An indescribable surge of warmth and strength instantly broke through the dam of self-reproach, and Hisashi Mitsui's eyes reddened.
He nodded hard and emphatically, his voice choked but utterly firm. "Yes! Coach!"
Supported by Kogure and Kakuta, he staggered toward the bench with his head held high.
Kiminobu Kogure was called upon in the crisis and substituted into the game.
The 20th minute: the final possession of the first half.
Shohoku had possession, tied at 30-30. With eight seconds remaining, the ball was inbounded to Ryota Kudo.
The entire arena fell so silent that a pin could have been heard dropping.
Ryota Kudo faced Masahiro Nobe's defense at the top of the arc. Sannoh chose not to double-team him, with Sawakita watching hungrily from the wing and Fukatsu shutting down Miyagi.
Ryota Kudo's eyes were as cold as a frigid pool. He exploded into motion! It was still Dai Moroboshi's Phantom Dance Steps, but the rhythm was faster and the changes even more unpredictable!
He dribbled between his legs, behind his back, and through a spin in succession. The basketball seemed glued to his hand. Masahiro Nobe gave everything he had, concentrating intensely as sweat flew!
Time ticked away! Five seconds... four seconds...
With three seconds left, Ryota Kudo made an enormous mountain-shaped feint, dragging Nobe's center of gravity sharply to the right.
The instant Nobe's weight shifted, Ryota Kudo pivoted on his left foot and executed an incredibly swift Sawakita-style reverse spin.
Nobe forcibly twisted around to chase him, only to trip over his own feet.
Ryota Kudo instantly gained half a body's worth of space. Without hesitation, he sprang up one step inside the free-throw line.
He forced his body backward in midair! An extreme fadeaway!
At the same time, Eiji Sawakita swooped in from the wing like