Recaps

Shohoku and Meihou Industrial High School began a friendly at Jousei High School, where Ryota Kudo and Hiroshi Morishige immediately provoked each other. Kudo opened the game with a coast-to-coast dunk and set out to push Morishige into becoming a formidable opponent so he could try to enter ZONE.

• Takenori Akagi told Shohoku's players about the friendly against Meihou Industrial High School, and the team eagerly prepared.
• Mikoshiba dismissed Meihou, while his teammate warned that first-year center Hiroshi Morishige had become a serious threat.
• Hiroshi Morishige arrived and challenged Ryota Kudo, who answered that Shohoku would conquer the nation.
• Morishige beat Takenori Akagi in the opening tip, but Ryota Kudo anticipated the play, intercepted the ball, and dunked at the other end.
• Ryota Kudo hung from the rim to provoke Morishige, hoping to draw out his strongest play and get closer to entering ZONE.

Hiroshi Morishige overpowered Takenori Akagi and Ryota Kudo inside, while Kudo answered with a fast-break layup and tried to keep Morishige from receiving the ball. After Morishige knocked Kudo down with a putback dunk, the game stopped so Eri Fujisawa and Mari Kawai could check on him.

• Hiroshi Morishige backed down Takenori Akagi and dunked through Ryota Kudo's attempted block.
• Ryota Kudo caught Ryota Miyagi's long pass and scored a twisting layup after faking a three-point shot.
• Shuji Fujisawa watched Morishige dominate and worried about facing him at the National Tournament.
• Ryota Kudo and Takenori Akagi double-teamed Morishige, forcing Meihou Industrial High School's power forward into a missed midrange shot.
• Hiroshi Morishige shoved Ryota Kudo aside, grabbed the rebound, and dunked, knocking Kudo to the floor.
• Eri Fujisawa treated Kudo's sore back while Mari Kawai checked on him, and Kudo stood up feeling better.

Kaede Rukawa challenged Hiroshi Morishige at the rim and was knocked down, forcing him to leave the game despite insisting he could continue. Shohoku High School then intercepted a pass to Morishige and scored on a fast break, leaving Morishige frustrated during the timeout.

• Ryota Kudo recovered from his collision with Hiroshi Morishige and stayed in the game while easing back into play.
• Kaede Rukawa ignored Ryota Kudo's warning, attempted a double-clutch layup against Hiroshi Morishige, and was blocked and knocked hard to the floor.
• The team doctor found no serious injury, but Takenori Akagi and Coach Suzuki had Kaede Rukawa sit out, with Kiminobu Kogure replacing him.
• Ryota Kudo intercepted a pass intended for Hiroshi Morishige and launched a long fast-break pass to Ryota Miyagi, who scored a layup.
• Meihou Industrial High School called a timeout, and Hiroshi Morishige kicked over a stool in frustration at Shohoku High School's defensive strategy.

Shohoku continued to dominate Meihou Industrial High School by containing Hiroshi Morishige and scoring from the perimeter, building a 72-43 lead by halftime. Ryota Kudo blocked Morishige’s final shot, while Meihou Industrial High School’s coach feared reporters had exposed the team’s dependence on Morishige.

• Hiroshi Morishige fouled Ryota Kudo after growing frustrated, and Hisashi Mitsui praised Kudo for his defense.
• Ryota Kudo drew the defense toward him and passed to Hisashi Mitsui, who made a three-pointer.
• Mikoshiba confidently claimed that he and Shuji Fujisawa could stop Hiroshi Morishige, though the chapter noted his confidence was misplaced.
• With Shohoku leading 72-43, Ryota Kudo stayed close to Hiroshi Morishige during Meihou Industrial High School’s last possession of the half.
• Hiroshi Morishige grabbed a high lob and tried a floater, but Ryota Kudo blocked it as time expired.
• Meihou Industrial High School’s coach regretted arranging the friendly because reporters had recorded the team’s weaknesses, including its reliance on Hiroshi Morishige.

Hiroshi Morishige changed his approach in the second half, but Shohoku still beat Meihou Industrial 143-102. After the game, Morishige accepted his defeat and vowed to face Kudo again in the finals.

• Morishige refused his coach’s suggestion to sit out the second half and insisted that he had not given up.
• Mitsui’s exhausted hands shook too badly to open a drink, so Coach Suzuki told him to rest at the start of the second half.
• Morishige set a screen and followed it with a roll to the basket, beginning to use team play as Meihou Industrial’s offense changed.
• Shohoku extended its lead and defeated Meihou Industrial 143-102, even with Mitsui and Rukawa on the bench.
• Morishige shook Kudo’s hand, admitted that he had lost, and said he would make the finals and wait for him there.

