Recaps

Kaede Rukawa used his stamina and control of the pace to build a commanding lead over Nobunaga Kiyota in their 100-Point Battle. As Rukawa reached match point, Maki Shinichi discussed Fujima’s agency with him and considered whether it could help Kiyota.

• Rukawa adapted his offense and defense to tire Kiyota, steadily extending his lead in the 100-Point Battle.
• Maki praised Kiyota’s improvement, then asked Fujima why he had joined Shirasawa’s team and said he trusted him to help guide Kiyota.
• Fujima explained his reasons for signing and the agency’s requirements, while Maki considered approaching Shirasawa about Kiyota.
• Rukawa led 72 to 57 at the twenty-fifth minute and 96 to 71 at the thirty-fifth minute as Kiyota fought on despite his exhaustion.
• Rukawa made a jump shot to reach 98 points, leaving him at match point as the spectators urged Kiyota to keep the game going.

Kaede Rukawa defeated Nobunaga Kiyota by scoring the basket that brought him to 100 points in the first 100-Point Battle. After the two recovered, the team celebrated, while Shinichi Maki challenged Shirasawa to a future match.

• Kaede Rukawa drove toward the basket, battled Nobunaga Kiyota through a hard-fought final possession, and tapped the ball into the net as they fell.
• The referee ended the 40-minute battle, naming Kaede Rukawa the first to reach 100 points, while fans cheered both him and Nobunaga Kiyota.
• Shinichi Maki and the team doctor checked on Nobunaga Kiyota, who reassured them he was only exhausted and promised to challenge Rukawa again.
• Ichiro Katsumi announced Rukawa as the winner and praised Kiyota as the challenger, and the crowd applauded them.
• Shinichi Maki asked Shirasawa for a match in the next 100-Point Battle, and Shirasawa told him to sign up through the proper channels.
• Kaede Rukawa, Nobunaga Kiyota, Michael Okita, and the others chatted after the event, and Shirasawa's team went out to celebrate.

Shirasawa chose Michael Okita as the next challenger in the 100-Point Battle, then Shohoku’s national tournament plans were threatened when several players failed their final exams. The principal arranged makeup exams, but Akagi misunderstood his reassurance and vowed to make the team study all night.

• Shirasawa named Michael Okita as the next player to face him, and Michael welcomed the chance to prove his improved skills.
• Shirasawa revealed that he had passed all five subjects, while Ryota Miyagi, Hisashi Mitsui, and Hanamichi Sakuragi arrived having failed exams.
• Takenori Akagi scolded the three players, then pleaded with the principal to let them compete in the national tournament.
• Tatsuhiko Aota arrived and begged the principal for help after failing four subjects, disrupting the plan to handle Shohoku’s exam results discreetly.
• The principal scheduled a makeup exam for the next day and hinted that the players would pass, but Akagi misunderstood and promised to make them study without sleep.

The Shohoku starters gathered at Akagi's house to study for their retake, but Shirasawa slipped away and walked with Haruko. After he carried her home with a twisted ankle, Akagi found them and rushed to care for his sister.

• The five Shohoku starters studied at Akagi's house, while Shirasawa left, convinced the retake was only a formality.
• Shirasawa met Haruko outside and learned that Akagi would not let her attend the national tournament in Hiroshima.
• Shirasawa suggested Haruko secretly go with Yoko, and Haruko appeared to decide to do so.
• A bicycle nearly hit Haruko, and Shirasawa pulled her aside, causing her to twist her ankle.
• Shirasawa carried Haruko home, where Akagi saw them and gently examined her ankle as Haruko blamed her injury on a fall and thanked Shirasawa.

Shohoku’s players passed their exams, and Hanamichi Sakuragi narrowly passed the first stage of his shooting test. Coach Anzai then announced that Sakuragi and Xiao Bai would stay behind while the team traveled to Shizuoka Prefecture for practice games against Jousei High School, leaving the team stunned.

