Recaps

Hisashi Mitsui scored 12 points in a few possessions, completing a four-point play before leaving the court to a standing ovation. With seven minutes left and Shohoku ahead 80-59, Kenji Fujima rallied Shoyo for one last fight.

• Fujima scored a floater over Shirasawa, bringing Shoyo's score to 59.
• Mitsui scored a three-pointer while drawing Hasegawa's foul, then made the free throw to complete the four-point play.
• Akagi called a timeout, and Mitsui left the court to cheers as Kogure took his place.
• Mitsui told Hasegawa that he had worked hard for the talent he possessed, then exchanged fist bumps with Coach Anzai.
• With Shohoku leading 80-59 and seven minutes remaining, Kenji Fujima urged Shoyo to keep fighting, and Hanagata called on him to lead them.

Shohoku pulled further ahead of Shoyo after Shirasawa blocked Fujima and Sakuragi dunked despite Hanagata's injured hand. With Hanagata forced to leave the game, Fujima kept fighting alone as Shohoku reached a 29-point lead with 20 seconds remaining.

• Fujima scored a three-point play, then Shirasawa passed to Sakuragi, whose dunk Hanagata blocked at the cost of injuring his right hand.
• Fujima tried to score on a fast break, but Shirasawa blocked him twice in midair and Miyagi set up Sakuragi for a two-handed dunk.
• Fujima called a timeout and checked on Hanagata, who admitted he had done his best before leaving the game with his hand bandaged.
• Fujima attacked on his own while Shirasawa continued scoring, and Shohoku extended its lead to 110-81 with 20 seconds left.

Shohoku defeated Shoyo to reach the final four, ending Fujima and his teammates’ high school careers. After honoring Shoyo, Shohoku hurried to watch Kainan play, since Kainan would be their first opponent in the final-four round robin.

• Fujima took Shoyo’s final attack against Shirasawa, but Shirasawa blocked his fadeaway as time expired and Shohoku won.
• Akagi and Shohoku celebrated their first-ever place in the national tournament’s final four, while Shoyo’s seniors mourned their last high school game.
• Fujima thanked his teammates, joined them in a final cry of “Shoyo,” then exchanged the game ball and a firm handshake with Shirasawa.
• Taoka watched Shoyo’s farewell and decided it was time to call someone back as Shohoku, Ryonan, and Takezato secured final-four places alongside expected qualifier Kainan.
• Shohoku ended interviews early and went to watch Kainan’s game, knowing Kainan would be its first opponent in the round robin.

Kainan defeated Takezono 125-73 to claim the final spot in the final four, while Shohoku watched and resolved to make defeating Kainan their next goal. Akagi gave the team two days off before training resumed, and the Shohoku players went their separate ways.

• Shohoku watched Kainan dominate Takezono, and Shirasawa told Sakuragi that Oda could not compare with him.
• Muto taunted Oda as Kainan's second string widened its lead, while Kiyota asked Takato to let him return to the court and was refused.
• Kainan won 125-73, ending Takezono's season and leaving Oda in tears.
• Akagi led Shohoku out of the arena, and the team decided to prepare to defeat Kainan in the final four.
• Akagi gave Shohoku two days off before training resumed, while Ayako invited Shirasawa shopping and Miyagi took Sakuragi to visit Rena.

Hisashi Mitsui confronted Ichiro Katsumi, who revealed that he wanted Ryokufu to defeat Shohoku, while explaining Ryokufu’s wealthy, mercenary-built basketball team. Ichiro and Mitsuaki Nadaka waited to recruit Kiccho Fukuda, with their promised star player Michael Okita still expected to arrive.

• Hisashi Mitsui recognized Ichiro Katsumi and Mitsuaki Nadaka, confronted them about Ichiro’s claim that he could crush him, and challenged Ichiro to play.
• Ichiro Katsumi said he intended to defeat all of Shohoku, but Mitsuaki Nadaka stopped him from playing because Eri Fujisawa had ordered them to hide their strength.
• Ichiro Katsumi and Mitsuaki Nadaka’s team, Ryokufu, was described as a wealthy new team assembled by Eri Fujisawa through recruiting strong players from weaker schools.
• Eri Fujisawa had failed to recruit Kaede Rukawa after he crashed his bicycle into her van and dismissed her offer.
• Ichiro Katsumi and Mitsuaki Nadaka waited for Michael Okita to return and help recruit a teammate, but Kiccho Fukuda of Ryonan arrived first.

