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Chapter Thirty-Eight: Twin Block
"What monsters. Does Akita Prefecture specialize in producing centers or something?" Coach Taoka scratched his hair irritably.
"Tweet!"
The third quarter buzzer sounded.
Through three quarters, Murasakibara Atsushi had already accumulated 35 points, 18 rebounds, and 6 blocks. It was truly hard to believe these were statistics produced by a first-year player.
Ryonan 72 - Yosen 74
In the third quarter, Himuro Tatsuya caught fire, shooting 4-for-6 including 2-for-3 from three-point range, efficiently scoring 10 points to become Yosen's most stable offensive weapon.
Not only that, Liu Wei hit one of two mid-range attempts, while Okamura Kenichi constantly exploited gaps in Fukuda Kicchou's defensive focus, repeatedly attacking the basket and converting 3 of 4 attempts at extremely high efficiency.
Under Himuro's outside firepower and Murasakibara's absolute interior dominance, Yosen's offense gradually bloomed from multiple points.
Facing Yosen's ferocious firepower, though Ryonan struggled to fully contain their opponents, their own offensive rhythm remained unbroken.
Koshino Hiroaki steadily contributed 4 points on 2-for-4 mid-range shooting. Sendoh Akira became more efficient with reduced shot attempts, going 3-for-3 for 8 points. Fukuda Kicchou, relying on Uozumi Jun's screens and Yagami Sorato's brilliant passes, repeatedly cut to the basket, converting 3 of 4 attempts for 6 points.
As for Yagami Sorato—8 points in the first quarter, 4 in the second, 3 in the third. He seemingly scored only 15 points total, but besides that, through three quarters he'd already dished out a staggering 15 assists!
Only captain Uozumi Jun found himself mired in struggle across the entire Ryonan roster.
He'd been comprehensively suppressed by Murasakibara on both ends, not only failing to score a single point but managing only 5 rebounds—his greatest source of pride—and all defensive boards at that.
Uozumi's lack of high-post facilitating ability and shooting range were exposed mercilessly in this game.
If not for seeing this disciple maintain extremely high intensity on every box-out, Taoka Moichi would have already prepared to substitute him. Not because he was useless on court, but from worry his confidence would shatter under such overwhelming punishment.
The two-minute rest period ended quickly. After rehydrating, the players returned to the court.
Ryonan made no lineup changes this time, with only one difference—
The primary ball-handler had become Sendoh Akira!
Ryonan's offense.
Sendoh dribbled slowly across halfcourt.
Himuro and Liu Wei exchanged a glance, deciding to maintain their original defensive matchups. After all, Ryonan's offensive system seemed unchanged.
"Don't be so tense. I'm not as sharp attacking as Sorato." Sendoh said with an easygoing smile.
Himuro's visible eye obviously rolled. Not sharp yet scored 35 points through three quarters? He'd be a fool to believe that.
Sendoh wasn't lying—his stamina was indeed mostly depleted, so he didn't choose to forcefully drive and kick.
Instead, after using his dribble to push inside the three-point line, Sendoh immediately backed down against Himuro.
"???"
Wrong! This feels completely different!
Though Sendoh stood only two centimeters taller than Yagami, the moment he posted up, Himuro instantly felt a steady, powerful force suppressing all his leverage points.
High-post back-to-basket isolation?
Facing six-foot-eight Liu Wei, Sendoh naturally wouldn't select this move. But against the "shorter" Himuro, this was an unstoppable offensive weapon!
"Bang!"
One powerful dribble for leverage. Sendoh spun smoothly toward the paint!
Himuro pressed with full defensive effort but suddenly glimpsed Yagami on the perimeter rising abruptly—he was shooting from beyond the three-point line!
"???"
When did the ball get passed?!
Fortunately Liu Wei's long arms arrived in time, severely disrupting Yagami's shot.
"Tch." Yagami clicked his tongue in displeasure. A six-foot-eight player defending the perimeter created difficult distance calculations.
"Clang!"
"Rebound!"
Under the basket, Murasakibara suddenly discovered the force from Uozumi pinning him had disappeared. Delighted, he prepared to jump for the board, only to realize Sendoh and Fukuda had coordinated perfectly to box him out from behind!
At that moment, Uozumi roared and launched himself skyward, overpowering Okamura to secure the bouncing rebound! Immediately upon landing he jumped again without hesitation, hammering the ball through the rim with both hands!
"BOOM!!!"
The basket frame trembled!
"YEAHHH—!" Uozumi shouted loudly after landing, as if pouring out all the frustration from being suppressed the entire game.
Ryonan 74 - Yosen 74
Offensive transition. Yosen's ball.
Fukui Kensuke pushed forward, his expression grim. Throughout the entire game so far, like Ryonan's Uozumi, he'd produced almost nothing noteworthy.
His defensive matchup had changed from Uekusa Tomoyuki to Aida Hikoichi and now to Koshino Hiroaki. Ryonan's backcourt rotation seemed to maintain eternally frustrating energy, making every step difficult for him.
"Smack!"
Koshino timed his pressure perfectly, lunging forward. Already mentally exhausted, Fukui's mind went blank. Almost instinctively, he flung the ball away.
Yagami tried stealing the pass. Though unsuccessful, he'd forced Liu Wei beyond the three-point line.
"Go ahead and shoot."
"???"
Liu Wei froze, countless questions instantly flashing through his mind—what's this mean? Too tired to defend or looking down on me?
"Don't dare?"
Seeing his hesitation, Yagami even stepped back half a step, his tone betraying no emotion.
"???"
A surge of anger shot up. Like Himuro's earlier thoughts, Liu Wei didn't want to match up against the person before him either.
This was intolerable!
He stopped overthinking. Since his opponent was giving him the shot, with Murasakibara and Okamura anchoring the paint, even a miss guaranteed rebounding security. He didn't hesitate further—bending his knees, jumping, decisively launching from beyond the arc!
However—
"Clang!"
The crisp sound of iron rang out. The basketball bounced off the rim.
Almost the instant the ball left Liu Wei's hands, Yagami and Sendoh simultaneously crashed the paint! Ryonan displayed stunning determination in the final quarter's interior battle, momentarily forming a four-on-two surrounding formation under the basket!
"Thud!"
Murasakibara, one against many, relied on overwhelming height and explosiveness to thunder upward, powerfully securing the rebound above everyone's heads!
"Murasakibara!" Yosen's bench erupted with excited cheers.
After getting the ball, Murasakibara didn't hesitate. Landing, he immediately jumped again, both hands gripping the ball firmly, about to hammer it through the rim!
This dunk was unstoppable!
However, at the instant he jumped, two figures had already anticipated his offensive intention, converging from left and right simultaneously!
"SMACK!"
A heavy yet clean sound!
Yagami Sorato's right palm pressed firmly on the basketball! Almost simultaneously, Sendoh Akira's hand also pressed against the ball!
Through ultimate timing and synchronized coordination, the two formed a perfect pincer!
Their combined force acted on the basketball together, forcibly strangling Murasakibara's guaranteed dunk in mid-air.
Twin block!
The basketball flew out of bounds.
Murasakibara stumbled upon landing, his face showing disbelief for the first time. He looked down at his empty hands, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just occurred.
"Kid, get up. The real game is only starting now."
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