• Akagi thanked Shirasawa for helping Haruko and carried her home, while Haruko secretly winked at Shirasawa.
• Sakuragi, Hisashi Mitsui, Ryota Miyagi, and Tatsuhiko Aota completed their exams, and the principal announced that they had all passed.
• Sakuragi made 101 of 300 shots in his first shooting test, meeting Coach Anzai’s target by one shot.
• Kogure pointed out that the team’s seven-day trip to Shizuoka would overlap with Sakuragi’s next shooting test.
• Coach Anzai said Sakuragi would stay behind, and Akagi told him to follow the coach’s decision.
• Coach Anzai added that Xiao Bai would stay behind too, leaving Shohoku’s players shocked.

Coach Anzai sent Shohoku to face Jousei without himself, Shirasawa, or Sakuragi, hoping the team would learn to handle pressure by losing its first practice game. While Shohoku prepared in Shizuoka, Anzai began Sakuragi’s special training and astonished him by making a series of shots.

• Coach Anzai sent Shohoku to Shizuoka without himself, Shirasawa, or Sakuragi, intending for the team to experience a loss against Jousei.
• Jousei’s coach angrily confronted Shohoku over the absences, accepted Anzai’s bottles of liquor, and ordered Mikoshiba to give the visitors a harsh welcome.
• Akagi told Mikoshiba that Shohoku had won the Kanagawa championship, but Mikoshiba was disappointed that Shirasawa was absent and doubted Akagi could challenge him.
• Akagi led Shohoku to the locker room to prepare for a day of training with Jousei before their first practice game the next morning.
• Coach Anzai told Sakuragi he had planned secret special training, then sank consecutive shots from behind the free-throw line and the three-point line, leaving Sakuragi amazed.

Shohoku suffered a crushing loss to Jousei, leaving Akagi, Mitsui, and Miyagi determined to improve before their next game. Coach Anzai pushed Sakuragi through hellish training, while the second Kanagawa 100-Point Battle began between Michael Okita and Koichiro Nango.

• Coach Anzai persuaded Sakuragi to follow his special training after revealing his past as a top guard, and Sakuragi eagerly agreed to a week of hellish practice.
• Shohoku fell behind Jousei as Akagi and Mitsui carried the scoring, and Jousei widened its lead by focusing its defense on them.
• Mikoshiba drew Akagi’s fifth foul, and Jousei defeated Shohoku 99-64; Akagi scored 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Mitsui scored 23 and Miyagi recorded 11 points and 13 assists.
• Coach Anzai learned that the team had taken the defeat without falling apart, told Akagi to prepare for hard training, and kept Shirasawa’s return as a surprise.
• Sakuragi endured Coach Anzai’s punishing training, shaved his head, and received Yoko’s enthusiastic approval of his new look.
• The second Kanagawa 100-Point Battle began at the sports park, with Michael Okita defending his title against Tsukubu rookie Koichiro Nango, while Ichiro Mizusawa watched.

Michael Okita beat Koichiro Nango in the 100-Point Battle while Shirasawa returned to Shohoku in time for its rematch against Jousei. With Shirasawa setting up Hisashi Mitsui, Shohoku surged to a fifteen-point lead in the first half.

• Michael Okita overwhelmed Koichiro Nango in a physical contest and won the 100-Point Battle, finishing his debut with a dunk.
• Shohoku prepared to face Jousei again, and Hisashi Mitsui planned to carry the team with improved screens and a high-volume shooting game.
• Shirasawa arrived at Shohoku's guesthouse before the rematch, restoring the team's confidence.
• Shirasawa helped Hisashi Mitsui score three consecutive three-pointers as Shohoku raced to a 9-0 lead.
• Shirasawa stole the ball from Mikoshiba and continued creating open shots for Mitsui, helping Shohoku lead Jousei 33-18 after ten minutes.

