Ryonan vs. Kainan: The Decisive Battle
For both sides, this is the decisive battle.
At the start of the match, Jun Uozumi used his significant height advantage to tip the ball.
The moment Akira Sendoh received the ball, Shinichi Maki was already standing in front of him like an iron wall.
Sendoh made a move to strike, Mu immediately moved to the side to block him.
Sendoh passed the ball directly to Fukuda without looking at his opponent.
Fukuda accelerated past Kiyota and scored a layup, giving Ryonan their first two points.
The game has progressed to 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
Mu displayed absolute strength.
He backs down Sendoh on the right wing, each impact forcing Sendoh to take a half-step back.
After drawing a double team, he also passed the ball without looking to Kazuma Takasago, who was cutting to the basket.
Takasago easily scored a layup.
The game has progressed to 5 minutes and 40 seconds.
After Sendoh and Uozumi set a screen, Fukuda lobbed the ball high, cut in from the baseline, and faced Nobunaga Kiyota was helping to defend, he pulled up for a reverse layup in mid-air.
The game has progressed to 7 minutes and 20 seconds.
The Uozumi the low post to get the ball, and hits the Takasago from behind.
Takasago didn't try to withstand the attack head-on. The moment Uozumi force, he took a half-step back and immediately stood still, causing Uozumi and knock Takasago.
This resulted in Uozumi's first foul.
The game has progressed to 9 minutes and 50 seconds.
Jin ran into an open space using a double screen, and the moment he received the ball, Ikegami was already blocking him.
Jin made a feint, but Ikegami remained unmoved.
Jin could only pass the ball, but when he got it again, he was still locked down by Ikegami.
30-second violation!
With 12 minutes and 30 seconds left in the game Kiyota faced Fukuda, suddenly accelerated and blew past him in one step, then switched hands and scored in mid-air as Uozumi to cover.
The game has progressed to 15 minutes and 20 seconds.
Using Takasago as cover, Jin moved towards the bottom corner, then suddenly reversed course and cut towards the top of the arc.
Ikegami gave chase with all his might, but was blocked by Takasago.
Jin receives a pass from Mu, releases his shot with 0.5 seconds left, and sinks a three-pointer!
With 18 minutes and 40 seconds left in the game, Sendoh dribbled past Maki one-on-one, followed by a series of crossover dribbles and a behind-the-back dribble, before suddenly stepping back for a jump shot.
Mu jumped with all his might, his fingertips almost touching the ball.
But the ball still swished through the net!
At halftime, Kainan led 47-42.
Uozumi 8 points and 2 fouls, Sendoh had 10 points and 4 assists, Fukuda had 20 points.
Maki had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists; Jin had 15 points; Kiyota had 12 points.
As the second half began, Maki, who had possession of the ball, made a strong breakthrough, Uozumi defend, and Maki passed the ball to Takasago.
Uozumi defends and blocks, Takasago fakes out Uozumi, and actively closes in to force Uozumi to commit his third foul!
Taoka roared in fury, " Takasago!"
Facing Sendoh, Maki suddenly accelerated and broke through, shoving Fukuda aside in the penalty area and dunking over Koshino to help defend.
In the next possession, Maki stole the Sendoh from Sendoh, drove straight into the paint, and scored with a reverse layup over Uozumi.
They scored 4 consecutive points, forcing Ryonan.
Uozumi substituted, and Fukuda launched a fast break and slammed home a dunk.
Then he backed down Muto and scored on a fast break to the basket.
One player scored a 4-0 run.
Uozumi to the field, Takasago immediately called for the ball in the low post.
In a one-on-one situation, Uozumi took two steps and then suddenly turned around, resulting in a foul by Uozumi!
Fourth foul!
Taoka was forced to replace Uozumi again.
Jin kept making runs, and Ikegami followed him like a shadow.
Jin received the ball using a double screen and squeezed past Ikegami.
Jin faked a throw but then drove forward, Ikegami blocked it with a sliding step.
When Jin passed the ball, Ikegami was still in front of him when he caught it again!
A powerful shot with 3 seconds left -
Three things to avoid.
Kiyota faced the basket and drove to the Koshino, then pulled back between his legs for a mid-range jumper that went in.
In the next round, he stole the Uekusa from Uekusa and, during a fast break, managed to get past Sendoh and score with a floater.
Sendoh faced Maki and attempted a fadeaway jump shot, then faked a move to knock Maki away, drawing a foul.
Both free throws were made.
