Recaps

Shohoku defeated Aiwa and Daiei despite losing Akagi to an ankle injury, then earned a place in the upper-bracket final against Sannoh. After Mitsui collapsed and Sannoh’s full-court press opened a large lead, Akagi returned and Sakuragi and Rukawa helped Shohoku fight back.

• Shohoku rallied past Aiwa, but Akagi aggravated his ankle injury and was ruled out for at least a month.
• With Kudo at power forward and Sakuragi at center, Shohoku overcame Daiei’s early lead and won by twenty-four points.
• Shohoku watched Sannoh defeat Kainan, then learned Sannoh would be their opponent in the upper-bracket final.
• Kudo reunited with his mother, Aunt Michiko, and Shizuka, while Eri told them she was Kudo’s girlfriend.
• Akagi joined Shohoku on crutches before the semifinal, and the team began its game against Sannoh with Sakuragi at center.
• Mitsui hit key three-pointers before exhaustion forced him out, and Kudo’s buzzer-beater gave Shohoku a 32-30 halftime lead.
• Sannoh’s full-court press sparked a 15-2 run, but Akagi returned and scored to steady Shohoku.
• After Kawata overpowered Akagi, Sakuragi scored and sparked a fast break, while Rukawa copied Sawakita’s move and scored against him.

Ryota Kudo led Shohoku back from a huge deficit to defeat Sannoh, then helped the team win the national championship over Hakata Shodai. After claiming the finals MVP award, Kudo left for an elite training camp in Shanghai with Hiroshi Morishige and Eiji Sawakita.

• Ryota Kudo entered ZONE against Sannoh and led Shohoku on a 26-0 run, scoring the game-winning three as Shohoku won 95-86.
• After the victory, Kudo declined an invitation to join the U16 national team, then learned Shohoku would face Hakata Shodai in the final.
• Kudo and Eri Fujisawa spent time together in Hiroshima, and their growing closeness encouraged him before the championship game.
• Hakata Shodai took an early lead, but Kudo scored 15 straight points to put Shohoku ahead before Hakata rallied around Tetsuya Takao and its team offense.
• Kudo outplayed Takao as Shohoku built a halftime lead, then helped widen it in the second half while Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, and Ryota Miyagi contributed.
• Shohoku defeated Hakata Shodai 88-63 to win the championship, and Kudo received the finals MVP trophy.
• Coach Anzai gave Kudo an invitation to an elite U18 training camp in Shanghai, and Kudo set off for the camp with Hiroshi Morishige and Eiji Sawakita.