The entrance to the stands after the match.
A mature man with a calm and resolute face, wearing a navy blue school uniform, stood there.
He is Shinichi Maki, the captain of the basketball team at the Kainan University Affiliated High School.
He looked at the exaggerated final score on the scoreboard and prepared to leave.
"Sorry, Senior Mu, we're late."
Two figures wearing the same navy blue school uniforms rushed in.
It was Nobunaga Kiyota and Soichiro Jin.
"Is the match over?"
"Soichiro Jin said with a hint of apology."
Nobunaga Kiyota eagerly glanced at the scoreboard, then his eyes widened. "102:0? What's going on! Miuradai hasn't scored a single point?"
Jin also looked surprised. "Is Shohoku that strong? Although Miuradai lost to us in last year's prefectural tournament, they still managed to score 54 points against Kainan."
Maki Shin shook his head. "This year's Miuradai is different."
"Different? It's gotten weaker?" Kiyota asked.
"No..."
The shepherd's tone was disdainful.
"It has nothing to do with strength or weakness; they're here to be funny."
You didn't see the game.
" The Miuradai players were like wooden stakes on the court; later, they simply gathered in twos and threes to chat, like they were having a tea party. The Shohoku players, on the other hand, were like dancers they had invited to perform."
He arrived in the second half and didn't see Kawamoto Kazuki's performance.
"This match is meaningless. Let's go."
After saying that, he took the lead and walked down the steps.
Kiyota and Jin exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
For Senior Mu to use terms like "funny," "tea party," and "dancing girl," just how boring must that match have been?
Back at the Shohoku basketball gym.
Kogure, Yasuda, Shiozaki, Kakuta couldn't hide their excitement after winning the game.
While the victory was mainly attributed to Kawamoto, they were also involved.
However, the main players, such as Akagi, Miyagi, Mitsui, and Rukawa, who had put in a lot of effort but only played garbage time, didn't look too good.
Hisashi Mitsui's expression changed several times, but in the end he gritted his teeth and walked up to Kawamoto Kazuki, who was dribbling in place.
"Hey, Kawamoto."
Kawamoto stopped what he was doing and looked at him.
"You..."
Mitsui seemed somewhat reluctant to talk about it, but his desire for technology ultimately overwhelmed everything else.
"How exactly did you counter Murasame's feint? You mean those two times you knocked him away?"
Kawamoto glanced at him but didn't say anything. He simply picked up the basketball and walked towards the empty half of the court.
You defend me.
Mitsui perked up and immediately followed, assuming a defensive stance.
Kawamoto started dribbling the ball facing Mitsui at the three-point line.
The pace is not fast.
Then, subtly raise your shoulders while scanning the basket, suspend your left hand while dribbling, and make a catching motion with your right hand.
Mitsui knew this was a demonstration, a feint, and he desperately told himself not to jump!
However, Kawamoto's deceptive maneuvering still triggered his defensive instincts.
Jump!
He was sent flying.
Although it was just a slight jump and I landed immediately, I was definitely fooled.
"It's so... so realistic!"
Mitsui landed with a look of utter shock on his face.
Observing and experiencing firsthand are two completely different things.
"I don't believe you! Let's try again!"
Mitsui's competitive spirit was ignited, and he focused all his attention on Kawamoto's shoulders and hands.
The second time.
Kawamoto once again performed that realistic prelude to Shammgod.
Mitsui had only one thought this time.
Don't jump!
I'd rather die than jump!
However, just as he lowered his center of gravity to prepare for the breakthrough, Kawamoto's previously suspended hand actually caught the ball using the momentum of that shoulder lift!
And it pulls up directly from the spot at a faster speed than during a feint.
Real investment?
"What?"
Mitsui was shocked, but it was too late to seal the cap.
The basketball arced through the air and successfully went into the net.
Mitsui was completely dumbfounded.
He was first startled, then overjoyed.
This technique is simply divine for a shooting guard like him who excels at shooting!
Whether it's using a feint to create a shot opportunity or combining a real attack with a feint to create a breakthrough opportunity, it's incredibly useful.
