Recaps

Sannoh’s plan to wear down Shirasawa brought the score level, while Mikio Kawata repeatedly attacked Shohoku’s paint. Sakuragi finally stopped Mikio with a crucial block, and Shirasawa turned it into a fast-break dunk that gave Shohoku a thrilling response.

• Shirasawa scored a twisting Jelly Layup despite Mikio’s screen and Masashi’s attempted block.
• Sannoh fed Mikio in the paint, and his scoring cut Shohoku’s lead to three points while draining Shirasawa’s stamina.
• Sakuragi stood his ground against Mikio’s repeated post-ups as Akagi and the Shohoku players trusted him to defend alone.
• Sakuragi secretly tugged Mikio’s jersey during his turn, then blocked his hook shot as Mikio rose.
• Shirasawa seized the loose ball and sprinted downcourt for a two-handed dunk, leaving Mikio glaring angrily at Sakuragi.

Sakuragi baited Mikio into a technical foul, and Shirasawa’s free throws restored Shohoku’s seven-point lead before Masashi Kawata scored against Akagi. With five minutes left in the first half, Coach Anzai called a timeout and began a risky formation change, leaving Shohoku poised to shift its attack to the perimeter.

• Sakuragi provoked Mikio into shoving him, earning Mikio a technical foul and Shohoku two technical-foul free throws.
• Shirasawa made both free throws, restoring Shohoku’s lead to seven points, before Masashi Kawata scored a mid-range jumper over Akagi.
• Coach Anzai called Shohoku’s first timeout with five minutes remaining in the first half, surprising both teams and Moichi Taoka.
• Coach Anzai told Akagi to rest and explained that the substitution was part of a planned formation change, not a judgment of Akagi’s performance.
• Coach Anzai sent Kogure in for Akagi and instructed Kogure, Shirasawa, and Mitsui to shoot open threes while Miyagi used his speed to set screens and cut inside.

Coach Anzai sent Shohoku into a fast small lineup, with Shirasawa and Sakuragi anchoring the offense and defense. The lineup scored through Miyagi and forced Sannoh into a five-second inbound violation, leaving Akagi convinced the strategy was working.

• Anzai instructed Shohoku to play at high speed, defend man-to-man across the court, and rely on Sakuragi inside while Shirasawa guarded Sawakita.
• Akagi left the court, and Shohoku began its small-lineup offense with 4:51 remaining in the first half and a five-point lead.
• Miyagi used a screen and cut past Masashi Kawata to receive Shirasawa's pass and score an easy layup.
• Shohoku pressed Sannoh full court, and Shirasawa stayed tight to Sawakita as Mikio struggled to find an inbound pass.
• Sakuragi's Hmph Hmph Defense overwhelmed Mikio, who failed to inbound in time and gave Sannoh a five-second violation.
• Akagi told Anzai that Shohoku's strategy was working.

Kiminobu Kogure hit a crucial three-pointer and then helped Shohoku's full-court press force a turnover, extending their lead over Sannoh to ten. After Mitsui carried the ball into transition, the two teams' aces battled off the ball as Sakuragi raced downcourt.

• Ryota Miyagi beat Masashi Kawata off the dribble and passed to Shirasawa, who fed Kogure for a three-pointer that made the score 49-39.
• Goro Domoto kept Sannoh in the game and adjusted its defense, while Shohoku launched a full-court man-to-man press.
• Kogure and Hisashi Mitsui trapped Kazunari Fukatsu, and Kogure dived for the ball to intercept it before passing to Mitsui.
• Mitsui advanced the ball and passed to Miyagi as Shohoku turned defense into offense.
• Shirasawa and Sawakita fought to deny each other the ball while Sakuragi raced past half court.

Miyagi, Shirasawa, and Mitsui completed a fast-moving play that gave Shohoku a 13-point lead, forcing Goro Domoto to call a timeout and adjust Sannoh’s lineup. After play resumed, Sawakita moved to point guard and met Shirasawa at midcourt as Sannoh began targeting Shohoku’s small lineup.

