The three men led by Shinichi Maki pounced on the ball with reckless abandon, and Shirasawa, caught off guard and momentarily flustered, was caught off guard and the ball was poked out by Shinichi Maki!
Nobunaga Kiyota picked up the ball and was about to rush forward, but Shirasawa reacted even faster, pounced back like a shadow in an instant, and with a steady and ruthless strike, "snap" the ball away again!
The ball rolled to Tadashi Muto's hands, and Shirasawa immediately covered him with a sidestep. Shinichi Maki quickly came over to catch it, while Kiyota cleverly moved his body to block Miyagi, who wanted to help.
In just two or three seconds, the frontcourt was in complete chaos! In the end, Shinichi Maki managed to hold onto the ball firmly.
Shirasawa and his teammates had retreated to defense, preventing Kainan from launching a quick attack. The chaotic and nerve-wracking battle finally subsided, and Kainan switched to positional offense.
At this point, there were two minutes left in the first half.
The score is tied at 44.
When Takenori Akagi left the court, Shohoku was still leading by two points. If it weren't for that sudden triple-team, Shirasawa would have had a chance to close the gap. Just maintaining the situation was already difficult enough.
Shohoku's defense didn't actually put much pressure on Kainan. It was all thanks to Shirasawa who single-handedly carried the team on offense, using his scoring to keep them going.
Now, Kainan has finally seized the opportunity to break the balance.
In Riki Takato's view, as long as this attack succeeds, the balance will be tipped, and even if Shirasawa is capable, he will find it difficult to turn the tide. He is determined to win this attack.
Shinichi Maki dribbled the ball in front of Shirasawa, feinting left and right, his changes of direction dazzling.
But Shirasawa knew perfectly well: this was all a feint, a diversionary tactic; in the end, wouldn't they still have to bury their heads and force their way in?
As expected, Shinichi Maki did not "disappoint" him. Maki's body sank, his muscles tensed, and he charged straight in like a small tank! At the same time, Tadashi Muto stepped up in time, providing solid cover and stopping Shirasawa solidly.
In that brief moment of delay, Shinichi Maki had already accelerated. Ryota Miyagi, who had switched onto the defense, couldn't stop him at all. He was easily outmaneuvered and could only watch helplessly as Shinichi Maki charged into the paint!
Miyagi stumbled from the impact, and Shinichi Maki took advantage of the momentum to start a layup!
The last two lines of defense under the basket, Hanamichi Sakuragi and Kiminobu Kogure, jumped up simultaneously to block! Kogure jumped without hesitation, even knowing it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, he still gave it his all.
Just as Sakuragi was about to jump with all his might, Takenori Akagi's roar suddenly rang in his mind.
Idiot! Use your eyes to look! Stop jumping around like that!
" Gorilla..." Sakuragi's eyes flashed, and he forcefully withdrew his power, only symbolically tiptoeing and reaching out to interfere slightly.
In a flash, Shinichi Maki's lips curled into a slight smile. He had successfully drawn the defense's attention! With a flick of his wrist, he pulled the ball back from its release and deftly sent it out from the right side.
On the other side, Nobunaga Kiyota a ghostly cut to the basket, received the ball, took a step, and elegantly made a reverse layup!
Riki Takato, standing on the sidelines, already had a triumphant smile on his face.
The outcome is decided!
However!
The next second, his smile froze completely.
Before Shinichi Maki's eyes, Hanamichi Sakuragi, who had only been feinting, suddenly lowered his body and then bounced back up with all his might like a spring!
This change took Maki completely by surprise. Sakuragi had always been the one most easily fooled, but this time he'd actually been tricked?
Just as Nobunaga Kiyota's elegant reverse layup was released, and the ball had barely left his hand, a bright red color suddenly flashed before his eyes!
Smack!
Sakuragi, despite being behind, arrived first and slapped the ball away with a powerful blow!
The Shohoku bench erupted in cheers; everyone jumped up! "Well done, Sakuragi!"
Kogure on the field excitedly raised his hand, but the ball that had been swatted away landed squarely in the hands of Jin on the outside.
Jin received the ball and took a step to the side. Tadashi Muto reappeared, blocking Hisashi Mitsui's pursuit like a wall. Everything seemed to be within Kainan's calculations.
Jin calmly jumped and launched a three-pointer!
This time, Shirasawa arrived just in time!
He leaped into the air two steps away, stretching his arms forward with all his might. Jin is tall and has long arms, plus a standard jump shot with a high release point. Although not as exaggerated as a fadeaway, it is still extremely difficult to block.
Shirasawa was so far away, making it even more difficult to reach him.
Riki Takato stared intently at the basketball spinning in the air, but his heart sank once again.
Shirasawa's outstretched arm seemed to be springy, and his fingertips struck the bottom of the basketball perfectly!
That height was simply unbelievable, leaving even Jin, who had made the move, gaping in disbelief.
The basketball's trajectory changed abruptly after being poked, bouncing high towards the rim.
"Rebound!!" Kiminobu Kogure roared.
Under the basket, Kazuma Takasago tightly blocked Hanamichi Sakuragi, creating space for Shinichi Maki to grab a rebound. Sakuragi gritted his teeth, first feinting left and right to confuse Takasago's positioning, then forcefully squeezed in, managing to get one of Takasago's legs in, completing the switch and putting Takasago behind him!
Nobunaga Kiyota also rushed over, forming a pincer attack on Sakuragi with Takasago.