"I get it! The key lies in the coordination of the shoulders, eyes, and hands, as well as that momentary deceptive levitation rhythm."
Mitsui has an exceptionally high aptitude for basketball and immediately grasped the key points.
He couldn't wait to pick up the ball and go to the side to start practicing on his own.
The commotion attracted other people.
"Brother Kawamoto, that feint was so cool! Teach me!"
Sakuragi shouted.
" Kawamoto, is there anything else I can improve?"
Miyagi quickly added.
"And me..."
Akagi was not to be outdone.
Kawamoto Kazuki as his teammates gathered around him.
He began by saying, "Your usual training and your match against Miuradai are not relevant."
"Our next match is against Kakuno High School. Please give it your all and be fully focused."
His gaze swept over Akagi, Miyagi, Rukawa, Mitsui, and Sakuragi.
"I will observe carefully from the sidelines, looking for areas where everyone's performance might be lacking."
These words made Akagi and the others' eyes sharpen, and a fighting spirit was ignited.
good!
Then prove yourself in the next game!
Let this unfathomable junior see the true strength of their main players.
Three days later, in the second round of the county tournament, Shohoku vs. Kakuno.
This match became a test for Shohoku's main lineup.
Takenori Akagi, Ryota Miyagi, Hisashi Mitsui, Kaede Rukawa, Hanamichi Sakuragi went into berserk mode from the moment the ball was thrown.
Akagi was frantically calling for the ball in the paint, wanting to dunk every single one of them.
Miyagi's speed reached its limit, shattering Kakuno's defenses.
Mitsui, combining his newly learned skills, repeatedly blew past his opponents on the perimeter, firing three-pointers left and right.
Kaede Rukawa treated Kakuno's defenders like wooden stakes, effortlessly scoring all sorts of difficult goals.
Even Hanamichi Sakuragi scored 8 points, playing with exceptional intensity.
Kakuno High School itself had limited strength, and it was no match for the onslaught of Shohoku's main players, who were now blinded by rage.
The match was a one-sided massacre from the very beginning.
The final score was 180-16.
Kakuno scored a paltry 16 points, relying solely on free throws and a few lucky shots.
At the very back of the stands, stood a bespectacled, elegant-looking young man.
He is Toru Hanagata, the starting center for Shoyo High School.
Standing beside him Jun Uozumi from Ryonan.
Hanagata decided to check out this dark horse that suddenly emerged in Group B after learning about Shohoku's incredible shutout victory over Miuradai in the previous game.
However, after watching the match, Hanagata calmly analyzed, "The opponent is too weak. If our Shoyo in this kind of match, we would score at least 200 points."
"We only have one opponent this year, and that is the Kainan University Affiliated High School Middle School."
"Is that so, Hanagata?" Uozumi scoffed, "Let's beat Shohoku first."
Hanagata glanced at him and held up two fingers. "We'll beat Shohoku by at least twenty points!"
" Hanagata, you're too arrogant!" Uozumi.
Hanagata didn't answer Uozumi and turned to leave.
Shohoku Basketball Gymnasium.
Despite their resounding victory, Akagi and the others did not show much joy.
Instead, her gaze towards Kawamoto Kazuki was filled with anticipation.
Kawamoto walked up to the group.
"A fantastic offensive performance."
He began with a statement of affirmation, but then quickly changed the subject. "However, I can still glean some insights from this match that may be helpful to everyone."
He first looked at Takenori Akagi: "Captain Akagi."
"Your inside scoring, including dunks and hook shots, is consistent. But against a center like Kakuno, who is practically non-existent, your skills aren't very effective."
"If it Uozumi from Ryonan, could you still so easily use your strength to push past them and complete a dunk?"
Akagi frowned, lost in thought.
Your offensive methods are currently concentrated in a very small area around the basket.
Kawamoto continued, "Your methods are relatively limited. I suggest you try expanding your attack range, especially your bank shot."
"Clean plate?"
Akagi was taken aback.