Once the national tournament officially begins, Shirasawa and Kaede Rukawa's popularity will definitely soar even higher. Sooner or later, this agent approach will attract the attention of other star players, and Sanae's future is truly unstoppable.
But what about her...?
They were practically left out in the cold.
Shohoku won so beautifully today, which ironically made her article look full of flaws.
My days at the magazine are probably going to be tough.
" Sanae, is there something you want to tell me?"
Yayoi Aida simply broke the ice.
From the moment they met, Sanae had hinted at it to her several times, and she wasn't stupid; she just hadn't been able to bring herself to respond before.
No matter what, she was a senior, and she was reluctant to be led by the nose by Sanae.
But after this conversation, she was somewhat convinced of Sanae's abilities.
Given my current situation, what's the point of putting on airs?
Perhaps Sanae's strange and unusual ideas could actually point her in the right direction.
Let's find a coffee shop to sit down and talk later.
Sanae smiled; those were the words she had been waiting for.
You can't rush things; you have to time things right.
Just like when she approached Fujima today, the timing was perfect.
Shirasawa was charging forward desperately on the court, Sanae was not idle on the sidelines either; she was putting all her effort into catching up with Shirasawa.
" Shohoku! Shohoku!"
The cheers from the stands came in waves, and the Shohoku Team on the court gradually calmed down from their excitement.
This marks the end of the Kanagawa Prefecture tournament.
But for Shohoku, this is only the beginning.
The tougher battles are yet to come. Only when they can truly overcome each obstacle can they celebrate with peace of mind.
The two teams gathered at midfield.
Akagi and Uozumi clasped hands.
There are no losers today; they're both going to join hands and advance to the national competition.
"Come on."
The two hugged, their eyes both a little red...
The sight of the two tall men embracing made Hanamichi Sakuragi completely lose focus...
Coach Taoka also shook hands with Coach Anzai.
"I've learned a lot from this match; I've learned a great deal."
This time, he accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.
He even plans to change his coaching style from now on.
This game taught him a lesson: things can change in an instant on the basketball court.
The only constant might be change itself.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, Riki Takato did indeed have a knack for it.
Coach Anzai is something else; no wonder he can win championships.
"Hehehe, let's learn from each other. Ryonan is a good team, Taoka, you should keep up the good work!"
"Definitely! You'll see how I've improved at the national competition. I look forward to seeing you again."
The staff arranged for the top eight teams from Kainan, Shoyo, Takezato, and Takezono counties to line up in turn.
A temporary awards stage was set up in the middle of the venue.
A row of trophies and certificates were laid out on the table, and soon they would all be returned to their rightful owners.
The organizers of the county competition stood on the stage and first gave a series of polite remarks...
What do you mean by "showing style" or "showing skill"...?
He read for a good ten minutes before putting down the manuscript that he had been using for several years.
The champion of this year's Kanagawa Prefecture Tournament is— Shohoku High School!
The moment he finished speaking, the entire stadium erupted in cheers.
The other seven teams all cast envious glances at each other.
This dark horse has truly remained a dark horse all the way through.
"Captain, hurry up and go collect your award!"
Seeing that Akagi was standing still, Ayako stamped her feet in frustration.
It's not that I'm afraid the trophy will fly away, it's just that I can't show weakness...
" Xiao Bai... you go ahead."
After hesitating for a long time, Akagi finally managed to squeeze out this sentence.
Yes, he was nervous and didn't have the same imposing presence he has under the basket.
"The captain has to go. If Ryonan wins the championship, it'll definitely be Uozumi goes."
Shirasawa had no choice but to bring out Uozumi to provoke him.
Akagi was so nervous that his hands and feet stiffened, and everyone else was trying their best to hold back their laughter.
" Shohoku, please have our captain come up to the stage to receive the award..."
The staff had to remind them again that this was truly the first time they'd ever seen anything like it at an awards ceremony...
Takenori Akagi a deep breath, straightened his chest, and slowly made his way onto the stage.
He was as stiff as a board.
Uozumi in the audience, scoffed, "Pathetic, a disgrace to our center position."
Only when Akagi accepted the heavy championship trophy did his tense nerves relax.
This must feel like a dream come true.
Akagi raised the trophy high above his head, displaying Shohoku's glory to the entire arena.
" Shohoku --!!!"
His signature loud shout came out again, startling the staff member next to him.
All the first- and second-year players in the audience were staring at the trophy; who wouldn't want to be the one to touch it next?
Akagi walked off the stage with the trophy in his hand and immediately handed it to Shirasawa.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that at least 70% of the credit for this trophy goes to this ace player.
Shirasawa took it, weighed it in his hand, and casually passed it to Kogure.
For him, this was just the beginning.
Life is like a train journey; a quick glance in the rearview mirror is enough, but you must always keep your eyes on the road ahead to drive steadily.
Kogure held the trophy in his arms, his hands trembling slightly.
He didn't dare breathe too loudly, as if the thing was made of glass and would shatter at the slightest touch.
But this time, the dream has truly fallen into my hands, and it feels incredibly heavy.
Next, the runner-up took the stage.
That gleaming silver trophy was no small feat; after all, it was a ticket to the national competition.