• Miyagi threw the ball off the backboard under pressure, and Shirasawa redirected it to Mitsui for a three-pointer that stretched Shohoku’s lead to 13.
• Goro Domoto called a timeout after Shohoku’s 8-0 run, while Akagi praised Kogure and Sakuragi for their efforts.
• Domoto moved Fukatsu to Sawakita’s position and substituted Minoru Matsumoto for Ichinokura, planning to attack Shohoku’s interior defense.
• Sawakita returned to the court as Sannoh’s point guard and advanced toward Shirasawa, who confronted him at midcourt.
• Sawakita drove past Shirasawa’s pressure as Sannoh began its attempt to break down Shohoku’s small lineup before unleashing his full scoring ability.

Hanamichi Sakuragi used a hard foul to buy time while guarding Masashi Kawata, then recovered quickly enough to contest Kawata’s shot and strip Mikio Kawata’s rebound. With Sannoh’s final possession of the half still unfolding, the ball came loose beneath the basket.

• Eiji Sawakita passed to Masashi Kawata, but Hanamichi Sakuragi left Mikio Kawata to collide with Big Kawata and stop his drive.
• Shohoku extended its lead to 13 points as its defense held Sannoh scoreless during an 8-0 run.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi hugged Masashi Kawata to draw an ordinary foul and gain a few seconds to recover.
• After Mikio Kawata inbounded to Masashi with four seconds on the shot clock, Sakuragi blocked Kawata’s jump shot with his fingertips.
• Sakuragi rushed to the basket and knocked the rebound out of Mikio’s hands.

Shohoku extended its lead over Sannoh with Sakuragi’s rebound and long pass setting up Shirasawa’s acrobatic basket, then finished the first half ahead 61-50. At halftime, both teams faced the strain of the coming final twenty minutes, and Akagi worried about Sakuragi’s silence.

• Sakuragi grabbed a rebound between the Kawata brothers and launched a long pass to Shirasawa, who caught the rebound and scored with a one-handed hook shot over Sawakita.
• Shohoku’s lead grew to fifteen points before Masashi Kawata ended its 10-0 run, and Coach Anzai rested Sakuragi for the final two minutes of the half.
• Shirasawa and Sawakita traded baskets as Shohoku managed the clock, and the half ended with Shohoku leading 61-50.
• Moichi Taoka told Ryonan’s players that Sannoh’s strength was difficult to measure and said Shohoku looked closest to the national championship.
• Coach Anzai urged his exhausted players to hold on for twenty more minutes, while Akagi asked about the silent Sakuragi.

Shohoku began the second half with Shirasawa attacking Sannoh’s defense while Akagi and Sakuragi tried to contain Masashi Kawata. After Shirasawa’s unexpected long-range three restored a double-digit lead, Eiji Sawakita took control of Sannoh’s offense and scored, setting up a direct showdown with Shirasawa.

• Anzai told Shirasawa to attack freely, and Sakuragi won the opening jump ball to give Shohoku possession.
• Shirasawa drove past Sawakita and scored Shohoku’s first points of the second half, while Masashi Kawata answered with a step-back jumper.
• Shirasawa and Masashi Kawata traded attacks as Akagi learned to hold his ground against Kawata, and Sannoh narrowed the gap to seven with Kawata’s three-pointer.
• With Shohoku under pressure, Shirasawa unexpectedly hit a long-range three over Sawakita and restored a double-digit lead.
• Sawakita took control of Sannoh’s offense, drove against Shirasawa, and scored a hook shot to cut Shohoku’s lead to eight.

Shirasawa and Sawakita traded scores as Shohoku held its lead, until Shirasawa dunked over Mikio Kawata and sent him crashing to the floor. During the timeout, Sawakita volunteered to take over, and both teams returned to the court ready for the final ten minutes.