Ryota Kudo discovered Shohoku’s punishing National Tournament schedule but kept it from the team. After returning to Kanagawa, he rejected Eri Fujisawa’s invitation to transfer, told her he might pursue basketball in the United States, and was surprised when she embraced him.

• Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui secretly obtained the National Tournament schedule from Mikoshiba and saw that Shohoku could face a series of formidable opponents, including Sannoh Industrial High School.
• Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui decided to hide the schedule from their teammates as they boarded the train back to Kanagawa.
• Eri Fujisawa asked Ryota Kudo to consider transferring to her school, and he said he planned to win the championship but might go to the United States afterward.
• Eri Fujisawa offered to help Ryota Kudo find basketball opportunities in the United States, then suddenly embraced him as the Shohoku players watched in surprise.

After Eri Fujisawa said goodbye to Ryota Kudo, Shohoku returned to training and welcomed Shoyo and Ryonan for a joint practice game. The chapter ended as Takenori Akagi led Shohoku onto the court, determined to defeat the combined team and dominate the nation.

• Mari Kawai tried to interrupt Eri Fujisawa's hug with Ryota Kudo, but Ayako Inoue stopped her.
• Eri Fujisawa said she would see Ryota Kudo at the National Tournament, and he nodded without rejecting her.
• Shohoku returned to the gym, where Hanamichi Sakuragi showed off his improved midrange shot and traded insults with Kaede Rukawa.
• Shohoku continued training in Kanagawa, and Coach Anzai arrived with the players from Shoyo and Ryonan to arrange a practice game.
• Takenori Akagi led Shohoku onto the court and declared they had to beat the combined Shoyo and Ryonan team.

The star-studded Combined Team faced Shohoku in a practice game, with Fujima trying to coordinate Shoyo and Ryonan’s mismatched tactics. Sakuragi’s first in-game midrange shot went wildly astray, while Hanagata scored twice; Shohoku’s improved play left Fujima taking the contest seriously.

• Uozumi won the opening tip, and Fukuda passed to Sendoh instead of Fujima as the Combined Team began its attack.
• Sendoh beat Mitsui and passed to Fukuda, who drew Sakuragi before finding Hanagata for a short-range basket.
• Kudo passed to the unguarded Sakuragi at the free-throw line, but Sakuragi’s nervous midrange shot hit Takamiya in the stands.
• Fujima organized the next possession and directed Uozumi to move aside, allowing Hanagata to score a fadeaway over Sakuragi.
• Fujima saw that Shohoku had improved and became serious about keeping the Combined Team competitive.

Shohoku faced a coordinated Shoyo and Ryonan attack, but Ryota Kudo steadied the team and set up Hanamichi Sakuragi for a successful midrange jumper. The play revealed Sakuragi’s new shooting skill and left the teams acknowledging Shohoku’s progress.

• Kaede Rukawa drove past Kiccho Fukuda and finished Shohoku’s fast break with a one-handed slam.
• Akira Sendoh and Jun Uozumi used a screen and a no-look pass to score a powerful two-handed dunk against Shohoku.
• Takenori Akagi grew frustrated with Shohoku’s struggles to defend the paint, while Ryota Kudo reassured the team and drove past Kenji Fujima.
• Toru Hanagata helped defend Kudo’s drive, so Kudo passed to Hanamichi Sakuragi, who made a midrange jumper.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi bragged to Kiccho Fukuda about his new shot, and Kenji Fujima congratulated Ryota Kudo on Shohoku’s improvement.

Shohoku High School led the Combined Team 54-45 at halftime after a fast-paced first half. The Combined Team prepared to imitate Sannoh Industrial High School with a full-court press, while Hanamichi Sakuragi was caught eavesdropping on their plan.

• Jun Uozumi urged Takenori Akagi to represent Kanagawa's centers at the National Tournament as he prepared to leave basketball for work.
• Ryota Kudo pressured Kenji Fujima full court, and Kenji Fujima struggled to bring the ball across half court.
• Akira Sendoh beat Hisashi Mitsui, drew Kaede Rukawa's help, then passed to Kiccho Fukuda for a one-handed dunk.
• Shohoku High School finished the first half ahead 54-45, while the Combined Team prepared Kazushi Hasegawa and Ryoji Ikegami to double-team Ryota Kudo.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi tried to eavesdrop on the Combined Team's plan, but Jun Uozumi caught him and lifted him by the collar.