Shohoku crushed Jousei 111–64 in a rematch, then reunited with Hanamichi Sakuragi after his punishing week of training. Three days later, Shohoku and Ryonan departed for the national tournament, which began the next day.

• Shirasawa led Shohoku past Jousei, scoring 21 points and recording 34 assists as Shohoku won by 47 points.
• Akagi told Mikoshiba that Shohoku’s absent starter, Hanamichi Sakuragi, was strong, and Mikoshiba learned Sakuragi was Kanagawa’s Rebound King.
• Sakuragi completed his 20,000th shot after a week of intense training, and Coach Anzai praised his effort.
• Akagi congratulated Sakuragi, and Coach Anzai declared Shohoku the strongest as the team rallied together.
• Three days later, Shohoku and Ryonan prepared to leave for the summer national tournament, which would begin the next day.

Shohoku traveled to Hiroshima for the national tournament, where the team faced a brutal Group C draw and tried to stay relaxed before competition began. On the train, an arrogant player from another A-ranked team insulted Shohoku, prompting the players to glare at him.

• Haruko Akagi and Yoko Shimamura left for Hiroshima to support Shohoku and visit someone Haruko had in mind.
• Ryota Miyagi and Hisashi Mitsui set off for the tournament after Miyagi said goodbye to Rena.
• Shirasawa arrived at the station tired, while Hanamichi Sakuragi ran into the Ryonan team by mistake before Takenori Akagi got him onto the train.
• Shohoku boarded the train and discussed its Group C opponents, including Toyotama, Aiwa Academy, and Hakata Shodai Affiliated.
• Ryota Miyagi read a magazine ranking Shohoku alongside another A-ranked team, whose tall braided-haired player disparaged Shohoku as a trash team.

On the train to the Summer National Tournament, Shohoku clashed with Toyotama’s Minori Kishimoto, and Shirasawa stopped the confrontation before it turned into a fight. After arriving in Hiroshima and completing the tournament ceremony, Shohoku saw the draw and learned that the tournament’s groups included a notoriously difficult Group C.

• Minori Kishimoto taunted Shohoku and grabbed Kogure, prompting Miyagi to intervene after Coach Anzai left them to handle the situation.
• Kishimoto tripped over Sakuragi’s foot, then Shirasawa woke up and restrained him when he attacked Sakuragi; the train attendants broke things up, and Kishimoto left in disgrace.
• Shohoku arrived at Hiroshima Station, traveled to the sports center, and completed the tournament check-in and oath ceremony.
• The Shohoku players heard that some third-years aimed to reach the national top eight for an invitation from Fukazawa Sports University.
• Players gathered around the matchup screen and discussed Group C’s daunting collection of two A-ranked and two A+-ranked teams, while Sannoh Industrial High School had a favorable draw in Group B.

Shohoku and Ryonan reviewed their difficult tournament draws before clashes with Toyotama and Meihou Industrial players revealed the dangerous talent awaiting them at nationals. The teams checked into the tournament lodgings as the first games—and the first eliminations—approached.

• Uozumi and Akagi discussed their teams’ routes through the tournament, while Sendoh wished Shirasawa luck and Sakuragi teased that he had mastered a secret move.
• Kishimoto confronted Shirasawa over their past encounter, and Sakuragi restrained him before Toyotama captain Tsuyoshi Minami called for the dispute to be settled on the court.
• Minami warned Akagi not to let off-court anger affect the game, and Uozumi cautioned Akagi about Toyotama’s reputation as the teams parted.
• Hiroshi Morishige casually shoved Uozumi aside while trying to see the draw, then introduced himself as a player from Meihou Industrial.
• Uozumi and Akagi recognized Morishige as a five-star prospect and anticipated that he would be a formidable opponent in the paint.
• The teams arrived at their lodgings, where the players prepared for a tournament that would soon eliminate half its teams.

