As the clamor faded, Basketball Gym No. 1 gradually emptied out. The stands, once packed to capacity, now lay deserted, with only scattered tissues and drink bottles silently bearing witness to the passion and frenzy that had just taken place.
The traces of sweat on the court floor gradually dried, and the echo of those thunderous dunks had long since vanished into the empty gym.
Ryonan's group, weary yet joyful from their victory, packed up their gear and returned to the locker room together.
Just as they arrived, Tiangang Maoyi received the official notice regarding the finals. The game had been scheduled for two days later, meaning Ryonan and their final opponent, Sannoh Industrial High School, would have one day to rest and adjust. Since the game itself happened to fall on a day off, everyone quickly understood the reason—officials had likely considered that a day off would draw a larger crowd, boosting the tournament's popularity.
However, that was not something Ryonan or Sannoh needed to concern themselves with.
For two teams determined to win the title, the most important thing now was to make the most of this sole day of rest: recover physically, review tactical weaknesses, and fully prepare for the coming showdown at the summit.
Before the smoke of the semifinals had fully cleared, every eye following the National Tournament had already turned in unison toward the final court two days away.
On one side was Ryonan, the tournament's greatest dark horse, having fought their way through every obstacle and broken through against the odds. On the other was Sannoh Industrial High School, long entrenched at the pinnacle of high school basketball and hailed as the strongest high school team. This matchup, seemingly lopsided in strength yet full of uncertainty, ignited the passion of all fans the