The Combined Team used a full-court press and relentless double-teams to shut down Shohoku and turn a nine-point lead into a fifteen-point deficit. The press ended when the Combined Team ran out of stamina, and Coach Anzai warned Shohoku that Sannoh Industrial High School’s press would be even harder to handle.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi told Ryota Kudo that the Combined Team planned to target him, and Ryota thanked him for the warning.
• The Combined Team started the second half with Akira Sendoh at point guard and Kazushi Hasegawa and Ryoji Ikegami double-teaming Ryota Kudo.
• After Ryota Kudo passed out of a trap, Hisashi Mitsui was trapped by Kenji Fujima and Kazushi Hasegawa, who forced a turnover and sparked a fast break finished by Kenji Fujima’s three-pointer.
• The Combined Team’s press and zone defense stifled Shohoku for over ten minutes, changing the score from a nine-point Shohoku lead to a fifteen-point deficit.
• The Combined Team’s players exhausted themselves and the full-court press ended, while Coach Anzai told Shohoku to prepare for Sannoh Industrial High School’s stronger press.

After Shohoku defeated the Combined Team, Ryota Kudo worried that he still could not overcome a full-court press, so Akira Sendoh helped him regain perspective and arranged special training. Ryota returned leaner and stronger just as Shohoku gathered to leave for the National Tournament in Hiroshima.

• Ryota Kudo scored 30 points in the second half, but Shohoku's 87-78 victory over the Combined Team did not ease his concern about facing Sannoh Industrial High School's pressure defense.
• Ryota Kudo left Shohoku High School and went fishing with Akira Sendoh, who advised him to focus on the challenges directly ahead instead of dwelling on future opponents.
• Akira Sendoh arranged one-on-two offensive training for Ryota Kudo against Ryoji Ikegami and Kazushi Hasegawa at Ryonan High School.
• On August 1, Ryota Kudo arrived at the station looking leaner and more muscular, and the Shohoku players boarded the train for Hiroshima.

Ryota Kudo’s training helped him gain confidence against Sannoh Industrial High School’s full-court press, and a magazine rated Shohoku High School an S before the National Tournament. On the train to Hiroshima, an Osaka player provoked Shohoku by knocking Kiminobu Kogure down, and Ryota stepped in to defend him.

• Ryota Kudo improved at handling a double-team through intensive practice and became confident he could deal with Sannoh Industrial High School’s press.
• On the train, Ryota Kudo read a National Tournament magazine that rated both Shohoku High School and Sannoh Industrial High School S.
• The magazine praised Ryota Kudo and noted his past victories over Eiji Sawakita, while Eri Fujisawa congratulated him.
• A burly player from an Osaka team deliberately knocked Kiminobu Kogure down and moved to crush his glasses.
• Ryota Kudo shoved the Osaka player away, retrieved Kiminobu Kogure’s glasses, and demanded that the man show respect to a seeded team.

Ryota Kudo provoked Toyotama High School’s Minami Tsuyoshi on the train, then arrived in Hiroshima with Shohoku and accepted a mobile phone from Eri Fujisawa after agreeing to repay her. The next afternoon, Shohoku watched Toyotama face Akizuki, where Minami and Akizuki’s No. 10 traded early scoring blows.

• Minami Tsuyoshi tried to confront Ryota Kudo on the train, but a coach restrained him before Ryota slapped away his hand and challenged Toyotama to prove itself against Shohoku.
• Shohoku arrived in Hiroshima and learned that Toyotama High School would play Akizuki High School for the chance to face them in the next round.
• Eri Fujisawa gave Ryota Kudo a mobile phone, and he accepted it after insisting that he repay her.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi and the other Shohoku players examined Ryota’s phone after Eri left.
• Minami Tsuyoshi scored three three-pointers for Toyotama, while Akizuki’s No. 10 got past him and made a jumper.

Minami Tsuyoshi deliberately fouled Akizuki High School’s No. 10, leaving him with a career-ending leg injury, and Toyotama High School won the game. The next morning, Shohoku prepared to face Toyotama as Ryota Kudo challenged them with a powerful one-handed dunk.

• Minami Tsuyoshi sent Akizuki High School’s No. 10 crashing to the floor with a deliberate foul that shattered his leg, but the referees could only call it flagrant.
• Ryota Kudo recognized Minami Tsuyoshi’s foul as intentional, while Hisashi Mitsui and Kaede Rukawa volunteered to face him in Shohoku’s game the next day.
• Toyotama High School won, and Shohoku arrived for its first National Tournament game against them the following morning.
• Ryota Kudo walked into Toyotama High School’s half during warm-ups, charged toward the basket, and finished with a one-handed dunk.

