Hanamichi Sakuragi replaced Miyagi in the second half, and his amazing athleticism and rebounding instincts once again became the focus of the entire game.
He could grab offensive rebounds over Kainan's heads, and he could also receive passes from Kawamoto or Mitsui in open positions, using his increasingly consistent mid-range shooting to strike Kainan time and time again.
Hisashi Mitsui and Soichiro Jin, two sharpshooters, engaged in a silent contest.
You sink a three-pointer, and I'll return the favor with an AnswerBall.
Sweat trickled down Mitsui's face, and Jin's breathing became heavy.
But their hands remained steady, their eyes remained focused, and their three-pointers added an elegant yet deadly brilliance to the duel.
However, no matter how fiercely Kainan fought, there was one player on the field who remained a precise killing machine, calmly reaping the rewards of the game.
Kawamoto Kazuki.
He witnessed Maki working until he was soaked in sweat, witnessed Kiyota being so exhausted that he was almost collapsing, and witnessed the entire Kainan team using their willpower to support their already overdrawn bodies.
But he was not moved by his opponent's tragic situation, nor did he relax because of his huge lead, and he did not hold back in the slightest.
When Maki used all his strength to block the shot in the face, he leaned back and hit the target with incredible accuracy.
When Kiyota and Muto rushed in, he passed the ball to Rukawa, who was cutting inside.
When Kainan players all retreated, he passed the ball to Mitsui in the bottom corner.
He was like Death, programmed to execute the command for victory with ruthlessness.
"Beep-!!!"
The final whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.
Shohoku 138:94 Kainan.
The huge 44-point difference was like an insurmountable chasm standing across the scoreboard.
The Kainan team members were almost all exhausted, lying or sitting on the field, their chests heaving violently, and sweat soaking every inch of the floor.
They gave it their all, sweating until their last drop of sweat was gone.
But the ending was already predetermined.
Kawamoto Kazuki's stats are: 52 points, 11 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks, and 8 rebounds.
A monstrous data sheet that dominates both offense and defense.
MVP of the game, no doubt about it.
In the stands.
Hiroaki Koshino muttered to himself, "We beat Takezato by 51 points, Shohoku beat Kainan by 44 points----"
He shook his head violently, as if trying to shake off some terrible thought, "No, it's not the same, it's completely different—"
Tomoyuki Uekusa's face turned pale: " Kainan —but Kainan— "
Moichi Taoka was trembling, but he forced himself to stand up and turn to face his teammates.
"You all saw it?" His voice was unusually clear. "We can't beat Shohoku this year."
He paused, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. "This has nothing to do with fighting spirit or hard work. Some gaps cannot be bridged no matter how hard you try."
The team members looked up.
"But!"
Moichi Taoka suddenly raised his voice, pointing at the Kainan team members standing there. "We can't beat Shohoku, but Kainan..."
His gaze swept across every face. "We have a chance!"
"Win the next match, defeat Kainan, and we can go to the national competition!"
"Men of Ryonan, do you want to watch Shohoku's strength grow and give up, or do you want to fight with everything to win that national tournament qualification that belongs to us?"
The deathly silence was broken.
Jun Uozumi was the first to stand up, growling, "Of course we'll fight!"
Kiccho Fukuda grinned, "I'm going to score on Kainan!"
Hiroaki Koshino and Tomoyuki Uekusa exchanged a glance and nodded vigorously.
Even Ikegami, who had been silent all along, clenched his fists.
Akira Sendoh looked at his teammates, whose fighting spirit had been rekindled, and then at the red number 15 surrounded by the crowd on the field.
From the initial smugness of the victory over Takezato, to the shock of being doused with ice water, and then to seizing the last opportunity to reignite the fighting spirit after recognizing reality.
This is everything that Ryonan experienced from the stands.
Shohoku's strength showed them the abyss, but it also made them more aware of the situation.
If you can't climb over a mountain, just go around it.
There is more than one road leading to the whole country.
"We won! We really won! Hahaha!"
Nozomi Takamiya, Yuji Okusu, and Chuichiro Noma hugged each other, jumping and hopping, leaving several lipstick marks on their faces from the excited Takezono girls.
"That's amazing! Kawamoto is incredible!"
The girls' eyes lit up as they surrounded the three men. "Could you introduce us to your little brother?"
"Yeah, yeah! Does he have a girlfriend?"
As Takamiya and his two companions wiped their faces, they smugly remarked, "That's right! Don't you know whose brother he is? But that kid Kazuki has a rather cold personality, so this matter—we'll have to take it slow, take it slow, hahaha."
On the other side.
"We won! We really won! Hahaha! Kainan! You've finally met your match!"
Kengo Murasame clenched his fist fiercely, looking like a madman, but tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
Araki and the others excitedly embraced each other.
To defeat Kainan, a dream they had longed for but could never achieve.
Today, the man they were planning to invest in achieved it with overwhelming force!
It seems that the prospects for their plan to curry favor with a powerful figure have also become brighter.
The area where the Shoyo team is located.
After a long pause, Kenji Fujima finally let out a soft breath and said to his teammates, "See? Losing to a team like Shohoku, losing to someone like him—it's not unfair."
Toru Hanagata, Kazushi Hasegawa, and the others nodded silently, their last trace of resentment vanishing at that moment.
Losing to the peak is not a disgrace.
The players from both sides lined up to greet each other.
The sweat hadn't dried completely, and the panting hadn't subsided.
Shinichi Maki found Kawamoto Kazuki and extended his hand.
The ferocity he displayed during the match was gone from his face, replaced only by exhaustion and a sense of relief and composure.
Maki's voice was a little hoarse, but his grip on Kawamoto's hand was strong. "You're very strong, ridiculously strong."
He paused, his gaze meeting Kawamoto's calm eyes with the composure befitting a king.
"This year, Shohoku won. But next year—we, Kainan, will definitely be stronger and come back to challenge you!"
There were no complaints, no excuses, only acknowledgment of the victors and a declaration of war for the future.
This is Shinichi Maki, the king of Kanagawa.
Even in defeat, the spine remains straight.
Kawamoto looked at the flame of true strength that had rekindled in Maki's eyes, nodded, and squeezed his hand in return. "I'll be waiting."
These two words represent the utmost respect for Maki and Kainan.
He acknowledged his opponent's fighting spirit and potential.
At that moment, Nobunaga Kiyota also rushed over.
His face was still streaked with tears and dust, but he grabbed Kawamoto's hand and shook it violently, his voice trembling with sobs and indignation. "Damn it! Kawamoto! You—are you really just a first-year student? You must be a second-year student, right? Tell me you're a second-year student! That way, I could at least compete for the title of Kanagawa's number one newcomer—now I've even lost the title to you, it's so unfair!"
He was incoherent; he was truly devastated, but also truly impressed.
Kawamoto looked at the guy in front of him, who resembled a defeated but still baring-its-s teeth puppy, and his tone seemed to soften slightly.
"Nobody knows what the future holds. Maybe next year, I won't be able to beat you."
"Ha?!"
Kiyota was taken aback, then vigorously wiped his face, gripped Kawamoto's hand tightly, and exclaimed, "Stop trying to comfort me! But—I, Nobunaga Kiyota, am determined to be your friend! Even though you stole my Rookie of the Year award, you won with your own merit! I admire you!"
"Um."
A simple syllable made Kiyota grin instantly, as if the previous defeat and tears had vanished like smoke.
Sometimes, winning or losing on the basketball court is just that simple and pure.
Defeating your opponent may also turn them into a friend you admire.
The mighty army of Kamakura fell before the storm of youthful fervor.
A new legend has begun to unfold in the stadium.