Recaps

Shirasawa joined Shohoku and helped bring Sakuragi and Miyagi into the team as it prepared to face Ryonan. In Shohoku’s practice game against Takezono, Shirasawa’s playmaking fueled a large lead, while Sakuragi confronted Oda after he struck Yoko.

• Shirasawa led Yokota to a championship by assisting the winning basket, then agreed to join Shohoku while Rukawa joined Ryonan.
• Shirasawa defeated Sakuragi in a fight and persuaded him to learn basketball, training him until he could dribble, pass, and dunk.
• Shirasawa and Sakuragi joined Shohoku, where Shirasawa impressed the team with his passing during the first-years’ practice game.
• Shirasawa brought Hotta to the hospital to apologize to Miyagi, who returned to Shohoku and showed his speed in practice.
• After Hikoichi scouted Shohoku, Coach Anzai arranged a practice game against Takezono, naming Shirasawa, Sakuragi, Akagi, Miyagi, and Kogure as starters.
• Shirasawa set up Shohoku’s offense against Takezono, while Sakuragi defended Oda and dunked over him to close the first half with Shohoku far ahead.
• Oda slapped Yoko, and Sakuragi nearly attacked him before Yoko stopped him, and Shirasawa then urged Sakuragi to trust that his relationship with Yoko was improving.

Shirasawa helped Shohoku win their first games, faced Ryonan, and helped bring Hisashi Mitsui back to basketball. After Shohoku crushed Miuradai and Kakuno, Sanae revealed that she had become Shirasawa’s agent, while the team looked ahead to the final four.

• Shirasawa led Shohoku to a decisive win over Takezono, then helped Miyagi confess his feelings to Rena and joined Shohoku’s preparations for a practice game against Ryonan.
• Shirasawa directed Shohoku’s offense against Ryonan, but Coach Anzai rested the starters for the second half and Shohoku lost 87–72.
• When Hisashi Mitsui and his gang attacked Shohoku’s gym, Shirasawa fought alongside Miyagi and Sakuragi, and Mitsui eventually confessed that he wanted to play basketball again.
• Mitsui returned to practice and reconciled with Shirasawa, while Shohoku prepared for its first tournament game against Miuradai.
• Shirasawa came off the bench against Miuradai, helped Shohoku overturn an early deficit, and stopped Murasame from injuring Mitsui as Shohoku won 117–54.
• Sanae promoted Shirasawa and Shohoku through her media contacts, while Shohoku defeated Jino and drew a large crowd for its next game.
• Shirasawa led Shohoku to an overwhelming first-half lead against Kakuno, set up repeated dunks for Sakuragi, and helped the team win 162–16.
• After reporters crowded Shohoku’s locker room, Sanae revealed that she had introduced herself to Shohoku’s coach and leaders as Shirasawa’s agent, following his plan.

Sanae took charge of Shohoku’s media presence as Shirasawa led the team through dominant victories, settled Rukawa’s challenge, and faced Shoyo in the quarterfinals. Shohoku built a strong lead, but Shoyo targeted Mitsui, who began answering Hasegawa with crucial points.

• Sanae launched Shohoku’s publicity operation, while Sakuragi grew furious that the headlines barely mentioned him.
• Shirasawa coached Sakuragi’s dunking, and Sakuragi thrilled the crowd with dunks as Shohoku crushed Takahata 155-21.
• Mitsui and Shirasawa joined Yohei Mito to help Tetsuo Hotta defeat Ryu’s gang and reclaim his position.
• Shohoku beat Tsukubu 142-69, Sakuragi set a tournament rebound record, and Akagi and Godai put aside their old tension.
• Sakuragi was delighted when Yoko promised to keep cheering for him, while Rukawa challenged Shirasawa to a one-on-one game and lost 13-2.
• Shirasawa helped Sanae sign Rukawa to her agency as Shohoku prepared to face Shoyo in the quarterfinals.
• Shirasawa’s steals and scoring gave Shohoku an early surge, but Fujima entered the game and Shoyo began challenging Akagi and Mitsui.
• Shohoku led Shoyo 57-44 at halftime, then Shoyo’s box-and-one defense and Hasegawa’s pressure tested Mitsui.
• Mitsui rejected Akagi’s offer to rest, made a fast-break three-pointer from Shirasawa’s pass, and followed with another three as Shohoku led 73-57.

Shohoku prepared for the national tournament’s final four, where Shirasawa led the team in a showdown against Kainan. After Akagi’s ankle injury forced Sakuragi to defend the paint, Shohoku beat Kainan and turned its attention to Ryonan.

• Shohoku defeated Shoyo, claimed a place in the final four, and watched Kainan crush Takezono before preparing to face Kainan.
• Shirasawa met Michael Okita and Ichiro Katsumi, while Taoka apologized to Fukuda and brought him back to Ryonan.
• Akagi hid an ankle sprain before Shohoku’s game against Kainan, and Shirasawa helped Shohoku take an early lead against Maki and his team.
• Maki’s attack reinjured Akagi’s ankle, so Sakuragi took over at center as Shirasawa carried Shohoku’s offense.
• Sakuragi protected the paint and helped Shohoku build its lead before Akagi briefly returned and Shirasawa gave Shohoku a 54-46 halftime advantage.
• Mitsui answered Kainan’s three-pointers, and Shirasawa broke through Kainan’s Box-and-One defense to set up Sakuragi and keep the offense moving.
• Shohoku extended its lead to 96-75, and Maki admitted defeat after Shirasawa dribbled past him in the final seconds.
• Akagi joined the celebration as Shohoku beat Kainan 101-79, and Ryonan declared it would stop Shirasawa and become champion.