Recaps

Shohoku secured its place at the nationals after Ryonan defeated Kainan, then prepared for and began the championship game against Ryonan. Sakuragi’s foul trouble let Fukuda take control, but Shirasawa helped Akagi score as the first half continued.

• Ryonan routed Takezato as Rukawa and Sendoh led its offense, while Shirasawa and Sanae brought news that Coach Anzai had been in an accident.
• Coach Anzai recovered, and Shirasawa’s 59-point performance drew national attention as Sakuragi joined Sanae’s agency.
• Shohoku crushed Takezato, while Ryonan beat Kainan 100–80 to earn a place at the nationals and leave Shohoku needing to win the final.
• Akagi led Shohoku into intensive preparation, Coach Anzai began Sakuragi’s daily shooting program, and Akagi stayed out of practice to protect his foot.
• Shohoku and Ryonan opened the championship game, with Shirasawa scoring the first points and then outsmarting Sendoh and Rukawa to add another basket.
• Shirasawa faked out Sendoh, Uozumi, and Sakuragi before dunking, and both teams traded baskets as Shohoku built a 38–33 lead.
• Taoka sent Fukuda in to target Sakuragi, who picked up three fouls as Fukuda scored repeatedly and Ryonan closed the gap to 46–43.
• After Anzai replaced Sakuragi with Kogure, Shirasawa escaped Ryonan’s double-team with a pass to Akagi, who scored a reverse layup over Uozumi.

Shohoku won the Kanagawa championship, and Shirasawa swept the tournament’s major individual awards. As teams prepared for the national tournament, Fujima and Yayoi joined Shirasawa’s organization, Shohoku trained against new challengers, and the 100-Point Battle began with Rukawa facing Kiyota.

• Shirasawa and Akagi led Shohoku past Ryonan, and Shirasawa’s buzzer-beating three gave Shohoku a nine-point halftime lead.
• Shirasawa and Sendoh traded baskets in the second half before Shohoku pulled away, with Mitsui’s late three-pointers helping secure the championship.
• Shohoku defeated Ryonan, and Shirasawa won the scoring, steals, assists, and blocks titles, best newcomer, and tournament MVP as his teammates shared the awards.
• Sanae recruited Yayoi Aida and Kenji Fujima for her agency and magazine, while Fujima became vice-captain of Shirasawa’s team and declined to play in the winter qualifiers.
• Maki and Kiyota watched Morishige and Moroboshi compete in Aichi, while Daiei’s Tsuchiya led his team to the Toyotama victory and prefectural title.
• Shirasawa’s Slam Dunk magazine published its five-star player list, and Shohoku trained for nationals, scrimmaged Yokota Junior High, and welcomed Mizusawa as a learner on Shirasawa’s team.
• Rukawa beat Fukuda in a 100-Point Battle test, and Fujima and Shirasawa selected Kiyota as Rukawa’s challenger.
• Tetsuo drove away thugs at the 100-Point Battle venue, Sakuragi, Michael Okita, and Shirasawa performed dunks, and Rukawa began his match with Kiyota by giving him the opening possession.

After winning the 100-Point Battle and preparing for the national tournament, Shohoku faced Toyotama’s dirty play in its first game. Shohoku built a commanding lead, but Minami resolved to cripple Shirasawa as the game continued.

• Kaede Rukawa beat Nobunaga Kiyota in the 100-Point Battle, and Shinichi Maki asked Shirasawa to face him in a future match.
• Shirasawa helped Shohoku recover from its loss to Jousei, while Sakuragi completed 20,000 shots before the team traveled to Hiroshima for the national tournament.
• Shohoku learned that its Group C opponents included Toyotama, Aiwa Academy, and Hakata Shodai Affiliated, and Toyotama defeated Yuki Technical by 67 points.
• Before Shohoku’s game against Toyotama, Kishimoto provoked the team and Toyotama’s supporters harassed Haruko and Yoko, while Yohei and his friends confronted the delinquents.
• Toyotama used fast offense and dirty tactics against Shohoku, but Shirasawa and Akagi helped establish control as Kishimoto fouled out and Shohoku led 64–45 at halftime.
• Minami took over the defense on Shirasawa and tried to undercut him after a blocked shot, triggering a stoppage and chaos on Toyotama’s bench that led to Jinpei’s ejection.
• Shirasawa assured Coach Anzai that Shohoku could handle Toyotama, and Shohoku stretched its lead to 90–52 as Minami decided to cripple Shirasawa.

Shohoku defeated Aiwa Academy and Hakata Shodai Affiliated to reach the national semifinals, with Shirasawa and Sakuragi leading the way. The team then prepared to face Meihou Industrial and its dominant center, Hiroshi Morishige.

• Shohoku beat Toyotama 108–65 after a brawl led to Minami and Shirasawa being ejected, while Ryonan and Meihou Industrial also advanced with commanding wins.
• Shirasawa and Sakuragi met Hakata Shodai stars Hajime Chiba and Ken Hoshino at a night-market shooting game, where both Shohoku players showed off their shooting.
• Shohoku faced Aiwa Academy in the round of sixteen, and Shirasawa’s scoring duel with Dai Moroboshi helped Shohoku take control as Akagi reached the rebound total needed for Fukazawa Sports University’s invitation.
• Shohoku defeated Aiwa 131-96, with Shirasawa scoring 62 points and Moroboshi accepting defeat, while Ryonan also advanced to the national top eight.
• Shohoku prepared for Hakata Shodai Affiliated as Anzai identified Sakuragi as the player who could guard Hoshino, and Hakata’s pick-and-roll pressure initially challenged the team.
• Sakuragi adapted by scoring mid-range jumpers and disrupting Hakata’s pick-and-rolls, while Shirasawa and Chiba traded long-range shots before Shohoku carried a 70-63 halftime lead.
• Sakuragi wore Hoshino down until he left the game, and Shirasawa helped Shohoku pull away for a win that sent the team to the national semifinals.
• After Meihou defeated Jousei, Akagi worried about stopping Morishige, but Anzai told him to front the center and keep him away from the basket as Shohoku prepared for its next game.