Shirasawa and Ayako encountered Michael Okita, captain of Ryokufu, who invited them to watch his one-on-one game with Fukuda as part of an effort to recruit him. The match began with Michael shutting down Fukuda’s offense, leaving Fukuda frustrated after his first attack was blocked.

• Shirasawa and Ayako met Michael Okita, who explained that he wanted Fukuda to join Ryokufu and persuaded them to watch their arranged game.
• Shirasawa and Ayako arrived at the court, where Fukuda recognized Shirasawa as a player he wanted to challenge.
• Fukuda and Michael began a one-on-one game to eleven, with Michael giving Fukuda the first possession.
• Michael pressured Fukuda with aggressive defense and physical contact, then blocked his shot at the basket.

Michael Okita crushed Kiccho Fukuda in a one-on-one and invited him to join Ryokufu, leaving Fukuda to consider the offer. Shirasawa then faced Michael in an interrupted match, taking an early lead before heavy rain forced them to postpone their game.

• Michael Okita overpowered Kiccho Fukuda and won their one-on-one, 11-4.
• Michael invited Fukuda to join Ryokufu, and Fukuda said he would think about it before leaving.
• Michael challenged Shirasawa, who opened their game with a driving dunk and a three-pointer to lead 5-0.
• Heavy rain stopped the match, and Michael admitted Shirasawa would probably have won if they had continued.
• Shirasawa shared his umbrella with Ayako as Ichiro Katsumi cheered up Michael with another umbrella.

After Shohoku’s victory over Shoyo, Shirasawa’s fame spread beyond Kanagawa as rival teams took notice. Back home, Akagi and Kogure joined Sakuragi for practice, leaving Shohoku’s players focused on preparing for what lay ahead.

• Shirasawa invited Michael Okita and Ichiro Katsumi to visit him, then sheltered Ayako from the rain at his home, where they grew closer.
• Newspapers celebrated Shohoku’s win over Shoyo and Shirasawa’s performance, drawing attention from teams across the country.
• Toyotama’s Tsuyoshi Minami and Kishimoto dismissed Shoyo’s defeat and declared their goal was to win the national championship.
• Aichi star Dai Moroboshi took note of Shirasawa’s statistics and wondered how Maki would react to Shohoku’s rise, while Sannoh showed no interest in the news.
• Akagi went to the gym to train and found Sakuragi practicing shots; Kogure joined them, and Akagi began giving Sakuragi pointers.

Shohoku’s players stepped up their training while Moichi Taoka apologized to Kiccho Fukuda and brought him back to Ryonan. The day before the final four, Shirasawa, Sanae, Rukawa, and Michael Okita met to discuss their agency plans.

• Akagi struggled to teach Sakuragi how to shoot, while Mitsui and Miyagi arrived after completing extra training.
• Moichi Taoka visited Kiccho Fukuda, admitted he had been wrong, and formally invited him to return to Ryonan.
• Fukuda accepted Taoka’s apology, served him tea, and agreed to return to Ryonan so he could face Shirasawa.
• Shirasawa and Sanae met with Rukawa, Michael Okita, and Ichiro Katsumi, and Rukawa silenced Katsumi by taping his mouth shut.
• Rukawa and Michael Okita had played one-on-one before the meeting, and Sanae explained the agency’s plans to the group.

Sanae expanded her agency by signing Michael Okita and Ichiro Katsumi, while Shohoku prepared to face Kainan in the final four. The chapter left Shirasawa and Shinichi Maki’s showdown poised to decide Kanagawa’s top player as the highly anticipated game began.

• Sanae explained her plans to build an elite player team, promote it through challenge tournaments, and later launch a third phase of the agency’s work.
• Michael Okita signed with Sanae’s agency despite knowing he would have to leave Ryokufu High School, and Ichiro Katsumi also joined as the fourth player.
• Akagi rallied Shohoku before the final four, declaring that the team aimed to conquer the nation and had to finish in the top two to reach nationals.
• The final four began with Shohoku facing Kainan and Ryonan preparing to play Takezato, while crowds gathered to watch the heavily publicized matchup.
• Ryonan’s Kiccho Fukuda returned to the team after a scrimmage showed him how he compared with Sendoh and Rukawa.
• Michael Okita and Ichiro Katsumi watched from the stands with Eri Fujisawa, unaware that the two players planned to leave Ryokufu once Sanae arranged their next destination.

