Wang Liang nodded.
When he returned to the court, he relayed what Wang Yi had just said to the other players.
Pan Hongtao grew a little flustered.
The next possession began with a sideline ball.
Under Mingde's suffocating defense, getting the sideline ball in was difficult. But these five Mingde Middle School players had been together for a long time, so they still had good chemistry and plenty of experience.
With a screen, they managed to create an opening and get the ball in.
Huali's five players continued with man-to-man defense.
Wang Liang stayed on Zhang Lei, who had the ball.
Zhang Lei was still annoyed about Wang Liang fouling him earlier. Facing Wang Liang now, he tossed out a threat:
"Go ahead, foul me again if you've got the guts."
Huali had already committed three team fouls in the fourth quarter. One more would put them at four, which could make things a little dangerous later.
Wang Liang gave a cold laugh.
"Then take me on one-on-one again!"
Zhang Lei rolled his shoulders.
One-on-one?
Just what he wanted!
He stopped jawing with Wang Liang and dribbled slowly, then suddenly picked up the pace.
But just as he was about to drive, Wang Liang abruptly dropped back.
Huali's other players also collapsed toward the paint, forming a zone defense.
Zhang Lei froze for a moment.
Huali's five had been playing man-to-man the whole time, and he'd gotten used to it. The sudden switch to a zone threw him off.
So instead of driving, he stopped outside the three-point line for two or three seconds.
That delay left only three seconds on the shot clock.
With no other option, he passed to Zhang Miao.
Zhang Miao caught the ball. Seeing that there was hardly any time left, he could only force