The scoreboard read 17-16. Shohoku had taken the lead.
And almost all of it had come from Ryota Kudo's storm of consecutive baskets.
Hakata Commercial's players walked toward the bench in something of a daze, shock and a barely perceptible trace of panic written on their faces.
The impregnable team defense that had made their name had actually looked so fragile before one player's overwhelming individual ability.
Minami Shoyo kept his head down, sweat dripping from the ends of his hair. Being thoroughly demolished just now had shaken his confidence.
Unlike his bewildered players, however, Hakata Commercial's head coach showed little panic.
He calmly picked up his tactics board and swept his gaze over his players.
"Heads up!" His voice was steady and strong. "Has that already knocked you senseless? Don't forget, we're only down by one!"
Hearing that, the players perked up a little.
The coach continued, "Ryota Kudo is certainly a rare talent.
"But when I was young, on professional teams, I saw monsters with even more outrageous physical gifts than his. I saw plenty of them."
His words carried the composure of someone who had weathered many storms.
"These gifted players share one common failing: most of them rely on their talent and look down on everyone else.
"But basketball isn't just about who can jump higher or run faster!"
The coach tapped his tactics board. "However good he is, he's still just a high schooler, not Michael Jordan! He can't keep shooting this hot forever!"
He looked at Minami Shoyo, Kudo's primary defender, and Haruhiko Kitajima, who was responsible for help defense. "Our defensive strategy stays the same! Be even more committed to doubling him!
"Don't be afraid of him scoring, but make every basket incredibly difficult!
"Wear him down, get physical with him, and force