Daiei went on offense, still trying to run a half-court set.
Jun Tsuchiya held the ball at the top of the arc, watching the changes in Shohoku's defense.
Following the coach's instructions, Ryota Kudo positioned himself half a step farther back, arms spread and center of gravity low.
His sharp gaze scanned Jun Tsuchiya's possible passing lanes, focusing on lobs into the low post and cuts from the weak side.
Jun Tsuchiya tried to lob the ball to Hiroshi Nakamura, who was calling for it in the low post, but Ryota Kudo leaped high with excellent timing and anticipation, barely grazing the basketball with his fingertips.
The pass was deflected, and the ball went out over the sideline.
"Good defense!" Hisashi Mitsui shouted.
Daiei inbounded from the sideline as the shot clock ticked down.
After resetting the offense, Jun Tsuchiya chose to attack on his own.
He used a series of between-the-legs dribbles and changes of pace, trying to shake Kudo.
But Kudo's lateral speed and defensive tenacity were exceptional, and he stayed glued to him.
Jun Tsuchiya forced his way a step inside the free-throw line, stopped short, and rose for a fadeaway jumper!
This time, Ryota Kudo contested the shot perfectly, and the ball bounced off the rim.
"Rebound!" Hanamichi Sakuragi and Hiroshi Nakamura battled for position again.
This time, Sakuragi had learned his lesson. Instead of trying to overpower him with brute force, he used his superior explosive power.
The instant the ball hit the rim, he launched himself like a rocket, getting up first and reaching the falling basketball before anyone else.
"Mine!" Sakuragi roared, forcibly hauling the ball into his chest through the contact.
"Fast break!" Ryota Miyagi took off again like an arrow from a bow.
Shohoku unleashed another fast-break storm, with Miyagi, Kaede