Shirasawa and Sakuragi visited Haruko and Yoko before the national tournament began, then Shohoku watched Toyotama face host team Yuki Technical. Toyotama raced into a fast start, and Kogure observed that Yuki could not keep up.

• Coach Anzai gave Shohoku the evening off, and Shirasawa and Sakuragi went to see Haruko and Yoko at their hotel.
• Yoko and Sakuragi went for a stroll, leaving Shirasawa and Haruko together; Shirasawa offered to make her noodles.
• The national tournament began, and Shohoku went to watch Toyotama play Yuki Technical in the first round.
• Toyotama's rowdy supporters clashed with Yuki's home crowd until security intervened, while Maki and Kiyota discussed the fans' impact and Shohoku's upcoming matchup.
• Toyotama stole the ball and scored a quick fast-break layup, then kept up a pace that left Yuki struggling to match them.

Toyotama crushed host team Yuki Technical by 67 points while using Kishimoto’s provocations to unsettle Shohoku before their next-round matchup. Shohoku recognized the bait, but Minami and Kishimoto had made other plans, and Maki and Kiyota ended the chapter criticizing Toyotama’s arrogance.

• Toyotama led Shohoku’s observers to realize Kishimoto was provoking them to make them lose their composure in the next game.
• Shirasawa explained that Kitano had warned Minami not to underestimate Shohoku, and Coach Anzai confirmed the provocation was a trap.
• Toyotama kept Minami on the court against Coach Jinpei’s wishes and widened its lead over Yuki Technical to sixty points.
• Toyotama defeated Yuki Technical 152-85 and celebrated ostentatiously in front of the hosts.
• Nobunaga Kiyota called Toyotama lunatics, and Shinichi Maki dismissed them as clowns and recalled Minami’s early exit against Hakata Shodai Affiliated.

Ryonan defeated Ebihara in its first nationals game, while Shohoku prepared for its matchup against Toyotama. Coach Anzai met Coach Kitano and agreed to a contest in which neither would direct his team during the game, unless Shohoku faced a major crisis.

• Maki invited Kiyota to lunch as the first-round games ended without any upsets.
• Ryonan defeated Ebihara 108-81, earning the first nationals victory in the team's history.
• Taoka and Hikoichi looked ahead to Ryonan's next game and hoped Shohoku would also reach the top sixteen.
• Akagi assigned Mitsui to defend Minami and reviewed Toyotama's stamina, quick shooting, and fast offense with the Shohoku team.
• Coach Anzai left dinner to meet Coach Kitano, who challenged him to let their teams play without sideline direction.
• Coach Anzai accepted Kitano's contest, while Kitano allowed him to step in if Shohoku faced a major crisis.

Shohoku prepared to face Toyotama in the national tournament as their fans clashed and Hanamichi Sakuragi provoked the opposing crowd. The game began with Coach Anzai leaving the on-court decisions to Akagi and Xiao Bai.

• Kogure and Akagi watched Shohoku's teammates fool around in the hot spring before the team's first national tournament game.
• Yohei took Okusu and Tetsuo Hotta to confront Toyotama's delinquent fans after they harassed Haruko and Yoko.
• Sakuragi taunted Toyotama during warm-ups, igniting a shouting match between the two teams' supporters.
• Haruko surprised Akagi in the stands, and Akagi punched Sakuragi after he waved at Yoko instead of warming up.
• Ryonan's players watched the scene, and Jun Uozumi urged Sendoh and Rukawa to watch out for Kainan next year.
• The referee called the players back to their benches, and Coach Anzai told Akagi and Xiao Bai to handle things on the court as the game began.

Shohoku faced Toyotama in the national tournament, where Shirasawa stopped their opening fast break with a pin block and scored the first basket. Toyotama quickly tied the game, and Kishimoto’s dirty play against Sakuragi left the red-haired forward furious.