"Spread your arms and block them! The area under the basket is the battlefield; you can't afford to lose your position!"
Takenori Akagi's angry roar seemed to explode in Sakuragi's ears once again.
Hanamichi Sakuragi muttered under his breath, his eyes incredibly focused. "I am... the Rebound King!"
when!
The basketball bounced off the rim.
Hanamichi Sakuragi stretched out his arms, creating a barrier behind him like a gate! Takasago and Kiyota were blocked from pushing their way through!
"Ah--!!"
He yelled at the top of his lungs and leaped up!
Among those three people, he stood out and snatched the ball into his arms!
" Rebound King!!" The players on the Shohoku bench were practically in tears, shouting at the top of their lungs.
Even Coach Anzai clenched his fist and gently waved it.
A bead of cold sweat silently slid down Riki Takato's forehead.
What kind of monster is Sakuragi? Takasago's strength seems to be completely useless in front of him!
Sakuragi grabbed the rebound, and before even touching the ground, he swung his arm in mid-air and flung the ball out.
In Kainan, the field is so empty at this point that horses could run across it.
Shirasawa had already charged forward, Jin was chasing desperately from behind, but the distance between them only widened.
Shirasawa received the ball and drove straight to the basket. He stood up just outside the free-throw line, swung his arm in a wide arc, and delivered a powerful tomahawk dunk!
Clang!
The basketball hoop shook violently from the impact, but Shirasawa landed steadily.
No fancy moves, just this kind of powerful dunk – it's the most satisfying to watch!
46 to 44.
Shohoku has regained that two-point lead!
In this round, Sakuragi truly made a significant contribution.
He scored a block, grabbed a rebound, and dished out an assist – he did it all.
The entire audience erupted in thunderous cheers for him.
But how could Kainan let Shohoku continue to be so smug?
Before the Shohoku Team even had a chance to praise Sakuragi, Jin had already passed the ball almost to midcourt!
They were determined to seize this opportunity to attack.
Shinichi Maki didn't linger with Shirasawa any longer and immediately passed the ball to Kiyota.
Kiyota charged forward with the ball, taking on Miyagi one-on-one, while Shinichi Maki circled around two off-ball screens, finally managing to shake off Shirasawa temporarily.
Seeing that Shinichi Maki Kiyota passed the ball to him without hesitation.
At this moment, Shinichi Maki received the ball at a 45-degree angle on the left side, with no one around him for the time being, while Hanamichi Sakuragi was standing under the basket.
Normally, he could shoot a mid-range shot or a floater with a dribble.
But Shinichi Maki refused to do that.
He has a habit when playing basketball: he emphasizes "steadiness".
The key to stability is getting closer to the basket; the better your chances of success.
In addition, Shinichi Maki's monstrous physique meant that most of his points came from driving to the basket.
This time is no exception!
Shinichi Maki took two big steps and jumped, his target clear: Sakuragi under the basket.
This shot was exactly the same as the one Akagi had taken when he was on the court.
However, the defender was changed from Akagi to Sakuragi.
Sakuragi took a step forward and jumped with all his might to meet Shinichi Maki's charge head-on!
He looked like he was there for revenge, yelling, "I... I'm the King Kong's Little Brother under the basket!!"
These words instantly ignited the spirits of everyone in Shohoku. Number One had fallen; could Number Two avenge them?
In that instant, Kogure seemed to see a shadow of Akagi in Sakuragi.
" Sakuragi!!"
The shout had barely ended when
Bang!
Shinichi Maki crashed solidly into Sakuragi.
Sakuragi bared his teeth, his face contorted in pain, and yelled!
That body was as hard as iron at that moment; even if you were Maki the Emperor, you wouldn't be able to get past it easily!
Shinichi Maki also put in all his effort, and he really didn't expect that Sakuragi, whom he had easily knocked out of bounds before, could actually withstand him now.
Having failed to overpower the opponent, Shinichi Maki desperately tried to maintain his balance in the air, hoping to find an opportunity to attack by staying airborne.
But this time, he underestimated how long Sakuragi could stay in the air!
I'll stay with you no matter how long you fly!
Even Shinichi Maki himself couldn't hold on any longer and managed to throw the ball away with difficulty.
Hanamichi Sakuragi's arm, which had been raised high, slammed down with a whoosh!
Snap!!
A powerful block completely shut down the Maki the Emperor!
The entire stadium erupted in cheers and applause for the bloody block.
When Shinichi Maki jumped, his center of gravity was too low, and he staggered back several steps before regaining his balance after landing.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, on the other hand, slammed both feet onto the floor with a thud.
His jaw was still clenched tightly, and his eyes were like knives, filled with murderous intent!
The ball that had been swatted away had been retrieved by Miyagi, Shohoku immediately launched a fast break.
Hanamichi Sakuragi raised his arm with all his might, looking as if Akagi had possessed him, and roared to the sky!
At this moment, the Rebound King officially became the king of the paint, creating a no-fly zone for Shohoku!
Miyagi surged forward, driving to the frontcourt and scoring a layup.
48 to 44.
It was Shohoku that broke the balance!
" Sakuragi -senpai!! Sakuragi -senpai!!"
Hikoichi Aida, standing in the stands, shouted excitedly towards the stadium.
Ever since he first saw Sakuragi dunk at the Shohoku Gymnasium, he recognized Sakuragi as a senior, and an exceptionally strong one at that.
Of course, Hikoichi Aida wasn't really stupid. After watching the practice match between the two teams, he understood Sakuragi's true level at that time.