Ryota Kudo provoked Toyotama High School to draw their aggression away from his teammates, then dominated the opening play against Minami Tsuyoshi. After Minami’s dirty attack backfired and earned him a technical foul, Toyotama’s coach warned him to play properly.

• Ryota Kudo confronted Minami Tsuyoshi before the game, while Akira Sendoh explained that Kudo was drawing Toyotama’s attention onto himself.
• Takenori Akagi won the opening jump ball, and Ryota Kudo knocked Minami Tsuyoshi aside before dribbling downcourt for a thunderous dunk.
• Minami Tsuyoshi charged at Ryota Kudo with an elbow, but Kudo dodged and secretly struck Minami in the ribs.
• The referee called an offensive foul on Minami Tsuyoshi, and Minami earned a technical foul after angrily confronting the referee.
• Toyotama High School’s coach pulled Minami Tsuyoshi off the court and told him to put aside dirty play and compete properly.

Shohoku overwhelmed Toyotama High School after Ryota Kudo deterred Minami Tsuyoshi from using dirty tactics. Shohoku won 132-93 and learned that Aichi Gakuin would be its next opponent.

• Ayako Inoue checked on Ryota Kudo, and Hisashi Mitsui sank two technical-foul free throws to resume the game with Shohoku in possession.
• Ryota Kudo evaded Daijiro Itakura and Minami Tsuyoshi, frightening Minami into abandoning his dirty tactics before passing to Hisashi Mitsui for a corner three.
• Shohoku took a 68-37 halftime lead as Minami Tsuyoshi went zero for five from three-point range under Hisashi Mitsui's defense.
• Shohoku rotated in Kiminobu Kogure, Yasuharu Yasuda, Tetsushi Shiozaki, Satoru Kakuta, Kentaro Ishii, Satoshi Sasaoka, and Tokiki Kuwata, while Minami scored 24 points in the second half.
• Shohoku defeated Toyotama 132-93 and advanced to the next round.
• Ayako Inoue told Shohoku that Aichi Gakuin had won its game by 40 points and would be its next opponent.

Shohoku prepared to face Aiwa Academy, while Dai Moroboshi rallied his teammates to pursue the national championship. After Ryota Kudo endured an embarrassing fan-club cheer, the game began, and Aiwa's defense stopped Shohoku's usual opening fast break.

• Dai Moroboshi encouraged Aichi Gakuin's players, promising to lead them to victory and the national championship.
• Shohoku arrived early at the arena, where Ryota Kudo and Dai Moroboshi greeted each other before both teams warmed up.
• Eri Fujisawa misunderstood Ryota Kudo's signal and led his fan club in loud cheers, embarrassing him and drawing the audience's attention.
• Ryota Miyagi envied Ryota Kudo's popularity and starting role but remained determined to earn his own place through practice.
• Takenori Akagi won the opening tip for Shohoku, but Aiwa's players retreated quickly and prevented Ryota Kudo from starting a fast break.

Shohoku opened its game against Aiwa Academy with a failed attack and a fast-break basket by Dai Moroboshi, putting Aiwa ahead 2-0. Ryota Kudo then beat Tazawa off the dribble and drove into Aiwa’s defense.

• Ryota Kudo passed to Takenori Akagi, who fed Hanamichi Sakuragi cutting toward the basket.
• Tsuguhito Nakajima blocked Sakuragi’s dunk, and Masamichi Raiden recovered the ball for Aiwa Academy.
• Raiden launched a long pass to Dai Moroboshi, who stopped sharply to leave Kaede Rukawa behind and scored a pull-up jumper.
• Ryota Kudo sped up his dribble, crossed past Tazawa, and drove into Aiwa Academy’s defense.

Hisashi Mitsui’s three-pointer put Shohoku ahead, but Dai Moroboshi answered by repeatedly scoring against Kaede Rukawa and the help defense. After drawing a foul on Takenori Akagi and making the free throw, Dai left Aiwa in control of the scoring surge.

• Ryota Kudo drove past Jun Koizumi and found Hisashi Mitsui for a three-pointer that gave Shohoku a 3-2 lead.
• Dai Moroboshi used a between-the-legs pullback to create space against Kaede Rukawa and made a jumper to put Aiwa ahead 4-3.
• Dai Moroboshi scored a post-up fadeaway over Kaede Rukawa and then cut past him off Tsuguhito Nakajima’s screen to finish at the rim over Hanamichi Sakuragi.
• Dai Moroboshi drove past Kaede Rukawa, drew a shooting foul from Takenori Akagi, and made the extra free throw.