As Shohoku prepared to face Kainan, Takenori Akagi hid a badly sprained ankle and insisted on playing despite Kiminobu Kogure’s pleas. The teams entered the arena with Akagi and Shinichi Maki facing off, while Haruko watched anxiously.

• Basketball Weekly’s sales and reputation fell after Shoyo’s defeat, and the magazine’s president continued refusing to cover Shohoku.
• Takenori Akagi injured his ankle during extra practice, but he hid the sprain from his teammates and prepared to play Kainan.
• Kiminobu Kogure urged Akagi to sit out, but Akagi insisted that he would not abandon their chance to challenge Kainan; Kogure agreed to rewrap his ankle and asked him to leave if he could not continue.
• Riki Takato found Shinichi Maki and the Kainan players ready for battle after an intense training session.
• Shohoku and Kainan entered the court to a roaring crowd, and Takenori Akagi faced Shinichi Maki as Haruko watched with tearful concern.

Haruko learned how the mustached shop owner had watched Akagi work toward his long-awaited chance to face Shinichi Maki, while Nobunaga Kiyota and Shirasawa competed for the crowd’s attention with spectacular dunks. The Shohoku–Kainan game then began, and Shohoku won the opening tip as Shirasawa took control of the first attack.

• The mustached shop owner told Haruko how Akagi had vowed years earlier to reach Kainan’s level, and offered Shohoku’s players genuine Jordans if they won.
• Nobunaga Kiyota performed a double-clutch dunk, then Shinichi Maki reprimanded him for stepping onto the court before the game.
• With the Shohoku crowd urging them to answer, Shirasawa performed a between-the-legs hand switch into a reverse dunk, reclaiming the crowd’s attention.
• Shinichi Maki accepted Coach Riki Takato’s assignment to guard Shirasawa, and the starting players from both teams took the court.
• Akagi won the opening tip against Kazuma Takasago, and Shirasawa organized Shohoku’s first possession.

Shirasawa opened the game with a spectacular putback dunk over Takasago, but Maki answered by drawing Shohoku’s defenders and setting up Muto for an easy basket. The score stood tied at 2-2 as Shohoku prepared its next attack.

• Shirasawa faced Maki at the top of the arc while Sakuragi was matched against Jin and Akagi battled Takasago in the paint.
• Shirasawa sent the ball toward the basket, where Jin blocked Sakuragi’s alley-oop attempt and the ball came off the rim.
• Shirasawa grabbed the rebound over Akagi and Takasago and dunked, giving Shohoku the first points of the game.
• Maki attacked Shirasawa with help from Takasago’s screen, then passed to Muto when Sakuragi rotated to help.
• Muto laid the ball in to tie the score at 2-2, and Akagi encouraged Sakuragi before Shohoku regrouped on offense.

Shirasawa sparked Shohoku with scoring, passing, and a block, while Kainan stayed composed and answered each basket to keep a narrow lead. With the score 16-15, Maki finally attacked Shirasawa directly to take control of the game’s tempo.

• Shirasawa beat Maki with a crossover for a layup, but Kainan answered with a screen that freed Jin for a three-pointer and a 5-4 lead.
• Shirasawa fed Akagi with a tricky pass for a Gorilla Dunk, then blocked Kiyota’s attempt at the basket, but Maki grabbed the rebound and scored against Sakuragi.
• Shirasawa set up Akagi for an underhand layup, and both teams traded baskets until Kainan led 16-15.
• Maki abandoned Kainan’s expected pick-and-roll and drove straight at Shirasawa, using a crossover to change direction.

Shirasawa and Shinichi Maki traded forceful baskets as Shohoku and Kainan remained tied, with Shirasawa matching Maki possession for possession. Dai Moroboshi arrived to watch Shirasawa, and Fujima warned him that Shirasawa would be a difficult opponent.

• Shinichi Maki scored through Shirasawa, who then drove past Maki and made an and-one to tie the game at 18–18.
• Shirasawa and Maki continued challenging each other, scoring repeatedly while Shirasawa also blocked one of Maki’s shots.
• Dai Moroboshi watched the matchup and told Fujima that he had come after reading about Shohoku and Fujima’s early graduation.
• Fujima warned Moroboshi that Shirasawa would give him plenty of trouble.

Dai Moroboshi watched Shirasawa challenge Shinichi Maki as Kainan and Shohoku battled, but Akagi reinjured his ankle and had to leave the game. Shohoku continued with Sakuragi at center, and Shirasawa scored again before Maki ordered Kiyota to help double-team him.

