This is what a top national team should be like. The subtle rivalry between them and Kitano brought Coach Anzai an unexpected surprise.
"Don't rush things in the second half," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Remember, maintaining full fighting strength is far more important than a big win."
The team members nodded, understanding what the coach meant. Even winning by just one point was a win, but if they pushed Toyotama too hard for a moment's pleasure and caused an injury or loss, it would be a huge loss. The National Tournament was a grueling schedule, and Shohoku was in the group of death; they couldn't afford any mistakes.
Bang!
Minori Kishimoto slammed her fist on the locker, denting the metal surface.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Then came three more punches; he vented his pent-up anger by smashing the cabinet. Frustrated! Today was filled with one word: "Frustrated"!
He committed the most fouls, made the most embarrassing mistakes, talked the loudest, and took the heaviest beatings... Back in the locker room, he poured three bottles of ice water on himself, but the fire in his heart still burned fiercely.
"Damn it! Damn it!" he gritted his teeth, "What is that Shirasawa anyway! I'll kill him in the second half!"
Bang! The cabinet got punched again.
"Save your energy for the field." Tsuyoshi Minami frowned slightly, but his tone remained calm as he slowly drank his water.
" Tsuyoshi Minami! Stop spouting nonsense!" Minori Kishimoto's neck veins bulged, and his voice rose sharply, "What were you doing while we were fighting tooth and nail on the field?!"
He got more and more excited as he spoke, his spittle almost spraying onto Tsuyoshi Minami's face. "Don't tell me you were focused on the competition! That Shirasawa is practically riding on my neck and causing trouble!"
That's quite a strong statement. You see, Kishimoto followed Tsuyoshi Minami Retsu's lead. From his obsession with run-and-gun tactics to his efforts to squeeze into Toyotama and become a student of Coach Kitano, and then to the change of coaches and the chaos in the team... he has almost never said "no" to Tsuyoshi Minami.
However, he simply couldn't hold back any longer.
He was so angry he felt a sharp pain in his chest! They'd already bullied his brother, and he was just waiting? Waiting my ass! Waiting for them to finish taking a dump before handing them toilet paper?!
Enraged, Kishimoto lunged forward, grabbing Tsuyoshi Minami Lie by the collar, his eyes wide. "Tell me! What are you waiting for! Are you waiting for that brat Shirasawa to beat you up too?!"
After shouting that, Kishimoto suddenly froze, and the hand gripping his collar unconsciously loosened.
Because Tsuyoshi Minami was looking up at him. His gaze was cold and sharp, like shards of ice.
Kishimoto subconsciously swallowed. He had been with Tsuyoshi Minami Lie for so long that he knew this guy all too well. He had seen that look before; it was always like that before Tsuyoshi Minami truly got angry, and it sent chills down one's spine.
I won't lose.
Tsuyoshi Minami spoke calmly, raising his hand to pry open Kishimoto's Kishimoto, which were gripping his collar, one by one. His intimidating gaze vanished instantly, as if nothing had happened.
Kishimoto belatedly breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly cursing. "Damn it, what bad luck! Today's been the worst day ever..."
" Itakura," Tsuyoshi Minami straightened his collar, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority, "You and I will switch positions in the second half; I'll play point guard. Shirasawa, leave him to me."
Daijiro Itakura nodded quickly, a huge weight lifted from his heart. Great, at least he didn't have to face that nemesis anymore!
Although he joined the team after Kitano's time and wasn't exactly on the same page as the veterans like Tsuyoshi Minami and Kishimoto, he wasn't stupid. Tsuyoshi Minami and the others graduated this year, and next year Coach Toyotama would be in charge of Jinpei. He knew exactly which side to stand on.
So he didn't really have much of a sense of "collective honor" in the team. He almost couldn't help but laugh when he saw Kishimoto getting humiliated on the field... Now that Tsuyoshi Minami was going to deal with Shirasawa himself, he was actually looking forward to it.
"Have you guys had enough?!"
A voice, brimming with suppressed anger, boomed out. Coach Jinpei abruptly stood up, his face flushed red. "If we want to win, we must strengthen our defense in the second half! And we must abandon our run-and-gun style! We must play steadily, one goal at a time, to have any chance of turning the game around!"
He'd really had enough. He wouldn't care about anything if they won, but now they were down by almost twenty points, how could he let these kids run wild?
Jinpei has only one bottom line: he must make it into the top eight of the national competition. Otherwise, all his humiliation this year will become a joke, and he might even lose his job!
However, a person who is used to giving in will find it difficult to immediately take the initiative when they suddenly speak out.
"What are you yelling about?" Tsuyoshi Minami turned his head, glanced at him, and said with obvious detachment, "How we fight is none of your business. Just be a spectator."
He would never use the word "coach" to describe Jinpei.
Jinpei's neck veins throbbed, his fists clenched tightly, he was just a hair's breadth away from exploding completely.
But in the end, he swallowed his anger. If the team fell into chaos first, the game would be over. For the sake of his future, he could endure this little bit of grievance one more time.
What if Tsuyoshi Minami could actually pull off a miracle?
" Shohoku! Go for it! Let's get this off to a winning start!"
" Shirasawa! It's up to you now!"
"Let's make it to the round of 16! Go for it!"
