Wonderful Developments

Beep—!!

As the players from both sides quickly returned to the court, the referee blew the whistle again, signaling the game to continue.

It was now Sanno's possession.

After receiving the inbound pass, Toda Kazuma immediately organized the team, advancing steadily and methodically toward Ryonan's frontcourt.

Once they reached the frontcourt, Toda Kazuma did not rush to drive or pass. Instead, he patiently directed his teammates' movements, constantly pulling apart Ryonan Basketball Team's defense.

Sanno held a six-point lead now. It was not large, but Sanno certainly was not the side that would panic.

After more than ten seconds of passing, cutting, and stretching the defense, Ryonan's once-solid defensive formation began to totter.

Bang!!

At 15:31, Toda Kazuma received the ball back from a teammate. Spotting an opening, he decisively accelerated and powered past Nishiki Junichi.

After muscling through his opponent's defense and forcing his way into Ryonan's paint, Toda Kazuma immediately assumed a posture that suggested he was about to force a pass to Kowada outside the restricted area. Kowada likewise feigned readiness to receive it.

Naturally, Ryonan had no reason to doubt it. In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn that way.

Whoosh...

Yet the next moment, Toda Kazuma did pass the ball—but his target was not Kowada at all. It was Tagawa on the opposite side!!

Since entering as a starter and playing until now, Tagawa's presence had been quite weak. He was 0-for-1 from three, 2-for-4 on mid-range shots for only four points, plus one assist. That was Tagawa's stat line so far in the first half.

The Ryonan players had practically forgotten that this guy was Sanno's starting shooting guard!!

This one... has to go in!!

After receiving the ball, Tagawa first used a fake to shake Aida Hikoichi off in an instant, then decisively