Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Sannoh Industrial High School's locker room was entirely different.
Coach Goro Domoto calmly laid out his instructions. "Fukatsu, Sawakita, Ichinokura, Matsumoto, Kawata, you five will start.
"Our target: five minutes. Crush them with the Full-Court Press! Push the lead past fifteen points!
"Fukatsu, control the tempo. Sawakita, Kudo is yours. Smother him with your defense, or break him with your offense!
"Kawata, the paint is your territory. Shatter their hopes completely!"
Eiji Sawakita leaned against a locker, a confident, dangerous smile curling his lips. "Don't worry, Coach.
"Ryota... will experience true despair in the second half. I hope he can get a little stronger. After all, his teammates are nowhere near as strong as my Sannoh teammates.
"I've looked forward to this game for so long. If we win this easily, it'll be no fun at all." Anticipation gleamed in his eyes.
Kazunari Fukatsu nodded silently, his gaze sharp as a blade. Masashi Kawata clenched his fists, making his knuckles crack.
After a brief break, the second half began!
Hanamichi Sakuragi and Masashi Kawata stood at center court, ready for the second-half jump ball.
Masashi Kawata looked relaxed. The redheaded kid opposite him put no pressure on him at all. He thought nothing of Hanamichi Sakuragi.
The referee tossed the basketball into the air. Both players jumped at the same time, and Hanamichi Sakuragi's explosive power showed itself: he actually tipped the ball before Masashi Kawata could.
The basketball flew toward Ryota Miyagi.
"Nice one, Sakuragi!" The instant Ryota Miyagi caught the ball, Kazunari Fukatsu lunged at him like a shark scenting blood.
His powerful body pinned Miyagi like an iron wall, while his hands darted like venomous snakes, cutting off every passing lane Miyagi could see and all his room to dribble.
Almost simultaneously, Eiji