Chapter 93 Victory in Sight
Rukawa's poker face remained as cold as ice, his fox-like eyes fixed on Sendoh's shoulder, his center of gravity slightly lowered, ready to strike.
"Hey, Rukawa Kaede, wanna play one-on-one?" Sendoh smirked, his words dripping with provocation.
No sooner had he finished speaking than he executed a spectacular step-back and launched a three-pointer!
The ball cuts through the air, heading straight for the basket!
With a "whoosh," the ball went in!
61:55!
This plan was originally intended for Sendoh to use at the last minute.
If the score isn't too far apart when the game is in its final stages, suddenly using this method might not cause Shohoku to collapse, but it would certainly be very difficult for them.
But the situation is not good now, and the Ryonan team is in dire straits. With no other choice, Sendoh had to use this move ahead of schedule.
Just as Sendoh turned to defend, Rukawa's eyes sharpened.
[Huh? Are Sendoh and Rukawa going to clash again?]
Mu Mu asked in surprise, "Is Sendoh issuing a challenge to Rukawa?"
Not to mention the audience, the Ryonan team members were completely dumbfounded. Was this still their sunny, calm and collected Sendoh? Since joining the team, they had never seen him take the initiative to challenge anyone!
—As expected of the disciple that I, Taoka Shigeya, have chosen!
Coach Taoka nodded in satisfaction, secretly praising him.
He naturally realized that Xiandao's move was to create variables in the competition and thus turn the tide.
It was truly worthwhile to have contracted the fishpond for Immortal Dao!
Ayako also noticed something amiss, stroking her chin as she said, "If Rukawa were to face Sendoh one-on-one right now, there's a 50% chance Sendoh would be able to stop him, and Ryonan would take the opportunity to close the gap..."
"Wow! Sendoh actually has this idea in mind?"
The Shohoku team couldn't help but look at Hanon—
Did she foresee this all along?
Hanon, like a hunter adept at manipulating people's hearts, patiently hides in the shadows, scheming and guiding the situation step by step, unhurried and composed.
Ayako frowned slightly, somewhat uncertain: "Otoko, do you think Rukawa might fall for it?"
After all, Rukawa Kaede, this amoeba-like character, has always been pure, passionate, and possesses an almost obsessive pursuit of basketball. Can such a young man resist the "temptation" of his opponent?
“Rukawa-kun has only just grasped the concept,” Haruko said with concern. “Won’t he get carried away and make an impulsive decision in the face of Sendoh’s provocation?”
Hanako, with her bright and clear eyes, looked at the red number 11 in the arena and joked, "Let's see if he chooses me or Sendoh."
The Shohoku team: ...Why does it feel like a truckload of candy fell from the sky?
Initially, Rukawa Kaede only paid attention to Sendoh.
Now, it remains to be seen whether he will act according to her tactics.
Shohoku launches an attack.
Miyagi dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, with Uekusa close behind. Seeing the tight defense, Miyagi passed the ball to Rukawa and then led Uekusa in circles.
"Come on, Rukawa!" Sendoh stretched out his long arms, a smirk playing on his lips.
Beyond the three-point line, Rukawa Kaede faced Sendoh's challenge, his long, narrow, and cold fox-like eyes burning with fighting spirit.
The audience held their breath, hoping that Rukawa could challenge Sendoh one-on-one like before and imitate an exact three-pointer.
But…
Rukawa Kaede actually passed the ball to Miyagi, who had slipped out from the baseline!
After passing the ball, Rukawa Kaede barely stopped, then flashed to the basket.
Sendoh was taken aback and instinctively moved closer to defend.
With a clear view, Miyagi didn't even look and directly passed the ball behind his back, which landed comfortably in Rukawa's hands.
"Beep—White No. 7, defensive foul, one free throw!"
Coach Taoka jumped up from his seat.
After receiving the ball, Rukawa Kaede easily made a layup, and also drew a foul from Sendoh.
