After committing two fouls in a row, Sakuragi wore an impatient look and grew hesitant on defense, only allowing Hakata Commercial High School to attack the paint even more brazenly.
Miyagi Ryota was not faring much better.
Hakata Commercial High School knew all too well that Miyagi's lack of height was a weakness. When passing or shooting, their players deliberately held the ball as high as possible. Even when Miyagi jumped with everything he had, he could only watch the ball sail over his head, either landing in a teammate's hands or dropping straight through the hoop.
He was like a cheetah caught in a net, blessed with speed and explosive power but unable to find a way out, left stamping his feet in frustration.
Mitsui Hisashi and Rukawa saw their teammates' predicament and wanted to move in to help, but Hakata Commercial High School had already prepared for that. They had set up a zone defense in advance. The moment Mitsui Hisashi or Liu Chuanfeng showed any sign of moving, a player would close in, using physical contact to block his path. The two could only watch their teammates struggle alone, unable to offer any support.
The situation on the court had turned into a trap, isolating targets and cutting off anyone who tried to help.
Akagi was the most isolated player in the paint. He had to withstand the attacks of Hakata Commercial High School's center, fight for rebounds, and occasionally cover the opponents Sakuragi let slip past him. He simply could not handle everything at once.
Sweat rolled down Akagi's cheeks. His breathing grew heavier, and his eyes were filled with exhaustion and anxiety. He could feel Shohoku's defense crumbling little by little.
As this continued, the gap between the teams began to change noticeably. Hakata Commercial