• Shirasawa and Sawakita answered each other's baskets while Shohoku maintained an eight-point lead.
• Shirasawa stole the ball from Sawakita, and Sakuragi grabbed the rebound after Sawakita's missed fadeaway.
• Shirasawa faked a pass, drove past Sawakita and Matsumoto, then dunked over Mikio Kawata and knocked him down.
• Masashi Kawata praised Mikio for standing his ground, while Domoto called a timeout with Shohoku leading by twelve.
• Sawakita told Domoto to leave the rest of the game to him, and Domoto tossed aside the tactics board as Sannoh's ultimate trump card.
• Anzai rallied Shohoku to fight for the championship, and both teams returned to the court for the final ten minutes.

Shohoku and Sannoh battled through the final minutes as Sannoh’s defense trapped Shirasawa and cut Shohoku’s lead, forcing Coach Anzai to call a timeout. Shirasawa told his teammates his task was done, and Shohoku returned with renewed energy, but Akagi missed a contested shot and Sakuragi collided with Masashi Kawata while chasing the rebound.

• Sakuragi and Akagi fought for position under the basket as Shirasawa’s shot bounced high, then Shirasawa’s shot dropped through the net.
• Shirasawa and Eiji Sawakita traded baskets until Goro Domoto ordered Fukatsu and Sawakita to trap Shirasawa with Sannoh’s other defenders.
• Sannoh’s pressure stalled Shohoku’s offense, and Masashi Kawata hit a three-pointer to bring the score to 86-81 with 4:59 left.
• Coach Anzai called a timeout, and Shirasawa told Shohoku that he had carried the game into the final five minutes; Akagi urged his teammates to give everything they had.
• Mitsui and Miyagi screened for Shirasawa, who passed inside to Akagi, but Mikio Kawata disrupted Akagi’s shot and the ball bounced away as Sakuragi collided with Masashi Kawata.

Shohoku and Sannoh traded baskets in the final minutes as Sakuragi made a crucial rebound and Shirasawa restored Shohoku’s lead. Sakuragi then collapsed after playing through severe lower-back pain, leaving his condition uncertain as Akagi helped him off the court.

• Shirasawa scored a layup to give Shohoku a six-point lead, but Sawakita answered with a two-plus-one that brought Sannoh within three.
• Sannoh pressed full court, but Sakuragi caught Akagi’s high inbound pass after colliding with Big Kawata and sent the ball to Miyagi.
• Miyagi and Shirasawa broke forward, and Shirasawa scored against Sawakita to make the score 90-85 for Shohoku.
• Coach Anzai noticed Sakuragi was hiding lower-back pain, but he could not call a timeout while Sannoh had possession.
• Sakuragi fought through the pain to grab a rebound, was called for traveling, and fell to the floor.
• Akagi helped Sakuragi off the court during the timeout, while Sakuragi insisted that he was fine.

Sakuragi fought to return after straining his back, and Shirasawa helped Shohoku protect its lead against Sannoh in the final minutes. With 18 seconds left and Shohoku ahead 94-89, Sannoh prepared a last attack centered on Sawakita.

• Anzai and the team doctor initially ruled Sakuragi out for the rest of the game, but Shirasawa argued for treating him so he could play the final two minutes.
• The doctor sprayed and bandaged Sakuragi's back, then allowed him to return as long as he avoided twisting it.
• Sannoh's Sawakita scored to make it 90-87, while Shirasawa answered with a putback dunk after Sawakita blocked Sakuragi's dunk attempt.
• Shirasawa blocked Sawakita's layup, but Masashi Kawata tipped in the rebound to cut Shohoku's lead to three points with 38 seconds remaining.
• Shirasawa scored a fadeaway jumper with 18 seconds left, putting Shohoku ahead 94-89.
• Domoto called a timeout and arranged a baseline play for Sawakita as both teams prepared for Sannoh's final attack.

Sawakita’s late three brought Sannoh within two, but Sakuragi drew a foul and made his second free throw to give Shohoku a three-point lead. Fukatsu missed a hurried shot, and after Shirasawa blocked Sawakita’s final three, Sawakita recovered the loose ball with one second left.

