Imamura jumped over Takasago and secured the rebound. Takezato immediately switched from defense to offense, Imamura threw the ball with both hands, quickly passing it to Yo Aoki.
Yo Aoki received the ball and immediately launched a fast break. Kiyota had already run in front of him to defend. But Yo Aoki paused while dribbling, and Kiyota was taken aback. He suddenly lowered his center of gravity and accelerated again, using a change of rhythm to get past Kiyota.
Kiyota exclaimed in shock, "What!"
Yo Aoki rushed to the Kainan penalty area in an instant, leaped into the air, stretched his arms, and leaned back, preparing to dunk. But suddenly someone next to him stepped on the ground with his left foot and leaped up; it was Shinichi Maki who had arrived.
Shinichi Maki used a volleyball spike to block the ball from Yo Aoki's hand. But his hand touched the ball, which Yo Aoki still held firmly in his grasp!
Coach Takato shouted, "Good shot!" but his excitement lasted only two seconds before he froze.
Coach Takato screamed, "Impossible!"
Yo Aoki swung his arm with all his might and slammed the ball toward the basket. "Thump!" The ball smashed into the basket like an axe!
The score became 39-51, with Takezato extending their lead to 12 points!
The sidelines erupted instantly. "Wow--!"
Someone shouted, "He dunked over Maki!"
Some even said, "The next king of Kanagawa might just be Yo Aoki!"
Ryo Aoki danced with excitement, shouting, "Big brother is so cool! I want to play basketball too!"
Mamoru Aoki reached out and tapped him on the head. " Ryo! Behave yourself!"
Asatani laughed and said, " Shinichi Maki is Kanagawa's No. 1. Aoki scoring against him is something to brag about for a year!"
Ryo Aoki's eyes widened. "Really? Then Big Brother is No. 1 now?"
Asatani waved his hand. "Don't be silly, one ball doesn't prove anything!"
Looking at the cheering crowd around him, Ryo Aoki felt a surge of urge, "If only I had played basketball! So many girls here call me 'Big Brother,' it's so awesome!"
In this preliminary final, Shohoku and Ryonan gave Kainan a lot of trouble, but neither of them could solve the same problem—how to defend against Shinichi Maki.
Shohoku used a four-man double-team with Akagi, Kaede Rukawa, Mitsui, and Miyagi. Coach Anzai's strategy, to put it bluntly, was reckless, and its success was purely due to luck. Ryonan's Coach Taoka arranged for Sendoh and Shinichi Maki to have a one-on-one match, but both of them dominated and failed to solve the problem.
Shinichi Maki possesses immense power and a lightning-fast first step, surpassing even his opponents, including Sendoh, giving him a significant advantage. However, Yo Aoki now also relies on power in his game, potentially even more so than Shinichi Maki. Could Takezato utilize this to break the deadlock?
Shinichi Maki kept his head down and didn't speak. His fans were whispering: Is the King about to lose? But suddenly he looked up, neither disappointed nor angry, just smiled, "Interesting. Yesterday it was Sendoh, today it's Aoki. In my final year of high school, there are quite a few people who can excite me!"
Kainan launched an attack. Shinichi Maki dribbled forward and stepped out with his right foot. Yo Aoki immediately shifted his weight to the left and closed in on him.
But before his right foot even touched the ground, Shinichi Maki slid backward, stepped forward with his left foot, and quickly crossed his legs, instantly changing his breakthrough route from right to left.
"Is that a scissor step?" Yo Aoki realized he had been tricked and immediately shifted his weight to the right, but it was too late. Shinichi Maki had already shaken him off and plunged into the paint.
Upon seeing this, Mizuki and Hojo immediately rushed forward to surround Shinichi Maki.
Just then, Shinichi Maki suddenly stopped, gripped the ball with both hands, and swung it down, making a low pass that went directly into the paint.
Hojo had just turned around when he saw Kiyota had already cut in.
Kiyota caught the ball and suddenly leaped up to slam it against the rim.
41 to 51!
After dunking, Kiyota gripped the ball and roared, "At a time like this, let them see the true power of a champion!"
Next, it was Takezato's turn to attack, with Hojo leading the advance.
Yo Aoki immediately blocked Shinichi Maki and reached out for the ball.