However, the Ryonan couldn't muster any real cheers; the fans and players only clapped a few times here and there.
Then everyone watched as Uozumi awkwardly shuffled up...
"My God! This monkey leader actually has the same leg movement as the other one! How come I never noticed?!"
When Hanamichi Sakuragi let out that scream, the entire audience burst into laughter.
Compared to Akagi's earlier nervousness, Uozumi's expression was much more noticeable.
Takenori Akagi watched from the side, shaking his head and muttering, "Something that's not presentable."
Although they didn't win the championship, this is still the best result in Ryonan's history.
The team members passed the trophy around one after another; it was all earned through hard work and sweat.
They were so close to the summit; next time, they'll definitely climb it!
" Kaede Rukawa, aren't you going to take a look?"
Sendoh accepted the trophy across Kaede Rukawa, clearly not even bothering to touch it.
After asking the question, Sendoh chuckled to himself.
"Oh-right, I forgot, you already have a runner-up in your family."
Pfft! Those words were like knives, stabbing right into Kaede Rukawa's heart.
If you can't speak properly, then speak less.
Kaede Rukawa frowned. It seemed like he could never shake off the words "runner-up" and "second place" for the rest of his life.
"Next, we will announce the five-man all-star lineup for this county competition."
As soon as the staff member said that, many people's hearts jumped.
Making the All-NBA Team is a significant achievement and recognition for any player.
Moreover, there are five spots available, so the chances are not small.
This award isn't just for the champion and runner-up; anyone can have a chance if they play well this season.
Last year, Sendoh didn't rely on the team's performance; he just managed to squeeze in.
Judging from this year's situation, it's not impossible for people like Shinichi Maki and Kenji Fujima to become potential partners.
Especially for third-year students, this honor can significantly boost their chances of getting into a university.
The best lineup is divided by position, with guards, forwards, and centers each occupying a spot.
This arrangement is fair; it prevents people from fighting tooth and nail for the same spot.
In fact, everyone has a list in their mind, but there are some differences in the selection of a few individuals.
After today's game, there's no need to guess which position Takenori Akagi at center.
Similarly, it's a foregone conclusion that Shirasawa will take up a defender's spot.
That leaves only three spots to compete for. And there are quite a few people eyeing those three positions.
Sendoh, Kaede Rukawa, Fujima, Shinichi Maki, Hisashi Mitsui, Jin, Soichiro Jin, and even Hanamichi Sakuragi Nobunaga Kiyota not beyond his comprehension.
Ultimately, the organizers decide who plays, taking into account both the overall data and their contribution to the team.
Nobody knows exactly how it was calculated, but whatever they announce is considered authoritative.
Oh, and there's an old friend who's also eagerly waiting.
Takezono's Tatsumasa Oda.
Winning this award is his only hope for a comeback...
Even though the hope is slim, one must always have something to look forward to...
Under everyone's expectant gaze,
The organizer announced, "Center, Shohoku's number 4, Takenori Akagi."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire stadium applauded the Gorilla. Not only the fans, but even the opponents were impressed, including Uozumi.
Takenori Akagi is averaging 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season.
He is the only player in Kanagawa to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and Shohoku played the most games, so there's no exaggeration in his performance.
The best center, truly deserving of the title.
This is Akagi's first individual honor in his basketball career, and it's incredibly important to him.
" Gorilla! Gorilla!"
Hanamichi Sakuragi couldn't help but lead the chant, cheering for his captain.
This unique nickname spread like wildfire throughout the venue, with everyone shouting " Gorilla "...
Akagi, who was initially quite resistant to this title, now actually found it... kind of cool?
Next, the organizers read out the second name, "Guard, Shohoku No. 9, Shirasawa."
No one was surprised that Shirasawa made the list; it would have been news if he hadn't.
What fans are really looking forward to is the moment he lifts the MVP trophy.
However, Shirasawa's cheers weren't as loud as Akagi's, after all, the two started from different points.
At this point, only one spot remains in the defense line.
The candidates appeared calm on the surface, but they were actually quite nervous inside.
"Defender, No. 4, Kainan University Affiliated High School, Shinichi Maki."
Shinichi Maki smiled slightly. Making the All-Star team for the third consecutive year was a decent way to end his high school career.
Shinichi Maki's selection means that Fujima and the others have no chance.
But there's nothing to complain about. Shinichi Maki is averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists per game this season. This is because he barely played in the first game and the finals, but those games are still counted in his playing time, which lowers his average.
He may not care about the data, but no one dares to disregard him.
Right now, the most frustrated team is probably Ryonan.
As the runner-up, not even making the All-Star team is indeed a bit embarrassing.
However, Sendoh has mostly played point guard this season, while Rukawa has primarily played shooting guard.
Now that all the guard spots are filled, this Twin Stars has no chance at all.
"Forward, Ryonan No. 7, Akira Sendoh."
The heads of the entire Ryonan team, which had just drooped, suddenly snapped back to life!
Good heavens!
So Sendoh was relegated to the forward position!
The organizers' arrangement is actually quite easy to understand: Kanagawa has an abundance of top-tier defenders, but is somewhat lacking in forwards.