Ayako's words instantly drove the heated atmosphere in the gym to another peak.
"The draw results are out?!"
"Quick! Let us see!"
The players immediately crowded around, each craning their necks to get a clear look at the matchup chart that would determine their future.
Takenori Akagi took the chart from Ayako, drew a deep breath, and slowly unfolded it.
Everyone's eyes focused on that sheet of paper.
"Shohoku... is in Group A." Akagi's voice was deep and firm.
"Group A?"
"Who else is in our group?"
Akagi's gaze slowly moved across the chart.
"Our first-round opponent is... Miuradai High School."
"Miuradai?" Ryota Miyagi raised an eyebrow upon hearing the name. "That team that made the quarterfinals last year with their violent style of basketball?"
"Yeah." Kogure nodded, his expression somewhat grave. "Their captain, Kengo Murase, is a very troublesome guy. He plays dirty and uses a lot of cheap tricks."
"Wahahaha! Violent basketball?" Hanamichi Sakuragi immediately got excited. "Perfect! This genius's headbutt has been itching for action!"
"Idiot! No headbutts!" Akagi slammed an iron fist onto Sakuragi's head.
"If we advance smoothly, our second-round opponent will be the winner between Kakuno, Takahata, and Tsukubu," Akagi continued reading.
They were all established teams in Kanagawa Prefecture. Though they were not elite powerhouses, each had its own strengths and could not be underestimated.
"Then... the quarterfinals."
Akagi's voice suddenly paused.
His eyes locked firmly onto their potential opponent in Group A's quarterfinal matchup.
"Our opponent... will be Shoyo High School."
"Shoyo!"
The moment that name was spoken, the air in the gym instantly turned tense!
Shoyo High School had competed in last year's National Tournament. They were Kanagawa Prefecture's runners-up, one of the two great powerhouses alongside the reigning champions, Kainan!
Their captain and coach, Kenji Fujima, was an elite point