"Hey, this is a tactic, right?" After turning it over in his head, Sakuragi decided that was the only possibility. "You're waiting for this genius to let his guard down, then launching a surprise attack? Heh, cheap tricks!"
But Sendoh ignored him completely, as if he hadn't heard.
Sakuragi knitted his brows and thrust his face right up in front of Sendoh.
"I knew it! I saw right through you! They're actually using a tool like you to hold this genius back. Let me tell you, I, Hanamichi Saku-"
Before he could finish, Sendoh casually shuffled two steps sideways, putting some distance between them again.
Sakuragi ground his teeth in anger. It felt like punching cotton. Just as he was about to chase after him, someone slammed hard into his back, sending him stumbling several steps before he regained his balance.
Then cheers erupted throughout the gym.
A moment earlier, Kaede Rukawa had beaten Kogure again and driven into the paint. With Akagi rotating over to help, he switched hands for a layup, narrowly avoiding the block and scoring.
But Akagi covered so much space that Kaede Rukawa had barely managed to evade him. He lost his balance on landing and staggered back several steps, only steadying himself when he collided with Sakuragi.
In other words, the genius had genuinely served as a human cushion.
"That damn stinking fox! How dare he crash into me!"
"It's all that number seven's fault for distracting me!"
Hanamichi Sakuragi kept muttering, but inside, he was already starting to fall apart. He was the type who got more fired up the stronger his opponent was, but Sendoh neither ran nor moved, and there wasn't even any physical contact. Sakuragi had nowhere to direct his energy and couldn't even concentrate.
His mental game was already beginning to crumble, bit by bit.
Of course, this wasn't some tactic of Sendoh's. He simply couldn't be bothered to move.
Once the ball reached Kaede Rukawa, Sendoh had no expectation of getting it back. Under the basket, Uozumi was fighting Akagi with everything he had, so didn't that leave him, the forward, with nothing to do?
Besides, it was only a practice game. He could just play casually.
And that redheaded guy didn't look too bright... Keeping his distance couldn't hurt. Better not catch it.
Kaede Rukawa's basket tied the score again.
On Ryonan's offensive possession, Shirasawa had barely received the ball in the backcourt when Kaede Rukawa came straight up to him. His meaning couldn't have been clearer: no more waiting. He wanted to settle things right now.
Shirasawa dribbled upcourt at an unhurried pace, while Kaede Rukawa slowly retreated, his eyes fixed on him. The defensive pressure he exerted was indeed more than a notch above Uekusa's.
Coach Taoka was pleased with this matchup too. Kaede Rukawa's fighting spirit was running high, making him just the man to shut Shirasawa down. Let's see how you organize the offense now!
"They're matched up! The two guys from this year's prefectural final are finally facing off!" Hikoichi Aida clenched his pen excitedly on the sideline. "Now this is a matchup worth watching! I've got to take good notes!"
Shirasawa stopped at the top of the arc, his rhythm as steady as ever.
Kaede Rukawa spread his arms, his entire body taut. Last time, right here, Shirasawa had fooled him with a simple jab step, costing him the championship.
He absolutely couldn't let it happen again!
Suddenly, Shirasawa moved!
His right foot shot forward, his weight shifting right with it as he brought the ball up.
Kaede Rukawa's gaze sharpened, taking in every detail-it was the right!
The two moved right almost simultaneously, and Kaede Rukawa looked about to cut him off.
But just then, Shirasawa changed his footwork!
On the move, his legs rapidly crossed and switched, while his ball hand abruptly changed direction. With a flick of his wrist, the ball bounced behind his back with a smack, rising on the other side.
The entire move flowed seamlessly.
Kaede Rukawa couldn't react at all. He could only watch as Shirasawa blew clean past him with a crisp behind-the-back dribble.
Even Shirasawa was delighted. This ball handling really felt fantastic, like discovering a whole new world. He almost wanted to back up and beat him again.
"Xiao Bai's dribbling was this good?!"
Exclamations rose from Shohoku's bench. This really was their first time seeing Shirasawa display this kind of dribble move. Usually, he either passed straight away or, only when there were no options, forced his way through with speed and strength.
So all along, he'd just thought there was no need...
Coach Anzai adjusted his glasses in considerable surprise as well. He had known Shirasawa was holding something back, but seeing it with his own eyes still felt different.
"Ho ho ho... What a lovely move."
After he beat Kaede Rukawa, Koshino immediately rushed over to help.
On the other side, Miyagi briefly came open and held out his hands for the ball at the forty-five-degree angle.
Shirasawa's gaze instantly locked onto Miyagi. Before Koshino could reach him, he jumped straight up, looking for all the world like he was about to pass to Miyagi.
Under the basket, Uozumi hesitated for only an instant before decisively leaving Akagi and lunging out a huge step to intercept the pass.
But the very next moment, Uozumi's expression changed!
Still airborne, Shirasawa kept his eyes on Miyagi, but abruptly twisted his wrist.
Whoosh!
The ball flew straight into the arms of the completely unguarded Akagi.
"Great pass!" Ayako sprang to her feet in excitement. These unpredictable passes of Shirasawa's were getting her fired up more and more easily. Sometimes, an exquisite assist was more exciting than scoring.
Takenori Akagi let out a low roar, swung his arms, and slammed the ball through the hoop!
The thunderous crash drowned out the noise throughout the gym.
Uozumi was filled with frustration. If only he hadn't rushed out just now... But could he have left Miyagi that wide open?