• Coach Kitano watched from the media area and criticized Toyotama’s run-and-gun strategy while Jinpei’s defensive plan went unheard.
• Toyotama surprised Shohoku at tip-off, but Shirasawa chased down Kishimoto and blocked his layup against the backboard.
• Shirasawa beat Itakura and scored Shohoku’s first basket of the tournament despite Toyotama’s attempts to disrupt him.
• Toyotama launched a fast counterattack, and Kishimoto struck Sakuragi in the stomach with his elbow before scoring to tie the game at two.
• Kishimoto taunted the injured Sakuragi, who accused him of fighting dirty and glared at him in anger.

Shohoku and Toyotama traded quick scores as Toyotama’s run-and-gun offense challenged Shohoku to adjust. Yohei Mito and his companions returned after decisively defeating the six Toyotama men who had confronted them, while Maki hinted that the game was about to change.

• Kishimoto baited Sakuragi into a charging foul, and Sakuragi kept his temper under control after Shirasawa warned him.
• Iwata pulled the chair on Akagi to steal the ball, and Minami finished Toyotama’s fast break to put them ahead.
• Shirasawa blew past Itakura and dunked, but Minami answered with a fast-break dunk to tie the score five seconds later.
• Akagi urged Shohoku to get back on defense, and Shirasawa decided to start the offense farther from the basket so he could recover sooner.
• Yohei, Tetsuo Hotta, and Okusu returned with injuries, while the six Toyotama men who had gone outside with them looked badly beaten.
• Kiyota reacted with admiration to Yohei’s return, and Maki said the game was about to change.

Shohoku slowed Toyotama’s offense and led 24-19 as Toyotama’s players grew frustrated during a timeout. After the game resumed, Kishimoto drove at Akagi and collided with him in midair, raising his knee.

• Shirasawa’s isolation scoring and Akagi’s defense slowed Toyotama’s run-and-gun attack, while Iwata’s shooting kept Toyotama competitive.
• Jinpei called Toyotama’s first timeout, and Minami and Kishimoto discussed turning up the intensity despite Jinpei’s warning.
• Jinpei recalled Minami threatening him after he had criticized Toyotama’s dirty tactics the previous year.
• Anzai offered Shohoku no instructions, and Akagi told his teammates to extend their lead after the timeout.
• Kyohei screened for Kishimoto, who cut to the basket on Minami’s pass and collided with Akagi while raising his knee.

After Kishimoto deliberately fouled Akagi, Shirasawa retaliated by overpowering Kishimoto and dunking, while Toyotama continued its rough play. Akagi nearly attacked Iwata after a dangerous foul, but Mitsui stopped him, and the game remained tense.

• Kishimoto fouled Akagi, and Akagi restrained Sakuragi and Miyagi from retaliating.
• Shirasawa backed down Kishimoto with several forceful hits and finished with a two-handed dunk.
• Kishimoto urged Toyotama to raise its intensity, and Sakuragi committed a foul after dodging Kishimoto's elbow.
• Minami made a three-pointer, then Mitsui missed a three and Akagi grabbed the rebound.
• Iwata and Kyohei fouled Akagi as they dragged him down, and Akagi advanced on Iwata in anger.
• Mitsui stopped Akagi from confronting Iwata, and both teams settled down temporarily.

Shohoku and Toyotama continued their brutal, dirty game as Shirasawa answered Toyotama’s fouls with escalating force. After Shirasawa’s spectacular dunk over Kishimoto, the first half remained tense and the chapter left Toyotama’s planned retaliation unresolved.

• Akagi made one of two free throws, putting Shohoku ahead 51–40 with four minutes left in the first half.
• Shirasawa blocked Kyohei’s layup attempt and fouled him hard, prompting Maki to praise Shohoku’s resolve and urge them not to go easy on Toyotama.
• Kyohei made his second free throw, while Kishimoto urged Itakura to let Shirasawa drive so he could target him.
• Shirasawa drove past Itakura and avoided Kishimoto’s attempted charge by leaping over him, then dunked while striking Kishimoto in the face and landing on top of him.