• Sawakita hit an ultra-long three to cut Shohoku’s lead to 94-92 with fourteen seconds remaining.
• Akagi inbounded to Sakuragi, who drew a foul while attempting a dunk and then made his second free throw.
• Fukatsu drove past Miyagi and missed a jump shot, while Kawata tipped the rebound toward Sawaki in the left corner.
• Shirasawa blocked Sawakita’s drifting three-point attempt with two seconds left.
• Sawakita scooped up the blocked ball with one second remaining.

Shohoku defeated Sannoh in the national championship after Shirasawa blocked Sawakita’s final shot, and the players celebrated and exchanged congratulations. At the awards ceremony, Akagi accepted the championship trophy while Fukatsu took the runner-up cup, and Sawakita challenged Shirasawa to play one-on-one.

• Shirasawa blocked Sawakita’s shot as the buzzer sounded, securing Shohoku’s victory over Sannoh.
• Akagi, Kogure, Miyagi, Mitsui, and the rest of Shohoku celebrated their national championship, while the crowd cheered Shirasawa’s 55-point performance.
• Domoto and the Sannoh players accepted their defeat, and the two teams thanked each other and exchanged congratulations.
• Sakuragi taunted Mikio Kawata, then acknowledged his ability and told him to improve, before arguing with Masashi Kawata about the play that had led to the final attack.
• Sawakita admitted defeat to Shirasawa and challenged him to a one-on-one game; Shirasawa agreed and invited him to join his company.
• Akagi accepted the championship trophy for Shohoku, and Fukatsu accepted the runner-up cup for Sannoh.

Shirasawa won the National Tournament MVP after Shohoku captured the championship, while Sakuragi and Miyagi also earned major individual honors. The team celebrated their victory, but Shirasawa, Sanae, Yayoi Aida, and Yoko Shimamura took Sakuragi to the hospital, where doctors found his injury was a severe strain requiring two to three weeks of rest.

• Hiroshi Morishige won the Rebound King and Block King awards, Hanamichi Sakuragi finished second in rebounding, and Ryota Miyagi claimed the steals title.
• Shirasawa won the scoring title, and the tournament named him, Eiji Sawakita, and Masashi Kawata to both all-tournament teams alongside other standout players.
• Shirasawa received the National Tournament MVP trophy as Shohoku celebrated its championship and posed for a team photograph.
• Shohoku completed media interviews before gathering for an evening victory banquet, while Coach Anzai recalled Goro Domoto's respect and request to learn from him.
• Sanae and Yayoi Aida took the injured Hanamichi Sakuragi to the hospital with Shirasawa and Yoko Shimamura, and doctors diagnosed a severe strain requiring two to three weeks of rest.

Shohoku returned to Kanagawa as national champions, and the team received new attention, opportunities, and acclaim. At the gym, Akagi, Kogure, and Mitsui declined to play in the Winter Selection Tournament, leaving Shohoku facing the end of its championship lineup.

• Shirasawa, Sanae, and Yayoi celebrated Shohoku's victory together at the hotel, and Sanae and Yayoi grew much closer afterward.
• Shohoku returned to school with the championship trophy, while Akagi's family celebrated his title and learned that the team might be invited to an international tournament.
• After Shohoku's championship drew national attention, Sakuragi rose to tenth in the player rankings and Shirasawa became the country's top-ranked high school player.
• Shohoku gathered to decide whether its third-years would play in the Winter Selection Tournament, and Akagi, Kogure, and Mitsui each declined.

Takenori Akagi named Ryota Miyagi Shohoku’s next captain, and Coach Anzai announced that Shohoku would compete in the Four Nations Youth Invitational Tournament. Meanwhile, Goro Domoto reconsidered Eiji Sawakita’s plans to go abroad, and the chapter ended as Shohoku learned about its formidable international opponents.

• Takenori Akagi appointed Ryota Miyagi captain and told Hanamichi Sakuragi he could earn the role later by protecting Shohoku’s paint.
• Coach Anzai announced that Shohoku would play in the Four Nations Youth Invitational Tournament beginning May 3.
• Goro Domoto learned Sannoh would not be invited, then decided to ask Eiji Sawakita to stay and help rebuild the team.
• Eiji Sawakita said he wanted to challenge Shirasawa one-on-one before deciding whether to go abroad, and Domoto agreed to accompany him to Shohoku.
• News of Shohoku’s invitation spread nationwide, and Ayako briefed the team on Kimchi Country and the powerful Chariot Country roster.
• Ayako presented information on Shohoku’s final opponent, Lighthouse Country.