Ryota Miyagi entered the game and used relentless defense and a fast break to score against Aiwa Academy, cutting Shohoku’s deficit to five. He returned to defense energized by Ayako Inoue’s encouragement as Tazawa seethed after being beaten.

• Coach Anzai called a timeout with Shohoku trailing Aiwa Academy 25-18, and praised Ryota Kudo while instructing Kaede Rukawa on defending Dai Moroboshi.
• Coach Anzai told Ryota Miyagi to pressure Tazawa, and Miyagi entered the game in place of Hisashi Mitsui as Satoru Kakuta replaced Hanamichi Sakuragi.
• Ryota Miyagi disrupted Tazawa’s dribble until Tazawa passed to Masamichi Raiden, whose forced shot missed.
• Takenori Akagi grabbed the rebound and passed to Ryota Miyagi, who raced downcourt and beat Tsuguhito Nakajima with a behind-the-back dribble.
• Ryota Miyagi scored with a bank shot to make it 25-20, and Ayako Inoue cheered as Tazawa watched him run back on defense.

Dai Moroboshi repeatedly scored and created chances against Shohoku, stretching Aiwa Academy’s lead to ten points by the middle of the first half. Coach Anzai called another timeout as Rukawa and his teammates left the court exhausted and under pressure.

• Moroboshi beat Rukawa with a pull-up three-pointer, extending Aiwa Academy’s lead to 28-20.
• Miyagi and Kudo set up Akagi for a powerful two-handed dunk that brought Shohoku to 28-22.
• Moroboshi scored and assisted through a series of shots and plays, continuing to trouble Rukawa and Shohoku’s defense.
• Aiwa Academy’s lead grew to 38-28 fifteen minutes into the first half, and Coach Anzai called a timeout.
• Rukawa left the court exhausted but still determined after Moroboshi repeatedly outplayed him.

After Dai Moroboshi’s hot shooting put Shohoku ten points behind, Ryota Kudo copied Moroboshi’s signature move and prepared to answer him. Kudo seized a rebound and used Moroboshi’s Eagle Eye to break through Aiwa Academy’s double-team, beginning a fast break.

• Coach Anzai urged Shohoku to pressure Dai Moroboshi and play more decisively on offense, and Ryota Kudo resolved to respond with Moroboshi’s copied technique.
• Kaede Rukawa intensified his defense on Moroboshi, whose contested stop-and-pop jumper hit the rim.
• Ryota Kudo anticipated the rebound, grabbed the ball, and launched Shohoku’s fast break.
• Kudo used Moroboshi’s Eagle Eye to spot openings in Tazawa and Masamichi Raiden’s double-team, then slipped between them with a fake, behind-the-back dribble, and spin.

Ryota Kudo copied Dai Moroboshi’s pull-up jumper to score against him, then tried to force his way into ZONE. He left off suffering dizziness, temple pain, a pounding heart, and a bloody taste in his throat.

• Ryota Kudo broke through the double-team and faced Dai Moroboshi in a one-on-one fast break.
• Ryota Kudo copied Dai Moroboshi’s explosive takeoff and shot, avoiding his block and sinking a pull-up jumper to make the score 38:30.
• Dai Moroboshi recognized the shot as a move Ryota Kudo had imitated, recalling that Kudo could quickly copy other players’ techniques.
• Ryota Kudo entered a mysterious mental state and pushed against the door to ZONE, determined to open it.
• Ryota Kudo felt dizzy and sharp pain in his temples, his heart pounded painfully, and he swallowed back a bloody taste as cold sweat covered his face.

Ryota Kudo endured the strain of entering ZONE as Shohoku High School adjusted its lineup and faced Dai Moroboshi’s attack. Kaede Rukawa blocked Dai Moroboshi, and Ryota Kudo led a fast break that ended with Hisashi Mitsui’s three-pointer cutting Aiwa Academy’s lead to five.

• Ryota Kudo concealed the physical strain of entering ZONE after Takenori Akagi checked on him, and Aiwa Academy called a timeout.
• Shohoku High School brought Hisashi Mitsui into the game for Satoru Kakuta, while Ryota Kudo moved to power forward.
• Kaede Rukawa stayed with Dai Moroboshi and blocked his shot as he tried to escape the defense.
• Ryota Kudo seized the loose ball and passed to Hisashi Mitsui, who scored a corner three-pointer to make the score 38-33.