As soon as the Shohoku Team stepped onto the court, the cheers from the stands erupted. Holding a 19-point lead, the fans were full of confidence and shouted with extra enthusiasm.
The referee blew the whistle, and the starting lineups for both sides took their positions again.
The score was 64-45, and the second half of the game officially began.
Takenori Akagi leaped powerfully, this time steadily flicking the ball forward. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice, and this time he did the opposite—you Toyotama like to be fast, don't you? Well, we'll be even faster than you!
The basketball flew towards Toyotama's half of the court like a cannonball. Shirasawa started his run almost the instant Akagi touched the ball, dashing straight into the frontcourt like a red lightning bolt.
Akagi's pass was powerful; it was less of a jump ball and more of a precise long pass across half the court. Shirasawa leaped up inside the three-point line to catch the ball, and without pausing, used the momentum to drive straight to the basket.
His speed was so fast that the Toyotama players couldn't keep up with his retreat. They could only watch helplessly as the red figure soared into the air and scored the first point of the second half for Shohoku with a powerful dunk!
"Run! Everyone, run!"
After conceding a point, Tsuyoshi Minami inbounded the ball from the baseline in the backcourt with a decisive sound, showing no intention of changing tactics. The entire Toyotama team immediately surged across the half-court like a tidal wave, beginning high-speed runs and cuts.
Tsuyoshi Minami took control of the ball, and Shirasawa immediately followed suit.
The two seemed to be on the same wavelength, going head-to-head right at the start of the second half.
"Here it comes! Tsuyoshi Minami versus Shirasawa!" Nobunaga Kiyota in the stands was both excited and a little nervous.
"Watch closely, Kiyota," Shinichi Maki's calm voice rang out. "You should learn a lot this round."
He wasn't referring to technique, but rather to on-the-spot adaptability and strategic maneuvering. He sensed that Tsuyoshi Minami must be prepared, and it was up to Shirasawa to decide how to respond.
Shirasawa's initiative in approaching Tsuyoshi Minami clearly indicated that he had planned this all along. Because of his close marking, Tsuyoshi Minami was unable to pass the ball immediately, and Toyotama's smooth run-and-gun rhythm faltered for the first time.
Tsuyoshi Minami chose to play it safe, switch to positional warfare, and patiently look for opportunities.
The reason is simple: Shirasawa's defensive pressure was too intense! So intense that it even threw Bai Ze off balance, disrupting Bai Ze's usual composure.
Tsuyoshi Minami made two quick changes of direction in front of his body, lowered his shoulder, and prepared to make a strong breakthrough from the right side!
However, Shirasawa did not blindly close in. Instead, he precisely blocked the path and used his superior physical strength to force Tsuyoshi Minami to stop.
Tsuyoshi Minami reacted extremely quickly, taking a step back to create space and retreating to the three-point line before raising his hand to shoot!
Tsuyoshi Minami's speed in attack is notoriously fast, something Hisashi Mitsui knows all too well. Even if you keep your eyes glued to him, your body might not be able to keep up with the rhythm of his hand movements.
This special skill is precisely what makes Tsuyoshi Minami's livelihood on the court.
Whether the ball goes in or not is another matter, but you think you can block his shot? No way.
Of course, this applies to most defenders.
Shirasawa is clearly not among this "majority".
The basketball had just slipped from Tsuyoshi Minami's fingertips when Shirasawa, as if he had springs in his feet, leaped up right in front of him!
The explosive power of that jump was simply outrageous!
Tsuyoshi Minami's pupils contracted sharply, and he frantically chanted in his mind: Hurry up, fly faster, so he can't reach it!
But right under his nose,
Shirasawa's palm slammed firmly onto the ball.
Not only did he touch it, but he also flicked his wrist downwards, pulling the three-pointer directly into his arms!
They... picked it off?!
Tsuyoshi Minami Lie was completely stunned.
He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been hated.
But this time, Shirasawa snatched the melon from his face right in the air!
A collective gasp rippled through the audience.
Shinichi Maki looked at it and nodded approvingly.
" Nobunaga, some things are innate, you can't learn them, don't take it too seriously."
Nobunaga Kiyota fell. "Damn it!"
Shirasawa's sudden "hat removal" truly stunned everyone.
As someone directly involved, Tsuyoshi Minami felt it most directly.
It was truly shocking.
The opportunity has arrived!
Shirasawa's jump was so high that Tsuyoshi Minami, in the moment of stunned disbelief, caught a glimpse of a once-in-a-lifetime opening!
He had long ago made up his mind to get rid of Shirasawa.
After the first half ended, this idea took root even more firmly.
To put it bluntly, if it weren't for Shirasawa's 31 points, Toyotama would definitely be in the lead right now.
But Tsuyoshi Minami hasn't made a move yet.
Because he knew that Shirasawa was not the kind of person who could be easily dealt with.
This guy's body is too abnormal, and his reactions are frighteningly fast.
Kishimoto's previous attempts had already proven this to him.
Moreover, Tsuyoshi Minami could tell that Shirasawa remained vigilant.
So he held back.
I've been waiting until now.
His goal was to strike decisively and eliminate Shirasawa from the battlefield!
Once and for all!
at the moment,
The opportunity has arrived!