Sendoh raised his hand, looking completely bewildered. His original plan had been used up ahead of schedule, and to make matters worse, this kid wasn't taking the bait at all!
"brush!"
The additional penalty is also appropriate.
The beautiful sound of the goal made Coach Taoka's expression even more serious. Rukawa, who could pass, shoot, and drive and pass, had become even more troublesome.
Sendoh stared at the cold and ruthless boy before him, filled with curiosity. "Hey, what's wrong, scared?"
In his eyes, Rukawa Kaede was an ambitious but emotionless basketball machine.
Rukawa Kaede puffed out his chubby cheeks, looking helpless, and shrugged at Sendoh, "My girlfriend won't let me play with you."
"…………??!"
Rukawa's infatuation left Sendoh completely bewildered... What, having a girlfriend is all that matters?!
He had just witnessed in the corridor that this attacking demon had pinned someone against the wall and kissed them!
"Moreover, there is more than one way to defeat you."
Rukawa Kaede's icy expression vanished, and he spoke again, adding three more points to Shohoku's tally.
Rukawa Kaede readily accepted the challenge issued by Sendoh.
Both were three-pointers, but Miyagi not only got the assist, but also got Sendoh into a foul, which made him even happier than returning the exact same three-pointer.
…The point is, one person is definitely very happy.
Thinking of this, Rukawa Kaede puffed up his chubby cheeks and glanced smugly at the Shohoku coaching bench.
Sendoh took in Rukawa's emotions and sighed inwardly, "The power of love has actually made Rukawa so understanding!"
Turning his head, he frowned again, feeling a little anxious. Several rounds passed, and the score still hadn't narrowed.
This Xiangbei is really something else.
Ayako breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Hanane: "Looks like that kid has chosen a girlfriend."
Hanon said with an almost relaxed and cheerful tone, "Not bad, that's a good understanding."
Rukawa Kaede has the potential to become an All-Star. However, if his overall game awareness, playmaking ability, and passing skills are not fully developed and improved, his development will be limited.
This time, it was Mitsui who was defending against Sendoh in Ryonan's attack.
In terms of height, Mitsui is 5cm taller than Sendoh, but Sendoh clearly felt that Mitsui's perimeter defense was no joke, and he couldn't get any advantage over Mitsui at all!
After trying for a long time, Sendoh finally realized that it would not be easy for him to break through Mitsui on his own. So he waved his hand and passed the ball to Ikegami.
At this moment, because Rukawa was distracted by watching Koshino, Ikegami, who had the weakest attacking power, got a brief open opportunity.
Unfortunately, the half-shot from the pool still didn't go in.
"Rebound!" Uozumi shouted, turning his back to block Akagi and spreading his arms to push him behind him. Then he leaped into the air, ready to grab the rebound—
However--
Suddenly, a loud laugh rang in his ears, and a figure leaped out, a long, muscular arm reaching out to snatch the rebound from his grasp—
That person had fiery red hair, and the big "10" on his red jersey was really glaring in Uozumi's eyes at that moment!
With their attack unsuccessful, Ryonan retreated to defense in frustration, while Sakuragi dribbled the ball up the court and passed it directly to Miyagi.
The basketball dribbled around the perimeter a few times before finally landing in Rukawa's hands. But facing Ikegami's defense, Rukawa surprisingly pulled up for a three-pointer!
...They're using this trick again!
At this moment, the same thought flashed through the minds of the Hainan players who had been tricked by Rukawa Kaede's sudden pull-up three-pointer.
Only Kiyota cursed inwardly: Miss! Miss! Miss!
"brush!"
[Kiyota: Ugh! They scored again!]
With 8 minutes and 37 seconds left in the second half, Rukawa Kaede made a three-pointer, making the score 76-60, a difference of 16 points.
Ryonan quickly called a pause.
Coach Taoka held the tactics board with a deep frown, the atmosphere heavy.
But on the bench at Shohoku High School, the scene was quite different.