• Dai Moroboshi told Fujima he would judge Shirasawa for himself after facing him.
• Shinichi Maki used a pick-and-roll to get past Shirasawa, scored over Akagi, and caused Akagi to reinjure his ankle on landing.
• Kogure and the Shohoku players gathered around Akagi, and the medical staff took him off the court for further examination.
• Coach Anzai sent Kogure in and moved Sakuragi to center as Shohoku resumed play with a 30-28 lead.
• Shirasawa drove past Maki and scored a floater, prompting Maki to tell Kiyota to help double-team him.

After Akagi fouled out, Kainan focused its defense on Shirasawa, who broke their double-team and scored with a spectacular self-pass off the backboard. Maki acknowledged Shirasawa’s superiority but vowed to keep fighting, while Shohoku prepared to defend without Akagi.

• Maki stopped trying to beat Shirasawa one-on-one and passed to Jin, who made a three-pointer.
• Kainan double-teamed Shirasawa, but he spun past Kiyota and Maki to break through their defense.
• Shirasawa threw the ball off the backboard, caught his own pass in midair, and dunked over Takasago.
• Maki accepted responsibility for the basket and promised to stop Shirasawa next time.
• Shirasawa encouraged Shohoku to stay focused and said he would carry the offense and look for chances to pass.

With Akagi injured, Coach Anzai urged Sakuragi to protect Shohoku’s paint, and Sakuragi embraced his role as King Kong No. 2. In the infirmary, Akagi insisted he wanted to return despite the doctor’s warning, while Kainan resumed play by trapping Shirasawa.

• Kainan exploited Shohoku’s weak interior defense as Sakuragi struggled to protect the paint and Shirasawa’s stamina dwindled.
• Coach Anzai challenged Sakuragi to replace Akagi under the basket, and his teammates encouraged him to defend the paint until Akagi returned.
• Sakuragi vowed to take down Kainan, earning cheers from the crowd that the shopkeeper told Akagi were for King Kong’s Little Brother.
• The doctor warned Akagi that playing on his sprained ankle could cause lasting damage, but Akagi asked Haruko to tape it so he could return.
• After the timeout, Takato ordered Kainan to attack, and Maki, Kiyota, and Muto surrounded Shirasawa in a triple-team.

Shohoku and Kainan traded a frantic series of possessions as Hanamichi Sakuragi made crucial defensive plays and Shirasawa restored Shohoku’s lead. Sakuragi then blocked Shinichi Maki and helped launch the fast break that left Shohoku ahead 48-44.

• Shinichi Maki’s triple-team forced the ball loose, but he recovered it and led Kainan into a half-court attack with the score tied at 44.
• Maki drew Shohoku’s defenders and passed to Nobunaga Kiyota, but Sakuragi swatted Kiyota’s reverse layup away before Shirasawa tipped Jin’s three-point attempt.
• Sakuragi fought past Kazuma Takasago and Kiyota to grab the rebound, then threw an outlet pass to Shirasawa, who dunked to put Shohoku ahead 46-44.
• Maki drove at Sakuragi under the basket, but Sakuragi held his ground and blocked Maki’s shot.
• Ryota Miyagi collected the blocked ball and scored a fast-break layup, extending Shohoku’s lead to 48-44.

Hanamichi Sakuragi and Kiminobu Kogure helped Shohoku maintain its lead over Kainan with a crucial defensive stand and fast break. After Akagi returned to the court, he saw how well his teammates had supported the team in his absence.

• Shinichi Maki drove toward the basket, but Sakuragi guarded him while warning Kogure that Nobunaga Kiyota was cutting toward the baseline.
• Kogure dove to tip Maki’s pass away from Kiyota, and Sakuragi outjumped Kiyota to secure the rebound and launch a pass to Shirasawa.
• Maki fouled Shirasawa during the fast break, but Shirasawa scored through the contact and earned a free throw.
• Kogure praised Sakuragi for holding down Akagi’s position, and Sakuragi boasted that he had done so as a genius.
• Takenori Akagi returned to the baseline with his ankle apparently fine and told Sakuragi that he still had a long way to go.

Akagi returned to the sideline as Shohoku carried an eight-point lead over Kainan into halftime, capped by Shirasawa's buzzer-beating three. In Kainan's locker room, Coach Takato rallied his players to fight back and win the game.