Shohoku studied the powerful Lighthouse Country team ahead of the Four Nations Invitational, while Eiji Sawakita visited Shirasawa and challenged him to play. At the private court, Sawakita began a best-of-three one-on-one match with Shirasawa, and the first game was tied 2-2.

• Ayako briefed Shohoku on the three foreign teams, including Lighthouse Country’s star Alex and dominant center Robinson.
• Goro Domoto and Eiji Sawakita arrived at Shohoku, where Sawakita challenged Shirasawa to a one-on-one match after practice.
• Shirasawa took Sawakita to the agency’s private gym, where Sendoh, Rukawa, Michael Okita, and others had gathered.
• Shirasawa asked Michael to assess Sawakita’s readiness for Lighthouse Country, and Michael said Shirasawa would soon rank among that league’s best.
• Sawakita chose to challenge Shirasawa in a best-of-three match to 11 points, and the first game began with Sawakita scoring before Shirasawa tied it at 2-2.

After defeating Eiji Sawakita in one-on-one, Shirasawa persuaded him to postpone going to Lighthouse Country and join his team for a year; Akira Sendoh joined as well. The chapter ended with Shohoku opening the Four Nations Youth Invitational against Changwon High School.

• Shirasawa beat Sawakita in their second one-on-one game, and Sawakita accepted that he needed to improve before pursuing a career in Lighthouse Country.
• Sawakita joined Shirasawa's group after playing Michael, Kenji Fujima, Kaede Rukawa, and Akira Sendoh, then agreed to take a leave of absence and train near Base Camp.
• Sawakita and Sendoh both joined Shirasawa's team, which also included Rukawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi.
• Shohoku finished its week of intensive training and opened the Four Nations Youth Invitational against Changwon High School in front of a packed crowd.
• Ryota Miyagi led Shohoku's opening chant as the tournament's first game began.

Shohoku crushed Changwon in its first game of the four-country tournament, with Shirasawa shutting down Park Shuo-qi and the starters building a huge lead before the reserves finished the match. After Shohoku won by 39 points, the team stayed to watch Chariot Country face Lighthouse Country, where Sakuragi spotted a player he thought looked like a gorilla.

• Akagi won the opening tip, and Shirasawa set up Sakuragi for an alley-oop before Sakuragi was taken out to rest his injury.
• Miyagi and the Shohoku defense sparked fast breaks while Shirasawa held Park Shuo-qi scoreless and later drew a blocking foul while dunking over him.
• Shohoku led Changwon 58-16 fifteen minutes into the first half and held a 51-point advantage at halftime.
• Coach Anzai substituted Shohoku's starters early in the second half, Changwon replaced its starters as well, and Shohoku won by 39 points.
• Shohoku stayed to watch Chariot Country play Lighthouse Country, and Sakuragi called Lighthouse Country's number eighteen the king of gorillas.

Shohoku watched Chariot Country and Lighthouse Country's Cheetah Team begin their game, sizing up the towering Hoffmann and explosive Alex as future opponents. Hoffmann revealed that he could score from both mid-range and beyond the three-point line, leaving Sakuragi irritated by the resemblance to Masashi Kawata.

• Yasuda and the Shohoku players were stunned by Chariot Country's height, especially the 215-centimeter Hoffmann, whom Kogure identified as a challenge for their next game.
• Akagi hoped Sakuragi would rise to the challenge against Hoffmann, while Sakuragi focused on Robinson and joked that he looked too much like an ape to play basketball.
• Robinson won the opening tip, and Alex raced downcourt to score a powerful one-handed dunk for the Cheetah Team.
• Chariot Country slowed the game and fed Hoffmann, who created space for a mid-range turnaround jumper and made it.
• Alex answered with a three-pointer, and Hoffmann then hit a three of his own, shocking the Shohoku spectators.
• Sakuragi compared Hoffmann to Masashi Kawata, complained about an inside player shooting threes, and asked Akagi, "Right, Gorilla?"