The team members warmly welcomed the return of the five tigers, saying, "You guys performed so well! Are you tired?"
Their tone was filled with heartfelt admiration and deep pride. They cheered for the five tigers and were even more proud to be a member of Shohoku.
The players from both sides returned to their positions.
Ryonan has not made any personnel changes, seemingly still confident in its current lineup.
However, to everyone's surprise—
Kiyota raised his eyebrows, utterly astonished: "Huh? That red-haired monkey's sister actually substituted Rukawa and Mitsui!"
The audience was also confused, and Kanon's move caused a commotion.
Rukawa and Mitsui, however, had no doubts about their reduced playing time. Kanon's decision had its own reasons, and no one questioned it.
[Aki seemed to understand something: perhaps Shohoku wanted them to take this opportunity to rest, after all, the two had been playing since the first half.]
Kiyota was still somewhat puzzled: But they still seem to have plenty of energy! They don't need to rest!
Speaking of this, Kiyota is very puzzled: why is it that the Shohoku players, who are also high school students, have significantly better physical fitness than the others?
After a moment's thought, Ah Shen said: "Perhaps it's to give the substitute players some experience? Of course, there could be other reasons as well."
The whistle blew again, and everyone noticed that Sendoh had suddenly gone all out!
What exactly is the madness of the Sendoh like?
In the original work, during the match between Ryonan and Hainan, when Uozumi was exhausted and penalized, Sendoh, who had given his all, single-handedly held the fort, excelling in both offense and defense, and leading a group of ordinary players to a hard-fought battle against the Hainan team, which included Maki, Jin, and Takasago.
And now?
Sendoh broke through Sakuragi's defense and twice drove straight to the basket, slamming the basketball into the hoop!
One of his plays even drew a foul from Akagi, causing an uproar in the arena!
But Sendoh didn't stop. Despite Kogure's tight defense, he managed to carve out a path and the three-pointer swished through the net! Gasps erupted from the stands, and the Ryonan players jumped up in excitement.
Sendoh's performance wasn't over yet. He used Koshino's screen to steal Miyagi's pass again, then launched a fast break and scored another goal!
The Shohoku team was caught off guard by his sudden outburst, and the audience was stunned.
Hanon was amazed, never expecting Sendoh to be so fierce when he went berserk, which allowed Ryonan to quickly narrow the gap.
At 12 minutes and 12 seconds into the second half, with the score at 80-70, Ryonan was still trailing by 10 points, but their momentum had completely picked up!
Sendoh's incredible performance gave everyone hope.
After the attack ended, Kanon promptly called a timeout.
She didn't want Sendoh's hot streak to continue; once a pitcher's touch is ignited, it can be quite terrifying.
"Everyone performed admirably! You've completely figured out Ryonan's strength, haven't you? They've played to their full potential. But even so, they're still 10 points behind us!"
Ryonan will rely entirely on Sendoh's strength in the next game, but even so, they still won't be able to defeat Shohoku.
Hanon asked with a smile, "Hanamichi, do you still remember the flanking maneuver?"
"certainly!"
"When you go on the field later, you'll need to go around Sendoh and cut off his passing lanes with the other players."
During practice matches, various high schools, including Shohoku, used a double-team strategy to prevent Sendoh from getting the ball, but Kanon didn't like the double-team tactic.
Using a double team on a player means that the player can no longer be controlled. In Kanon's mind, Sendoh can still be controlled.
Hanon continued, "In the last few minutes, you only used 80% of your offensive firepower. I need you to use 100% of your firepower, and I need you to end the battle quickly, sweep through Ryonan and win the county championship. Does everyone have confidence?"
"have!"
"Very good, go and wipe out Ryonan!"
With Mitsui and Rukawa back on the court, and given the current excitement of the Shohoku Five, it was impossible for them to become complacent or slack off. Kanon remained calm and composed.
Ryonan is on the offensive, and as usual, Rukawa is defending Sendoh.
