Unbelievable Opening (2)

Takano Shoichi reacted quickly as well, immediately turning to chase him down.

He hurried after Fukuda Kicchou and finally closed in just as Fukuda was about to cross the line of the key.

As Fukuda Kiccho reached the edge of the key, he clearly felt Takano Shoichi closing in behind him. In his urgency, he had no time to think. He forcefully pushed off with both feet, leaped into the air, raised the ball high over his head with his right hand, bent his wrist slightly inward, locked his eyes on Shoyo's basket, and flicked the ball out.

The basketball shot through the air, tracing a somewhat crooked, uneven arc.

Perhaps he wanted that point too badly, wanted too badly to prove himself at a crucial moment. Fukuda had put too much force into his wrist, and the ball slammed heavily into the rim with a dull clang before bouncing away.

After landing, Fukuda Kiccho frowned tightly, his eyes full of dissatisfaction with the shot. But before he could recover from his regret, a green figure had already charged toward the rebound.

It was Shoyo's small forward, Nagano Mitsuru.

He had been staring at the basket the entire time. The instant the ball bounced off the rim, he jumped up, hooked it with his left hand, and securely pulled it into his arms.

The moment Nagano Mitsuru's feet touched down, he did not pause. He turned and hurled the ball toward Fujima Kenji, who had run over to receive it. The offense and defense switched, and possession fell to Shoyo.

The instant Fujima Kenji caught the ball, he immediately picked up the pace. His dribbling style was completely different from Chi Tong's. There were no unnecessary pauses; he was as fast as a gust of wind, charging into Ryonan's half