Chapter Seventy-Two: Ten to Zero!
"Ryonan's offense executed with exceptional layers!" Commentator Yamato explained.
"This was a multiple-decoy three-point play. First, the hand-off trap between Sendoh and Ikegami—their ace Sendoh, the most threatening offensive weapon, simultaneously occupied both Miyagi and Rukawa from Shohoku."
"Immediately after, Fukuda cut toward the basket. This direct rim attack forced Shohoku's wing defender Mitsui to maintain awareness."
"Under cover of two consecutive decoys, Shohoku's defense descended into chaos. Ball-handler Yagami was overlooked instead, gaining an essentially wide-open shooting opportunity."
"Looks like Ryonan's Coach Taoka prepared extremely thoroughly for this match—the determination to seize victory is palpable!" Commentator Ishida observed with admiration.
Possession changed. Shohoku's offense.
"That's just one basket—don't panic!" Akagi Takenori shouted toward his teammates. "Our turn to attack!"
"Exactly right! Shohoku, led by this genius Sakuragi Hanamichi, absolutely won't lose to the same opponent twice!" Sakuragi Hanamichi proclaimed confidently.
"Pretty sure I'm the one leading..." Miyagi Ryota steadily advanced the ball, waiting for teammates to set up.
Ryonan's base defensive formation was a 3-2 matchup zone. The perimeter trio—Yagami Sorato, Ikegami Ryoji, Sendoh Akira—pressured the arc and both wings' ball-handlers while disrupting passing lanes. The interior featured Uozumi Jun and Fukuda Kicchou protecting the paint.
Worth noting: Fukuda Kicchou didn't shadow Sakuragi Hanamichi. Instead, he consistently positioned himself between Sakuragi and the basket, near the free-throw line.
After carefully reviewing film of Shohoku versus Kaijo, Coach Taoka acknowledged that Sakuragi Hanamichi had developed a mid-range jumper. But mid-range shooting wasn't that simple. Sakuragi's crash-course jumper showed high accuracy only from the right-side 45-degree angle within the free-throw area.
Fukuda Kicchou's poor defensive awareness didn't matter. Just instruct him not to allow Sakuragi shots from that specific spot.
"So it's this guy defending..." Miyagi Ryota thought, facing Yagami Sorato. "That's fine. Better than dealing with Sendoh."
Miyagi Ryota protected the ball, maintaining distance from Yagami Sorato while observing teammates' movement.
"Only Sakuragi has some space." Just as Miyagi Ryota prepared to pass before cutting himself to disrupt Ryonan's defensive line—
"PAP!"
Yagami Sorato suddenly slapped the ball loose.
"What?!"
Fortunately, Miyagi Ryota's experience saved him. Using his body to seal Yagami Sorato's position, he secured the ball.
"That was close. This guy actually rushed forward the instant he read the pass?"
Yagami Sorato didn't continue pressuring after the failed steal. Instead, he maintained distance, flashing a harmless smile. "Miyagi-senpai needs to stay focused~"
"This guy—if I hadn't been focused, he'd have stolen it already!" Miyagi Ryota grumbled internally.
"Ryota! Pass me the ball quickly!" Sakuragi Hanamichi waved both hands inside, demanding the ball. "They're not even assigning Yagami or Sendoh to mark me! Watch me score 20 in the first quarter!"
"Quiet, Sakuragi!" Miyagi Ryota shouted. Did Sakuragi think he didn't want to pass?
Mitsui Hisashi keenly sensed his predicament, immediately stepping up for support.
Miyagi Ryota used the screen to accelerate, driving toward the paint. Yagami Sorato fronted the defense, staying tight on his hip.
"Dammit, can't shake him loose?"
Entering the paint, Miyagi Ryota jumped from the left-side 45-degree angle at the free-throw line, faking a shot.
Yagami Sorato leaped to contest, arriving first despite jumping second.
"He'll block it!" Miyagi Ryota gritted his teeth, passing backward mid-air.
Mitsui Hisashi caught the ball, quickly adjusting for a three-point attempt!
"Not so fast!" Ikegami Ryoji closed out hard.
However, Mitsui Hisashi pulled the ball back, blowing past him with one step.
The three was a fake!
After penetrating inside, Mitsui Hisashi immediately rose for a long two-pointer.
A soft "tch" sound—Ikegami Ryoji leaped from behind, fingertips slightly deflecting the basketball!
"What? Didn't I completely shake him?" Mitsui Hisashi thought in shock.
The basketball's trajectory altered slightly, clanging high off the rim.
"Rebound!"
All four interior players battled simultaneously. Ultimately, Uozumi Jun secured the board with superior positioning.
Yagami Sorato immediately sprinted toward Shohoku's half.
After receiving the outlet pass, Sendoh Akira judged the timing before launching the ball toward the frontcourt.
Yagami Sorato caught the ball beyond the three-point arc. Miyagi Ryota had already recovered defensively.
However, Yagami Sorato showed no hesitation—directly pulling up from behind the arc!
"You've gotta be kidding?!"
