opponent as his right hand gripped the ball, turning his body sideways to the basket and jumping off his left foot with maximum force.
"???"
Kawata clearly hadn't expected this move from Sendoh. Pressed in place by the contact—not daring to jump at this point—he could only raise his hands high.
Fukatsu chased from behind for the block.
Sendoh's body tilted back slightly, jumping in an awkward one-legged stance. His right hand avoided Fukatsu, lofting the ball toward the rim!
Hook shot!
"Swish!"
"Smack!"
Just as the net swished, a crisp slap echoed.
The referee's whistle blew.
"Sannoh number four, shooting foul! Basket counts, one free throw!"
Sendoh calmly sank the free throw.
Ryonan 88, Sannoh Industrial 90.
"Sendoh! Sendoh!"
"Get back!!" Sendoh showed no celebration, immediately retreating to Ryonan's end.
Possession changed. Sannoh on offense.
Regardless of whether Ryonan pushed the pace, once Sannoh had the lead and Fukatsu controlled the ball, the game tempo immediately slowed.
Sendoh didn't hesitate, pressing up to trap immediately.
Fukatsu protected the ball, looking to pass inside.
But Uozumi's defense became unusually fierce. He used every ounce of strength to push Kawata outward, denying him comfortable position.
"This bull! Still has this much energy!" Kawata moved out to receive.
Under Sendoh's pressure, Fukatsu could only pass to Sawakita Eiji.
"Bang!"
Without hesitation, Sawakita attacked off the catch. Yagami's feet were lightning-quick, constantly cutting off angles.
"Sawakita!"
Kawata ran all the way out near the free throw line. Uozumi, respecting his shooting, had to follow him out of the paint.
Sawakita passed it out. Kawata lobbed the ball diagonally backward, then smoothly set a screen on Sendoh who was chasing Fukatsu!
"What?!"
Fukatsu cut to the basket, caught the ball, and pulled up for a jumper before Uozumi could help.
"Swish!"
Clean make!
Ryonan 88, Sannoh Industrial 92.
After scoring, Fukatsu and Kawata exchanged a glance. No words, just immediate transition defense.
Possession changed. Ryonan on offense.
Hikoichi ran from the left corner along the baseline, curling to the right wing beyond the arc at forty-five degrees. Yagami suddenly cut hard inside. Sawakita immediately tracked him.
Yagami planted and reversed direction, screening off Ichinokura who was chasing Hikoichi.
"Whoosh!"
In just that instant of space, the basketball threaded through traffic into Hikoichi's hands.
"Sendoh-senpai! What a pass!"
No time for admiration. Hikoichi set his feet and rose for the shot, completely unfazed by Sawakita already closing hard into his face!
But then—
"Clang!"
The ball hammered off the back iron and bounced high.
"No—!"