chapter 89/90

As early as the second timeout, Takeda Yusuke noticed that Kenichi Uesugi's stamina was visibly depleted. This was clearly a result of his aggressive playing style and relentless intensity in the second half. Although Hakata University of Commerce was still trailing, Takeda felt a glimmer of hope. If Kenichi couldn't maintain his earlier dominance, Hakata had a real chance to close the gap.

Takeda called another timeout, determined to rally his team. "Listen up!" he said, his voice firm. "Kenichi Uesugi is running on fumes. He won't be able to stop us if we keep attacking the basket like we did in the first half. Stick to the plan, and we'll turn this around!"

His words seemed to reignite the confidence of his players. The doubt in their eyes faded, replaced by a renewed determination. They believed in their coach and in their ability to overcome the odds.

On the Ryonan bench, Taoka Moichi knew exactly what Takeda was thinking. He could see the fatigue in Kenichi's eyes and the slight slump in his posture. Taoka also knew that Hakata would come out swinging, and Ryonan needed to be ready. He made a bold decision: shift the team's focus to offense. Defense would be secondary. If Ryonan could keep scoring, Hakata would never catch up. And as the clock ticked down, the pressure would mount, forcing Hakata into mistakes.

When the game resumed, Hakata University of Commerce executed their plan flawlessly. Ken Hoshino found an opening, cutting to the basket with precision. Chiba Ichi's pass was perfectly timed, and Hoshino finished with an easy layup. It was their first score of the second half, and it injected a surge of confidence into the team.

But Ryonan wasn't about to let up. On their next possession, Uekusa passed the ball to Sendoh, who had been largely overlooked by Hakata's defense. Sendoh quickly blew past Ishihara Yutaka and drove to the basket for a smooth layup. The scoreboard ticked in Ryonan's favor, and the momentum shifted once again.

The game settled into a back-and-forth rhythm. Hakata's offense was efficient, but Ryonan's counterattacks were relentless. Sendoh and Uozumi kept the pressure on, while Kenichi Uesugi's mere presence on the court forced Hakata to double-team him, leaving other players open. Despite their efforts, Hakata couldn't close the gap.

As the minutes dwindled, the pressure began to show. Hakata's players grew increasingly anxious. Their shots became rushed, their passes sloppy. The once-fluid offense started to falter. Taoka Moichi's prediction was coming true: the weight of the moment was crushing them.

In the stands, Domoto Goro, the coach of Sannoh High, watched with a knowing smile. He had seen this scenario play out countless times. "Hakata's done," he said to his players. "Let's go. We've seen enough." As they left, Sawakita Eiji glanced at Kenichi Uesugi one last time. He didn't care about the outcome of this game. His only concern was whether Kenichi could push him to enter the Zone—a state of basketball perfection.

On the court, the final minutes were a blur. Hakata's players, desperate to catch up, made one mistake after another. Their shots clanked off the rim, their defense grew porous, and their frustration boiled over. When the final buzzer sounded, the score stood at 102-88 in favor of Ryonan. They had held their lead and secured their place in the national finals.

The crowd erupted in applause, honoring both teams for their hard-fought battle. Takeda Yusuke, though disappointed, approached Taoka Moichi with a solemn expression. "Our goal was always to beat Sannoh," he said. "Now, that responsibility falls to you. Don't let us down."

Taoka nodded, feeling the weight of those words. Defeating Sannoh was no small task. They were a dynasty, a team that had dominated high school basketball for three straight years. But Taoka wasn't about to back down. "We'll beat them," he said firmly. "It's time for a new champion."

As Ryonan's players celebrated, they were swarmed by reporters and flashing cameras. Taoka Moichi, ever the strategist, used the moment to send a message. "From the start, our goal has been to win the championship," he declared. "It doesn't matter if our opponent is Sannoh. We're ready."

Back in the locker room, the mood was a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Hikoichi eagerly flipped through newspapers and magazines, grinning at the headlines. Kenichi Uesugi's dunk over Mori Shigehiro was splashed across the front page, and the team's Cinderella story was gaining national attention. For a moment, they allowed themselves to dream of what it would feel like to win it all.

That night, Taoka Moichi gathered the team for a brief meeting. Instead of dissecting Sannoh's game footage, he focused on their strengths and weaknesses. "Sannoh is the best team in the country," he said. "But they're not invincible. We've come this far because we believe in each other. Tomorrow, we play for everything."

The next day, Ryonan arrived at the arena to a sea of fans. The energy was electric, but it was clear who the crowd favored. Sannoh's players were greeted with thunderous applause, while Ryonan's entrance was met with polite clapping. Still, a small but vocal group of supporters from Kanagawa cheered loudly, reminding the team that they weren't alone.

As the players took the court for warm-ups, the tension was palpable. This was it—the national finals. For Ryonan, it was uncharted territory. For Sannoh, it was just another step in their quest for a fourth consecutive title.

When the starting lineups were announced, the crowd roared for Sannoh. Sawakita Eiji, their star player, received a standing ovation. Kenichi Uesugi, standing across from him, met his gaze with steely determination. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

The game began with a jump ball. Yuzumi, Ryonan's center, leapt against Kawata, Sannoh's towering powerhouse. To everyone's surprise, Kawata outjumped Yuzumi and tipped the ball to Fukatsu Kazunari, Sannoh's point guard. The play was a preview of what was to come: Sannoh's precision and athleticism were on full display.

Kawata wasted no time making his presence felt. He backed down Yuzumi in the post, using a series of quick spins and fakes to create space. With a powerful dunk, he scored the first points of the game. The crowd erupted, and Ryonan's players felt the pressure mounting.

On Ryonan's next possession, Uekusa brought the ball up the court. He hesitated, unsure whether to pass to Kenichi, who was tightly guarded by Sawakita, or to Yuzumi in the post. He chose Yuzumi, but the result was disastrous. Kawata swatted Yuzumi's shot with ease, igniting a fast break that ended with another Sannoh basket.

The score was 4-0, and Ryonan was already on the back foot. Taoka Moichi clenched his fists, knowing that his team needed to find their rhythm—and fast. The game was just beginning, but the stakes couldn't be higher.