Miyagi Ryota cursed internally. Talk about blatant exploitation!
At 168cm tall, even jumping, he couldn't touch Yagami Sorato's shooting motion whatsoever!
"Swish!"
The basketball traced a beautiful arc, drilling straight through the net!
Three-pointer.
Ryonan 6 - Shohoku 0
"Don't hold back now, Miyagi-senpai." Yagami Sorato kindly reminded while retreating on defense. "Stay aggressive!"
"Bastard!" Miyagi Ryota fumed.
Possession changed. Shohoku's offense.
"Ryota, pass me the ball! Pass it!" Sakuragi Hanamichi urgently reminded.
"I know, idiot!" Miyagi Ryota snapped.
Just past halfcourt, Yagami Sorato defended up again. Miyagi Ryota didn't waste time engaging, directly passing inside.
Sakuragi Hanamichi received. Fukuda Kicchou didn't press forward, just staying put to mark him.
"Perfect, Fukuda. Just deny Sakuragi's hot spot—no need to fear his mid-range!" Coach Taoka nodded approvingly from the sideline.
"Should I shoot from this position?" Sakuragi Hanamichi stood hesitating. "No—Old Man said if my shot misses, the Big Gorilla can't handle both Boss Monkey and Fukuda simultaneously."
"Hmph, think I can only shoot?" Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly spoke mysteriously. "Fukuda, I'm going to drive past you from here!"
"What?" Coach Taoka heard Sakuragi's declaration with alarm. "Did he learn dribble penetration in just these few days?!"
"..." Fukuda Kicchou silently watched Sakuragi Hanamichi before finally unable to restrain himself: "Sakuragi."
"What?" Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at him warily.
"You need to call me 'Fukuda-senpai.'"
"Huh?!"
"Because I'm a year older. You have to use respectful language."
"What? You think this genius Sakuragi Hanamichi cares about such trivial matters?" Sakuragi Hanamichi said dismissively. "Fukuda, even though I'm younger, I'm way stronger than you."
Fukuda Kicchou: "..."
"Because I'm a genius!"
Fukuda Kicchou: "..."
"HAH!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly jabbed left with the ball. Fukuda Kicchou's weight immediately shifted leftward.
"HUP!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi pulled back, jabbing right instead (pivot foot unchanged). Fukuda Kicchou's weight shifted right.
"Understand now, Fukuda?" Sakuragi Hanamichi gloated. "That's a fake!"
"Damn, this guy actually has this move." Fukuda Kicchou thought grimly.
"Idiot! Fukuda! Don't fall for such cheap tricks!" Ikegami Ryoji shouted toward Fukuda Kicchou.
"..." Coach Taoka stood speechless at these two oddballs.
"BANG!"
Taking advantage of Fukuda Kicchou's momentary daze, Sakuragi Hanamichi actually dribbled past him along the baseline!
Though just one dribble.
Sakuragi Hanamichi cut into the paint, leaping with both hands gripping the ball before slamming it toward the rim!
"Being a genius means 99% talent and 1%... effort, hehe~"
Just as Sakuragi Hanamichi admired his impending score, a large hand pressed against the basketball.
"Don't be naive, kid!" Uozumi Jun roared loudly. "That technique won't score at Ryonan's rim!"
"PAP!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi—ball and body together—got swatted down!
The basketball bounced toward the sideline. Fukuda Kicchou snagged it with one step, immediately whipping it to Sendoh Akira.
Yagami Sorato sprinted again!
"Get back!!"
"Stop him!!!"
Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi both gave chase.
Yagami Sorato's speed was exceptional. In a flash he'd crossed halfcourt. The instant he stepped one stride inside Shohoku's three-point line, Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi blocked him left and right, forming a trap.
Yagami Sorato's body stuttered—a hesitation dribble followed by a rhythm change, pulling the ball back as he smoothly stepped behind the arc.
"You're not serious? Again?!!" Shohoku's players felt ominous foreboding.
"Is this the weapon you'll showcase?" Chinatsu Kazushi leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on Yagami Sorato.
Without the slightest pause, Yagami Sorato gathered, jumped, his body reaching the shooting motion's apex.
"Won't let you succeed!" Mitsui Hisashi forcibly stopped his momentum, desperately leaping to contest, right hand stretching toward the basketball in Yagami Sorato's hands.
Yagami Sorato's upper body leaned back slightly, evading Mitsui Hisashi's contest while maintaining stable shooting form before releasing!
"Swish!"
The crisp net sound rang out again.
"He hit it again—!!" Ryonan's bench erupted, jumping and cheering.
"TWEET—!"
The referee's whistle followed immediately, right fist raised, left hand slapping the right wrist.
"Shohoku number 14, shooting foul! Basket counts—one free throw!"
"And-one!"
"YAGAMI!! YAGAMI!!"
Amid the cheers, Yagami Sorato calmly sank the free throw!
Ryonan 10 - Shohoku 0
Ryonan opened with crushing momentum—a ten-to-zero run. Moreover, Yagami Sorato had scored every single point personally!
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