He easily intercepted a long pass and slammed it Fukuda with a dunk.
Mu held the ball and waved for everyone to spread out.
Sendoh forcefully broke into the paint, drawing a triple team, and passed the ball to Jin on the outside.
Jin hits a three-pointer!
In the next round, Maki went one-on-one again, turned and jumped back for a jump shot, Sendoh blocked in the face.
Goal!
Uozumi the last player to enter the game. Maki broke through and drew a double team, then passed the ball to Takasago.
Uozumi defends, Takasago feints, Uozumi jumps, Takasago moves up.
Fifth foul!
Uozumi graduated!
Uozumi knelt down, Akagi clenched his fists in the audience. " Takasago..."
Sendoh hit a three-pointer over Maki, stole the ball from Kiyota and scored on a fast break, then assisted Fukuda for an alley-oop.
With one minute left in the clock, he initiated a breakthrough with eight seconds remaining, drawing four defenders to his side before passing the ball to Jin in the corner.
Jin hits a wide-open three-pointer.
Kainan leads by 5 points.
With 28 seconds left, Sendoh made a quick drive and sank a long-range three-pointer!
The score difference is 2 points.
Kainan serves, Maki receives the ball but is double-teamed, and passes it with difficulty to Kiyota.
Kiyota was double-teamed by Fukuda and Ikegami, and the ball went out of bounds!
With 9.2 seconds left, Sendoh received the ball, and Maki pressed him full-court.
Sendoh made several crossovers and then took a fadeaway jump shot with 3 seconds left.
Mu made a powerful block, but his fingertips barely touched the ball!
The ball bounced off the rim and the final whistle blew.
Kainan Ryonan 84-82 at the end of the match.
After the game, Maki, his jersey soaked with sweat, walked up to Sendoh and reached out his hand. "You made me give it my all."
Sendoh shook hands, his smile unchanged but tinged with weariness, "Me too."
Uozumi in tears, while Fukuda looked up at the sky in silence.
Ikegami knelt on the ground, Jin walked over and reached out his hand. "You are the strongest defender I have ever encountered."
Despite playing against a weak team, reports about Sanae Nakagawa still started to blindly praise her.
She mixed up the matches between Shohoku, Kainan, and Takezato.
The report about the all-around Kawamoto was submitted again.
Even Ichiro Yoshida, the editor-in-chief of Basketball Weekly, doubted the authenticity of the report.
" Nakagawa, are you showing personal feelings towards this student named Kawamoto? As journalists, you must strive for impartiality."
Yayoi Aida interjected at the opportune moment. "Editor-in-Chief Yoshida, this report is already quite objective. If I were to write it, Kawamoto would be even more exaggerated."
Having witnessed Kawamoto's two matches firsthand, Yayoi Aida's fondness for Kawamoto increased dramatically.
In comparison, a fisherman is definitely not as attractive as a football god.
Ichiro Yoshida was shocked. Yayoi Aida extremely picky, and in the past, only Maki and Sendoh in Kanagawa could catch her eye.
The rest, even a superstar center like Takenori Akagi, were nothing special in her eyes.
The fact that she could say that shows that Kawamoto really has some skills.
Sanae Nakagawa was also surprised. When Aida- senpai played against Shohoku, she showed disdain for Kainan Kawamoto. Why has her attitude changed so much now?
Could it be!
A bad thought popped into my head: was this old bull trying to eat tender grass?
"Senior Aida, how many years have you worked at Weekly Basketball since you graduated?" Sanae Nakagawa asked with ill intent.
"It's been four years, what happened?" Yayoi Aida answered instinctively.
"Four years? That's really a senior. Kawamoto is only 15 years old this year. I can't believe that someone 11 years younger than him can still gain Aida- senpai's approval."
Yayoi Aida then realized, was he implying that she was getting old?
What's the big deal? That little chick of Sendoh is only 16.
You, Sanae Nakagawa, you always seem so ladylike, but I never expected you to have such a wicked side.
Yayoi Aida picked up the steaming Old Cong Narcissus tea in front of her; the amber-colored tea soup was rich and mellow. " Nakagawa," she said, "Good tea isn't about understanding, it's about enduring. Geisha's brightness is like a youthful love poem, clear at a glance. But this cup has the rocky charm of Gyokuro..."
She took a small sip. "Only when the heat subsides and a sweet aftertaste rises from the back of the throat can it truly convey its message."
"People are the same; a young girl's tears are like water droplets, while an older sister's tears are like the fragrance of the ocean tide."
Nakagawa: