To be honest, he had meticulously planned and executed his strategy for the Kainan Team. But the Shohoku team managed to thwart all of his plans. Not only that, but some of his moves actually benefited Shohoku. As Taoka thought about it, he began to doubt his coaching philosophy, which he had adhered to for many years.
The offense and defense on the court hadn't stopped. As soon as Mitsui came to his senses, the situation became clear. On the defensive end, he once again entangled Kaede Rukawa, and Ryonan's offense immediately weakened by half. On the offensive end, Ryonan didn't dare to use three players to double-team Shirasawa anymore, so they had to pull Ikegami out to guard Mitsui.
Shirasawa was finally free, able to go toe-to-toe with the Twin Stars. In the final few minutes, the battle raged on relentlessly, with both sides exchanging blows and giving it their all. The score seemed to be temporarily forgotten; all the players on the field wanted was to fight to their hearts' content!
Hanamichi Sakuragi ran all over the court, seemingly oblivious to fatigue. Even when it wasn't his turn to attack, he relentlessly positioned himself and sprinted. As soon as the rebound bounced, he would leap into the air as if trying to pluck a star, determined to grab the ball.
He was completely immersed in the game—he wanted to be the Rebound King, the number one power forward in Kanagawa, and the best bodyguard with a sword!
"Come on, come on! This genius has only just finished warming up!"
Takenori Akagi watched from the sidelines with a smirk. He was most proud of Sakuragi's growth. He was willing to play a supporting role so that the Rebound King could shine. But then again, he was hardly a supporting role; he was still locked in a fierce battle with Uozumi, and his two thick arms had gained a few more bloody marks.
Those were the marks of his battles, the medals of Kanagawa's number one center! After waiting for three whole years, the Gorilla was finally so close to his dream. He desperately suppressed the excitement in his heart, the words "Dominate the nation" were on the tip of his tongue, he was waiting, waiting for that moment to truly arrive, to let that slogan resound throughout the entire stadium!
" Miyagi! Prepare to attack quickly!"
Ryota Miyagi's mushroom-shaped hair was soaked with sweat, completely losing its fluffy look. He hadn't rested for a single second in almost forty minutes, just running and jumping. In this high-level game, he didn't have any special advantages, just being a little faster than the others—but that was enough!
From the moment he decided to abandon the traditional point guard role, he understood: he was a red ghost on the court; you could ignore him, but sooner or later you would pay the price. That earring was still flashing, just like the ever-confident smile on his face.
" Mitsui! Throw it!"
Hisashi Mitsui, the Flame Man, " jumped again beyond the three-point line. He had gambled all his energy on these last five minutes, and now it seemed he had made the right bet.
The basketball swished through the net. Mitsui gasped for breath, his eyes shining. In the stands, a female fan waved her poster wildly; the crumpled photo seemed to be slowly unfolding as her sweat evaporated.
Just like Mitsui himself—three years ago, he was a spirited MVP, dazzlingly perfect. But fate tormented him again and again, crumpling his life into a mess, and even "not smoking" became the only thing he could stick to.
Returning to the court, he was no longer perfect, even worn down. But so what? Time can change many things, but it can't change his belief. Perhaps this imperfect Hisashi Mitsui is the true face of youth.
At this moment, he clenched his fist, as if he had returned to the year he was MVP.
"That's the feeling! This is the real me!"
Kiminobu Kogure on the sidelines, already had tears welling up in his eyes. He had somehow managed to get close to the sideline, wanting to be just a little closer to everyone. Even though he wasn't on the field, his spirit remained; his hoarse voice was his fighting spirit.
Yes, he was a daydreamer. But a few months ago, he had actually planned to return to reality. Unfortunately, these guys didn't give him the chance—they turned all his unrealistic dreams into reality, one by one.
He may not be a top player, but he'll definitely be a competent vice-captain. Shohoku can't do without him. You still have to have dreams, what if... like Kogure, they come true?
His glasses were now blurred with tears. But when this daydreamer wiped his glasses again, it was the moment his dream became reality!
" Shohoku!! Shohoku!!"
Kogure was practically screaming, which was completely at odds with his refined appearance.
"Roar roar roar~~"
I wonder if Coach Anzai was amused by Kogure's voice. The former White-Haired Devil has now become a kind-faced old man, but once again, he has reached the peak.
Coach Anzai felt as if he had lived two completely different yet equally fulfilling lives. As soon as the competition ended, he had to go to the hospital as usual to get his old body serviced. After all, he would soon be leading this newly crowned champion team to the national competition.
The seemingly risky decision made a few months ago has now yielded the sweetest fruit. He silently said to himself, " Xiao Bai, thank you so much." It was this kid, Shirasawa, who rekindled the almost extinguished flame of basketball in his heart, allowing this old man to see the light again.
" Shirasawa! Shirasawa!"
The entire audience was shouting the same name at the top of their lungs.
There were only 18 seconds left in the game.
On the scoreboard, the number 104 to 85 was dazzlingly bright. Shohoku was leading by a full 19 points, and the victory was already firmly in their grasp.
Shirasawa received the inbound pass from the baseline in the backcourt, dribbling slowly and deliberately, controlling the final few seconds of the Kanagawa Prefecture tournament. The cheers from the crowd rose in waves, and everyone knew that Shohoku's success today was inseparable from the name Shirasawa.
The deafening cheers nearly lifted the roof off. In just over ten seconds, the championship trophy would be Shohoku's. The final whistle blew, and they became the new kings of Kanagawa, the first team in seventeen years to break Kainan's monopoly on the championship!
Whether this will usher in a new era for Kanagawa is anyone's guess. Usually, a three-peat is needed to claim a dynasty. Just like Sannoh Industrial High School last year, with their three-peat, the whole country recognized them as the " Sannoh Dynasty."
But Kanagawa is a bit eerie. The Kainan Team set their standards too high before, as if they wouldn't dare to mention the word "dynasty" unless they won ten consecutive prefectural championships.
Looking at Shohoku's current roster, both Shirasawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi can play for another two years, which is undoubtedly their biggest asset in defending their title. They could even achieve a three-peat and finish last in the standings.
but!
With Akagi and Mitsui graduating next year, it's completely unknown what level of new players Shohoku can recruit. Relying solely on their current roster, their path to defending their title will definitely be fraught with difficulties... Putting everything else aside, Ryonan's " Three Muskets " alone could still team up for another year. If they meet again next year, the outcome will be truly unpredictable.
But right now, nobody wants to think that far ahead. As the saying goes, "Even the King of Hell enjoys his minions while he can!" The future is too far away; let's focus on the present. The undeniable fact is: Shohoku is about to ascend to the pinnacle!
The cheers just wouldn't stop. Ryonan had given up on defense and accepted defeat gracefully. It would be a lie to say they weren't disappointed, but it wasn't too bad either, since they could still go to the national tournament even if they lost. At most, they would just feel a little disappointed.
Shirasawa dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, controlling it with one hand while raising the other and waving it rhythmically to the cheers of the crowd, quietly waiting for the clock to tick out.
"Just as I predicted, Shohoku will win." Shinichi Maki, arms crossed, calmly concluded from the stands. He had indeed favored Shohoku from the beginning, and given his personality, if there were betting odds, he would probably bet everything. Even if Shohoku's odds were lower, he was guaranteed to make a profit...
"Sigh... yeah." Jin chuckled beside him, "I originally thought the score difference would be around 5 points, but I didn't expect that even the ' Three Muskets ' couldn't defeat Shirasawa. Now I'm really curious what the expressions of all the top experts in the country would be when they face Shirasawa."
His smile clearly concealed a hint of anticipation, a desire to see the powerful make a fool of themselves...
On the sidelines, Hikoichi Aida couldn't hold back his tears. After all, this was the first time in his short basketball career that he had tasted defeat.
Coach Moichi Taoka patted him on the shoulder reassuringly.
" Hikoichi, failure itself isn't scary; what's scary is not daring to face it," Coach Taoka said calmly. "There are many reasons why we lost this game, and I myself bear a lot of responsibility. When we get back, let's analyze it together, then cheer up and prepare for the national tournament!"
"Yes! Yes!" Hikoichi nodded vigorously, his voice nasal as he said, "I'll set off tomorrow to investigate! I'll find out everything about all the top teams in the country! I'll provide them with intelligence support!"
In the past, Moichi Taoka would have wholeheartedly agreed, and might even have reimbursed Hikoichi pocket. But after this battle, his thoughts have changed somewhat. Shohoku taught him a solid lesson.
Coach Taoka smiled with relief, " Hikoichi, data can be used as a reference, but it can't be taken as gospel. I think you should spend more time studying the tactics of other teams. You have a lot of talent in this area, and in the future... you might really be able to take over my job."
Hikoichi suddenly looked up, staring at his coach in surprise. These words were undoubtedly the highest level of affirmation and encouragement for him.
He quickly wiped away his tears, his eyes hardening with unwavering determination. "Coach! Don't worry! I will definitely take over from you as soon as possible!"
Speaking is an art, and clearly, Hikoichi has no talent for it...
If he gets one or two bumps on his head in the future, it's probably just tuition he has to pay on his path to adulthood...
On the field, the timer jumped to the last ten seconds.
As if receiving a silent command, all the Shohoku fans stood up in unison. Led by Tetsuo Hotta, they began a collective countdown to the moment the championship would be decided!
"10--!"
That roar was so powerful that it sent shivers down everyone's spine. The five starting players from Shohoku were all filled with excitement.
"9--!"
The substitutes on the bench also joined in the cheering. The championship was within reach!
Jun Uozumi snorted coldly beside Takenori Akagi.