Hojo passed the ball without much thought, but it was intercepted by Kiyota as soon as he released it.
Shinichi Maki immediately shook off Yo Aoki and rushed forward.
Kiyota got the ball and immediately passed it straight to Hojo Shinichi Maki, who jumped up to block it.
"Don't foul!" Yo Aoki shouted from behind.
But Shinichi Maki's strength was too great, and Hojo still instinctively raised his hand.
With a "smack," Hojo's hand brushed against Shinichi Maki's arm.
That little bit of strength couldn't even budge Shinichi Maki; his arm didn't move an inch, and he easily tossed the ball into the net.
"Goal! Goal counts! Red team's number 8 committed a foul, extra penalty!"
"It's finally here! Maki draws a foul and goes for a layup!"
" Kainan is about to catch up!"
44 to 51!
Offense and defense switch, Takezato launches an attack!
As Hojo dribbled, Shinichi Maki suddenly dropped Yo Aoki's defense and teamed up with Kiyota to surround Hojo.
As expected, Shinichi Maki caught Hojo's ball.
Yo Aoki quickly ran to Shinichi Maki's side to keep an eye on him.
But Shinichi Maki grinned, flicked his wrist, and tossed the ball sideways.
The ball was passed directly to Soichiro Jin, who had run into position.
Soichiro Jin received the ball two steps away from the three-point line, but he jumped without hesitation.
It's an extremely long-range shot!
"Swish!" Another swivel into the net!
47 to 51!
Nakamura gasped, "They're down to just 4 points in the blink of an eye!"
Nakamura continued, " Kainan's offensive speed has increased."
Yayoi Aida nodded. "Yes, the Kainan Team played with great discipline!"
Nakamura asked in confusion, "Is there a method to it?"
Yayoi Aida explained, "From the second half onwards, Takezato's defensive intensity noticeably increased. Kainan Team used this fast counter-attacking method to disrupt the rhythm and also wear down Takezato's players' stamina."
Yayoi Aida pointed at Hojo and the others. "Look, the Takezato players are already a bit tired!"
Seeing the aggressive approach of the Kainan Team, Yo Aoki shouted to the other Takezato Team, "Don't rush, let's win this ball first!"
Yo Aoki takes the ball from Hojo and resumes his position as point guard.
Coach Akai said nervously, "This shot is crucial, we have to score!"
Yo Aoki brought the ball to the frontcourt, but instead of rushing in blindly, he first slowed down the pace of the game.
Takezato currently leading by 4 points, and the longer the game drags on, the better it will be for them!
Shinichi Maki was still defending Yo Aoki, standing a step away in a defensive stance.
Yo Aoki could have just shot directly; Shinichi Maki couldn't have blocked him from that position.
However, Yo Aoki didn't choose a long-range shot.
"Now we need to score using the most reliable method."
Yo Aoki looked up and raised his chin at Imamura, indicating that he was going to set a screen.
Uozumi muttered, " Takezato still planning to use cover and coordination?"
Coach Taoka analyzed, "This is their most effective tactic; it's much more reliable than driving to the basket or long-range shooting in situations like this."
Imamura stood at the three-point line, ready to block people.
Yo Aoki dribbled the ball with his left hand and charged towards Imamura, but Shinichi Maki didn't close in to block his shot.
He preemptively used his back to push Imamura aside, forcefully separating Imamura from Yo Aoki, preventing Imamura from blocking anyone—this was actually the blocking move that Yo Aoki had mentioned before.
Coach Taoka sighed, " The Kainan Team has figured out Takezato's tactics perfectly; Riki Takato is truly remarkable."
On the bench Takezato Buri, Shindo stared wide-eyed. "How did Kainan know how to break the pick-and-roll?"
Akiyama muttered to himself, "Could it be that someone on our team...?"
Coach Akai waved his hand to interrupt, "Don't overthink it. With Kainan's strength, finding a solution won't be difficult."
On the court, Yo Aoki had reached Imamura's side, switched the ball from his left hand to his right hand through his legs, and prepared to continue his breakthrough to the right.
Imamura Shinichi Maki behind, waiting for Yo Aoki to break through.
However, instead of making a strong drive with his right hand, Yo Aoki made a low pass, switched back to his left hand to dribble, and directly changed direction to get past his opponent!