The Cheetah Team overwhelmed the Chariot Team after Robinson shut down Hoffmann, while Alex dominated on offense. As the Cheetah stars discussed Shohoku, Alex reminded Robinson of a powerful player they had met the previous year who had claimed to be from Shohoku.

• Alex scored 26 points and Hoffmann scored 23 as the Cheetah Team led the Chariot Team 51-45 at halftime.
• Shirasawa told Sakuragi to study Robinson’s defense, and Robinson began guarding Hoffmann closely in the second half.
• Robinson blocked Alex’s shot and dunked, then held Hoffmann to one basket in four attempts as the Cheetah Team built a commanding lead.
• The Cheetah Team removed Alex and Robinson with the score at 85-59, and the Chariot Team conceded by sending in a reserve.
• Hoffmann struggled with the loss as his coach reassured him, while Alex and Robinson rested on the bench.
• Robinson dismissed Shohoku’s players, but Alex recalled a powerful player they had met the previous year who had said he came from Shohoku.

Alex and Robinson suspected Shohoku’s Shirasawa played street basketball, while Alex remembered meeting and losing to Sota Miyagi on an outdoor court years earlier. After Cheetah’s opening win in the Four Nations Tournament, Alex planned to search Cherry Blossom Country for Sota, leaving Shohoku and Cheetah tied atop the standings.

• Alex and Robinson noticed that no photos or league records existed for Shohoku’s Shirasawa and guessed he played street basketball.
• A year earlier, Alex and Robinson faced Sota Miyagi on an outdoor court, where Sota led his team back into the game before an opponent collided with him and injured his ankle.
• Alex learned Sota’s name and that he came from Cherry Blossom Country, and he never forgot his wish to defeat him.
• When Alex found no Sota Miyagi in Cherry Blossom Country’s high school basketball scene, he decided to search the country’s street courts instead of focusing solely on the tournament.
• Cheetah defeated Chariot Country, leaving Cheetah and Shohoku tied with one point each before the second round.

Ryota Miyagi refused to give up his number 7 jersey and remembered how it connected him to his older brother, Sota Miyagi, a celebrated basketball prodigy. The chapter ended by recounting Sota’s extraordinary first year in junior high, while revealing that Kuwata and Alex were also connected to his legacy.

• Shohoku captain Ryota Miyagi told Kuwata he would keep wearing number 7, despite Kuwata hoping to claim it because he admired the player who had worn it.
• Miyagi took off his worn wristband and recalled that his older brother had worn number 7 and taught him to play basketball.
• Miyagi remembered that Sota Miyagi had dreamed of defeating Sannoh Industrial High School and reflected that he had already accomplished that feat.
• The narration revealed that Kuwata’s admired number 7 and the person Alex had been seeking were both Sota Miyagi.
• The chapter recounted how Sota Miyagi led his team to a junior high championship as a first-year and became the league’s first first-year MVP.

Ryota Miyagi remembered his missing older brother, Sota, and resolved to give up the number 7 jersey as Shohoku prepared to face Chariot Country. As the team rested before the game, Ryota struggled with the pressure of captaining Shohoku and felt an unexplained unease.

• Goro Domoto recalled how Sota Miyagi had once vowed to defeat Sannoh all by himself and how Sota later vanished in a maritime accident.
• Ryota Miyagi remembered his close bond with Sota, the years he spent trying to follow his brother in basketball, and why he left Okinawa for Shohoku.
• Ryota closed his locker and decided to give up number 7, bringing Sota's legend to a close.
• Spectators gathered to watch Shohoku face Chariot Country, whose full-strength champion team had recently lost to the Cheetah Team.
• Takenori Akagi teased Hanamichi Sakuragi, who boasted about his national ranking before Akagi pulled him into a headlock.
• Yasuharu Yasuda told Shohoku to rest before entering the game, while captain Ryota felt waves of unease.