Ultimately, Shirasawa's acting had simply been too convincing. He was like a professional con artist...
If Sakuragi had been on the opposing team, he would surely have jumped up and shouted, "Underhanded!"
After landing, Akagi cast Uozumi a mocking glance. That dunk had given him complete psychological superiority.
Uozumi suppressed his anger, his face growing even fiercer. He strode up to Sendoh and practically spoke through gritted teeth. "Sendoh, have you watched enough? How much longer are you going to let Shohoku act so cocky?"
Only when he saw the veins bulging on his captain did Sendoh smile in surrender. "Rukawa's handling things, isn't he... And I've kept that redhead occupied too. Look, he hasn't even touched the ball."
Uozumi closed his eyes in dismay, utterly speechless...
"You... get moving," he could only order at last. "Offense or defense, at least take responsibility for one."
Without waiting for Sendoh to answer, Uozumi turned and ran upcourt to join the offense. This was clearly an order, not a discussion.
Sendoh smiled helplessly. He did respect this captain. He had seen all the sweat and effort Uozumi had poured into basketball. Someone like that deserved the admiration of a guy like him who got by on talent.
His gaze wandered casually and caught sight of number eleven's somewhat desolate back.
Sendoh sighed softly.
This was what happened when you cared too much and wanted to win too badly.
Yes, in almost the same spot, Kaede Rukawa had been beaten by Shirasawa again.
Just as easily, just as completely...
And Shirasawa had once again passed up a golden opportunity to attack, choosing to pass instead.
"I beat you without even taking a shot."
Those words ran through Kaede Rukawa's mind again.
His gaze grew colder, then darkened further.
Then this time, I'll force you to shoot!
6-4.
The score remained tight at the start.
On Ryonan's offensive possession, Shirasawa wanted to switch defensive assignments with Kogure and guard Kaede Rukawa himself.
But Kogure refused. His reasoning was practical: they couldn't wear Shirasawa out on both ends of the court.
If Shirasawa ran out of stamina, all of Shohoku would drop a level. That wasn't worth it.
He thumped his chest and promised to do everything he could to stop Kaede Rukawa. Even if he got beaten, Akagi was behind him to help!
Kogure was a good guy and fought hard, but unfortunately, reality wasn't very accommodating.
In the blink of an eye, Kaede Rukawa powered past him for another basket, tying the score.
Four-Eyes adjusted his glasses, looking miserable.
The two teams settled into a tug-of-war.
Shirasawa continued orchestrating the offense, but Sendoh finally got moving and began applying pressure on defense.
With him involved, Ryonan's defense immediately grew considerably tougher.
Shohoku gradually lost the ability to run fast breaks, and openings became increasingly scarce.
Shirasawa could no longer dish out assists easily. He had to shake his defender off the dribble first to create an opening.
For Ryonan, meanwhile, Kaede Rukawa was essentially carrying the team alone.
He kept attacking Shohoku's defense.
He had long since torn Kogure apart, and even Akagi wasn't faring much better, having to watch both Uozumi and Kaede Rukawa at once.
Sakuragi, meanwhile, kept getting led around by Sendoh. He hadn't contributed a thing so far and looked utterly listless.
Several possessions later, the score stood at 17-15, with Shohoku still two points ahead.
That situation alone was surprising enough.
Last year's bottom-ranked team was actually going toe-to-toe with a final-four team. Who would believe it without seeing it?
These eight minutes were practically a replay of the junior high final.
Tomigaoka's Kaede Rukawa against Yokota's Shirasawa!
One attacked without restraint; the other organized everything with methodical precision.
On the surface, they looked evenly matched, but those who understood basketball already knew the score.
On Ryonan's offense, everyone except Kaede Rukawa had pitifully little involvement.
Shohoku, on the other hand, was firing on all cylinders.
One man taking on an entire team looked impressive, but the expenditure was one against five.
By now, Kaede Rukawa was breathing heavily, his hair soaked with sweat.
Shohoku, in contrast, hadn't expended much energy aside from Kogure getting destroyed. Everyone was fired up and fully in the game.
It was effectively trading Kogure for Kaede Rukawa.
That deal was an absolute steal.
Ryonan attacked again.
Kaede Rukawa strung together several fakes outside the three-point line, then spun past Kogure.
Just as he was about to take off, something checked the ball in his hands.
Miyagi had slipped over without him noticing!
Seeing what was happening, Kaede Rukawa loosened his grip, and Miyagi poked the ball out of bounds.
The referee's whistle blew.
"Ryonan requests a substitution."
"Number five in, number eleven out."
"Kaede Rukawa's coming off? He's their leading scorer."
"Can't help it. He's too much of a ball hog. Nobody else gets a touch. Look how few times Captain Uozumi's had the ball."
"We're still two points behind with him playing like this. He ought to cool down. Ah, rookies."
"Ikegami's back! Now this is last year's Ryonan team!"
Coach Taoka's substitution sparked plenty of discussion, but most people approved.
Whether they hadn't gelled yet or something else was going on, Kaede Rukawa looked like a third team out there, concerned only with playing on his own.
If this continued, there wasn't much point in Ryonan having him; making him the sixth man, though, felt a bit wasteful.
The old Ryonan was still better to watch!
Moichi Taoka paid no attention to these comments.
Team chemistry wasn't the problem at all.
They only needed Sendoh to "come alive"... But the guy simply couldn't get motivated for a practice game!