• Akagi rejoined Shohoku from the sideline and encouraged his teammates while Shirasawa made a free throw to put Shohoku ahead 51-44.
• Maki scored a hook shot for Kainan, then Shirasawa sank a contested buzzer-beating three to give Shohoku a 54-46 halftime lead.
• Maki acknowledged Shirasawa's dominance and promised to defend him better in the second half as he led Kainan off the court.
• Coach Takato berated Kainan's players for their mistakes and challenged them to avoid another major loss.
• Kiyota declared that he had to win this year, and Takato urged the team to give their best in the remaining 20 minutes.

Shohoku began the second half without the injured Takenori Akagi, while Kainan brought in Yoshinori Miyamasu to spark its offense. The teams traded early baskets, and Kainan narrowed Shohoku’s lead to 56-52 as Jin’s three-point shooting came alive.

• Takenori Akagi accepted that his injury kept him out of the game, and Shohoku’s players promised to fight together for the team.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi won the opening jump ball, and Yoshinori Miyamasu replaced Tadashi Muto for Kainan.
• Shirasawa scored Shohoku’s first points of the half with a jumper after getting past Shinichi Maki.
• Yoshinori Miyamasu hit a three-pointer, prompting Shirasawa to assign Miyagi to guard him.
• Shinichi Maki knocked the ball from Shirasawa’s hands, and Kainan launched a counterattack.
• Jin made a three-pointer to cut Shohoku’s lead to 56-52.

Mitsui matched Jin’s three-point shooting, and Shohoku extended its lead to eleven with ten minutes left. Kainan then shifted its offense toward Shinichi Maki and launched a Box-and-One defense against Shirasawa, leaving the chapter with Shirasawa surrounded by four defenders.

• Mitsui answered Jin’s three-pointers with three of his own, while Shirasawa also stripped Shinichi Maki and scored a transition three.
• Mitsui made a three-pointer while being fouled by Tadashi Muto, then sank the free throw to put Shohoku ahead 72-61.
• Riki Takato called a timeout, and Akagi stood with the Shohoku bench as they cheered their teammates.
• Kainan had Kiyota handle the ball so Shinichi Maki could score against Sakuragi in the post, cutting the lead to 72-63.
• Kainan set up a Box-and-One defense with Shinichi Maki guarding Shirasawa and the other four players forming a zone behind him.
• Shirasawa drove past Shinichi Maki, and Kainan’s other four defenders collapsed around him.

Kainan used a five-man defense on Shirasawa, but his blind pass set up a Sakuragi alley-oop and Shohoku continued to dominate. With just over a minute left, Shohoku led Kainan 96–75, leaving Kainan’s sixteen-year undefeated streak on the verge of ending.

• Kainan surrounded Shirasawa with five defenders, but he threw a behind-the-head pass that Sakuragi caught and dunked, restoring Shohoku’s nine-point lead.
• Coach Anzai told Sakuragi not to switch off Shinichi Maki, freeing Shirasawa to keep pressuring Kainan’s star and cutting off their passing options.
• Shirasawa blocked Maki’s turnaround jumper, prompting Fujima to conclude that Maki had lost their duel and Dai Moroboshi to leave, eager to prepare for a future matchup with Shirasawa.
• Kainan kept its Box-and-One defense on Shirasawa even when he gave up the ball, allowing Miyagi to create scoring chances for Sakuragi and Mitsui.
• Shohoku extended its lead to 21 points, 96–75, with just over a minute remaining as Kainan’s undefeated streak appeared certain to end.

Shohoku defeated Kainan 101-79, ending Kainan’s sixteen-year reign as Kanagawa’s champion, while Shirasawa outplayed Shinichi Maki in their final matchup. As Shohoku celebrated, Shinichi Maki urged Kainan to look ahead, and Ryonan prepared to challenge Shirasawa for the title.

• With eight seconds left and Shohoku leading 101-79, Shirasawa dribbled past Shinichi Maki, who admitted defeat and shook his hand after the final whistle.
• Takenori Akagi limped onto the court, revealed his Shohoku number 4 jersey, and roared as the crowd celebrated Shohoku’s victory.
• Shirasawa finished with 59 points and 14 assists, while Shinichi Maki told a tearful Nobunaga Kiyota to grow stronger and reminded Kainan they could still reach nationals by winning their remaining games.
• Coach Takato doubled Kainan’s training load and called on the team to win its next two games.
• Ryonan’s team stood to face Shohoku’s rise, and its players declared they would stop Shirasawa and become the final champions.