Sendoh shielded the ball from the side, his eyes scanning Shohoku's formation, trying to find a defensive weakness.
Sendoh's gaze swept across the field, finding no obvious opportunities.
After the previous timeout, Shohoku made some adjustments. Sakuragi actually moved into the paint, and Mitsui also moved inward. The three of them formed a zone defense, which also covered Uozumi and Fuku.
Especially Afu, ever since Sakuragi focused his attacks and put his weight on him, he has lost his previous sharpness and gradually become quiet. The red-haired guy's defensive skills are evident.
As for the outside shots, Rukawa Kaede continued to focus all his energy on Sendoh, while Miyagi roamed around, ready to harass Uekusa at any time.
A very targeted tactic.
Because Ryonan lacks a shooter who can hit long-range shots from the outside. Not to mention the level of Mitsui and Jin, there isn't even one who can match Kogure's level. The player with the highest three-point shooting percentage on the team is actually Sendoh!
That's why Shohoku dared to confidently implement a zone defense inside, while only allowing Rukawa to entangle Ryonan's playmaker, Sendoh, on the outside.
Well, it looks like there won't be an opportunity!
After assessing the situation, Sendoh immediately decided to go it alone. And since he was going to go it alone, he might as well make a beautiful goal, preferably one that would demoralize Shohoku.
Sendoh's dribbling rhythm changed abruptly.
A powerful charge!
Rukawa was extremely focused; when Sendoh moved his feet, Rukawa's feet moved as well.
With Kanon's help, Rukawa's defense improved very quickly. With two swift slides, he firmly blocked Sendoh's breakthrough route.
Sendoh discovered that not only was Sakuragi improving rapidly in every game, but Rukawa was doing the same!
His significant improvement in defense caused Sendoh to frown slightly.
Sendoh quickly pulled back, then unleashed a dazzling series of crossover steps and forced changes of direction, followed by a dribbling spin, finally getting past Rukawa Kaede, however...
As Sendoh turned around, about to charge straight to the basket, another person wearing a red jersey suddenly flashed before his eyes!
Sakuragi Hanamichi?!
Before Sendoh could react, the basketball in his hand had already been lost!
Less than a minute into the game, everyone sitting on the sidelines was surprised because Shohoku's defense was unexpected.
[Fujima: This is what fronting is? Isn't fronting only effective against slow-moving centers?]
[Maki: No, this is definitely not your average flanking maneuver. Sakuragi's footwork is too fast; this is a combination of man-to-man marking and flanking maneuvering!]
[Kiyota: Why does Shohoku have so many tactics? Coach, what about ours?]
[Takato: ...]
Coach Taoka crossed his arms and snorted, "Sakuragi's frontal defense can only cut off Sendoh and Koshino's connection, but Ryonan still has Uekusa. You guys are thinking too simply!"
Just as Coach Taoka was thinking about this, Koshino passed the ball to Uekusa, but Sakuragi intercepted it. Watching Sakuragi speed away, Coach Taoka was not surprised this time, but dumbfounded!
Why is that novice so elusive?!
The flanking strategy is essentially the same as a double-team, but the effect and cost are far better!
Coach Taoka was very anxious, really anxious. As the game time ticked away, the team's attacking spearhead couldn't get the ball. He had long lost his composure and stood on the sidelines, shouting loudly at the players on the field.
Sendoh looked up at the ceiling wearily. Although he refused to admit defeat or give up, the score had already reached 30 points. Given Ryonan's current offensive state, a comeback was no longer possible.
No one could step up to support him; they were all completely contained, and his own offense was also severely restricted by Rukawa Kaede.
He was already feeling frustrated. This was the first time this year that he had been going smoothly all the way, winning against many strong teams, even losing to the reigning champions, Hainan. But today, he was facing a team like Shohoku, and he couldn't muster any energy and was unable to motivate his teammates.
Shohoku High School is amazing this year!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