This move was actually Shinichi Maki's dribbling technique.
Even Shinichi Maki was stunned; no one expected Yo Aoki to use this move.
Yo Aoki successfully left Shinichi Maki behind.
Kiyota was taken aback by what he saw and quickly came over to help defend. Yo Aoki passed the ball between his legs and directly to Hojo, who was cutting inside to the basket.
With no one marking Hojo easily scores a layup!
47 to 53!
Yo Aoki grinned. "My most reliable way to score is, of course, by driving to the basket!"
Nakamura gasped, " Yo Aoki's reaction was incredibly fast, considering they'd already broken through Takezato's cover tactics in Kainan!"
Yayoi Aida countered, "No, that must have been planned in advance. It's unlikely that such a difficult dribbling technique could be executed subconsciously!"
Yamaki was so shocked he couldn't speak, "If that's the case, then it's even more terrifying!"
Shinichi Maki raised an eyebrow and smiled, tapping his palm with his fingertips. He said, "You really are a freak! I just demonstrated a move once, and you've already learned it?"
Kiyota tugged at his jersey collar, glared at him, and shouted, "It must have been pure luck!"
Unfortunately, neither of them guessed correctly; Yo Aoki was already intimately familiar with this extraordinary tactic.
Shinichi Maki Yo Aoki's move is the signature move of former NBA star Tim Hardaway. Aoki Yo, being a time traveler, must have heard of this name.
Kiyota shoved the ball into Shinichi Maki's arms, and Kainan Team's offensive horn immediately sounded.
Takezato Team maintained their 1-3-1 zone defensive formation.
But then the Kainan Team made a big move! Takasago actually drifted to the outside, intending to set a screen for Shinichi Maki!
Hikoichi Aida the top of his lungs, " Kainan's using cover tactics too!"
Coach Taoka remained completely unfazed, smiling as he said, "Since we've already used them, why shouldn't the Kainan Team?"
Yo Aoki glanced at Takasago's position and scoffed, "Pick and roll may look simple, but it's not something you can master in a few days."
While Takasago was running towards the outside, Shinichi Maki kept staring at Yo Aoki's face, wanting to see how Yo Aoki would react when his move was broken.
Unfortunately, Yo Aoki just gave a dismissive laugh and didn't take it seriously at all.
Yo Aoki spoke up, "You think we'd be unprepared?"
Just as Takasago was about to step forward to shield Shinichi Maki Shin, Yo Aoki stretched out his foot and blocked him from behind.
Shinichi Maki still chose to force his way through, but this time Yo Aoki had figured out his rhythm perfectly.
The pick-and-roll needs to be executed in a coordinated manner. In Kainan's case, it was just a simple high-post screen, with no intention of actually rolling over the screen.
Imamura didn't follow Takasago to the outside. When he saw Shinichi Maki Takasago driving hard, he immediately went up to double-team him with Yo Aoki.
Seeing no opportunity to break through, Shinichi Maki had no choice but to pass the ball to Soichiro Jin.
As soon as Soichiro Jin received the ball, he was immediately surrounded and Sanada marked by Sanada.
Soichiro Jin swayed left and right, but couldn't shake off Sanada. He had no choice but to pass the Takasago, who was still on the outside.
Takasago has absolutely no outside shooting ability; all he can do is hold the ball and prepare to pass it out.
Having just passed the ball, Soichiro Jin ran towards Takasago again. Takasago immediately passed the ball back and blocked someone for Soichiro Jin.
Sanada wasn't nearly Yo Aoki, Takasago easily shielded him behind her.
Taking advantage of the opening created by Takasago's block, Soichiro Jin temporarily shook off Sanada and immediately jumped to shoot!
Three-pointer! The score is now 50-53! There are only 3 seconds left on the shot clock. If Takezato can hold on a little longer, he can force Kainan to commit a 30-second violation.
"What a pity!" A sigh of disappointment rippled through the Takezato substitutes' bench.
"This is difficult! Our defense has reached its limit, but we still can't stop Kainan from scoring!" Coach Akai said, frowning.
"Then we have no hope?" Shirota asked with a worried look.
Coach Akai glared and shouted, "Of course we have a chance! Because we have Yo Aoki!"