Shirasawa dunked over Kishimoto, and Toyotama’s rough play faltered as Shohoku took a 64–45 lead into halftime. In the locker room, Shohoku prepared to widen the gap, while Coach Kitano mourned what Toyotama had become.

• Shirasawa drew Kishimoto’s fourth foul by dunking over him, then made the bonus free throw to complete a three-point play.
• With Kishimoto off the court, Toyotama’s offense became disjointed, and Shohoku held its own in the rough play to lead 64–45 at halftime.
• Shinichi Maki noticed Minami had committed only one foul and suspected he was saving a dirty trick for the second half.
• Haruko Akagi condemned Toyotama’s conduct, and Coach Kitano lamented that the team he had built was desecrating basketball.
• In Shohoku’s locker room, Akagi urged Sakuragi to control his fouls, while Miyagi, Mitsui, and Shirasawa resolved to keep widening the lead.

Tsuyoshi Minami took charge of Toyotama’s second-half response and matched up against Shirasawa, but Shirasawa immediately stifled him and snatched his three-point shot out of the air. Minami spotted an opening after the block and prepared to take Shirasawa out of the game.

• Minori Kishimoto vented his anger at Minami, who ordered Daijiro Itakura to switch positions with him and said he would guard Shirasawa.
• Coach Jinpei demanded tighter defense and an end to run-and-gun play, but Minami dismissed his authority.
• Shohoku began the second half with a nineteen-point lead, and Shirasawa dunked after Akagi tipped the ball forward.
• Minami kept Toyotama’s fast offense going and faced Shirasawa, whose pressure forced him to slow down and attack in the half court.
• Shirasawa leaped in front of Minami’s quick three-point attempt, blocked it, and pulled the ball out of the air.
• Minami saw Shirasawa’s landing as an opening and prepared to send him off the court with a decisive attack.

Shirasawa avoided Minami’s attempt to undercut him and knocked him down with a knee, leaving Minami injured. During the timeout, Jinpei confronted Minami about the dirty play, then punched Kishimoto when Kishimoto grabbed him; Toyotama’s bench erupted into a fight as Kitano finally left the court.

• Minami tried to put his foot beneath Shirasawa as he landed, but Shirasawa noticed, struck Minami with his knee, and fell in a way that made the collision look accidental.
• Maki, Anzai, and Kitano recognized Minami’s attempted undercut, while players from both teams gathered around the injured Shirasawa and Minami.
• Kishimoto charged toward Shirasawa, but Iwata and Kyohei restrained him, and the referee stopped the teams as Minami’s injury forced a timeout.
• Jinpei told Minami to examine his behavior, and Kishimoto grabbed Jinpei by the collar before Jinpei punched him and tried to strike again.
• Toyotama’s players restrained Jinpei and Kishimoto as the bench descended into chaos, while Kitano hesitated before leaving the court.

After Jinpei was ejected, Toyotama rallied under Tsuyoshi Minami, but Shohoku contained their offense and built a 38-point lead. As Shirasawa raced toward the basket for another score, Minami decided to cripple him in one last attack.

• Kitano left after realizing Toyotama had changed, while Coach Anzai sympathized with him and Jinpei was ejected from the game.
• Tsuyoshi Minami rallied Toyotama, and Shirasawa assured Coach Anzai that Shohoku could handle their dirty play.
• Shohoku defended Toyotama aggressively, Shirasawa shut down Minami, and his hook shot scored while slapping Minami across the face.
• Hisashi Mitsui made a three-pointer to give Shohoku a 90-52 lead, and Coach Anzai prepared to slow the game and bring in substitutes.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi blocked Minori Kishimoto's shot, Ryota Miyagi sent the ball downcourt, and Shirasawa sprinted ahead as Minami decided to cripple him.