chapter 21: Intra-team Practice Match
After nearly a week of intense training, many freshmen had already quit the basketball team. The grueling regimen was too much for those who hadn't experienced such hardship in junior high school. However, more than 20 freshmen remained, determined to prove themselves. Kudo organized a series of matches among them and ultimately selected five standout players to join the team. The rest were allowed to continue training, though Kudo wouldn't focus as much attention on them. He still encouraged them, hoping that one of them might rise to prominence like Ajin from Hainan, who had gone from a reserve player to a nationally recognized marksman.
Kudo had also spent the past few days observing Sugiyama Shota. He found that Sugiyama, while not an exceptional jumper, had good athleticism for his size. Standing at 205 cm and weighing 95 kg, Sugiyama's height was a significant advantage, especially in Japanese high school basketball. His strength, free-throw accuracy, rebounding skills, and agility in the paint were all impressive. However, Sugiyama lacked offensive tools outside the paint and needed to improve his physical conditioning.
To address these weaknesses, Kudo used the Hook Hand Training Scroll (Advanced), Physical Strength Training Scroll (Advanced), and Strength Enhancement Potion (Advanced) on Sugiyama. These items cost Kudo a significant portion of his SD points, leaving him with only 700 remaining.
On Sunday morning, Kudo organized a practice match between the freshmen and the upperclassmen. The purpose was to evaluate the new players and give Sugiyama a chance to showcase his abilities.
"Alright, today we'll have a match between the freshmen and the upperclassmen," Kudo announced. "Sugiyama, you'll play for the freshmen team. Nakamura and Oshima, you two will decide the lineup for the upperclassmen."
The freshmen team consisted of Sugiyama as the center, Ushijima Ryosuke (188 cm, 75 kg) as the power forward, Yamamuro Keita (180 cm, 70 kg) as the small forward, Takemoto Naohi (178 cm, 67 kg) as the shooting guard, and Nakatani Ichirou (175 cm, 64 kg) as the point guard.
The upperclassmen, perhaps underestimating the freshmen, fielded a lineup of reserves: Sawamura Tomoki, Hosokawa Tatsuya, Sakagami Tomohide, Aihara Taichi, and Mizuhara Masashi. Aihara acted as the center, Hosokawa and Sakagami as forwards, and Sawamura and Mizuhara as guards.
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The game began with Sugiyama winning the jump ball, but the upperclassmen quickly took control. Mizuhara stole the ball from Nakatani and finished with a fast-break layup. The freshmen struggled to advance the ball, with Nakatani facing intense pressure from Sawamura and Mizuhara. The upperclassmen dominated the first five minutes, leading 18-0.
Sugiyama hadn't even touched the ball yet. Kudo called a timeout to regroup the freshmen.
"This is the reality of high school basketball," Kudo told the freshmen during the timeout. "It's tough, but you need to stay focused and keep fighting. Sugiyama, you're our key player. Get the ball and make something happen."
After the timeout, the upperclassmen eased their pressure slightly, allowing the freshmen to find their rhythm. Nakatani finally managed to bring the ball up the court and passed it to Sugiyama in the post.
"Finally, I get the ball," Sugiyama thought. He tested Aihara's defense, quickly realizing he had a significant strength advantage. Without hesitation, Sugiyama backed Aihara down, turned, and dunked the ball with authority.
The freshmen's morale lifted after Sugiyama's dunk. However, the upperclassmen remained composed. Mizuhara slowed the pace, looking to exploit the freshmen's inexperience. He passed the ball to Aihara, who tried to use his speed and agility to outmaneuver Sugiyama. But Sugiyama's defense was impenetrable, and Aihara's forced shot was blocked. Hosokawa grabbed the rebound but missed a mid-range jumper, and Yamamuro secured the defensive rebound.
The freshmen's offense now revolved around Sugiyama. He dominated the paint, scoring efficiently with turnaround shots and hook shots. On defense, Sugiyama's presence intimidated the upperclassmen, who began avoiding the paint after a few of their shots were blocked.
Despite Sugiyama's dominance, the upperclassmen used their speed and experience to execute fast breaks and maintain a slight lead. The game ended with the upperclassmen winning 60-58, but Sugiyama was the standout performer, finishing with 39 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 3 assists.
Sugiyama's performance left a lasting impression on the Shoyo team. His ability to score against double and triple teams showcased his potential as a dominant force in high school basketball.
After the match, Kudo gathered the team for a debrief.
"Good effort, everyone," Kudo said. "Sugiyama, you showed what you're capable of today. But remember, this is just the beginning. The real challenge is the main selection match this afternoon. Be ready."
The team nodded, energized by Sugiyama's performance and eager to prove themselves in the upcoming match. Kudo knew that with Sugiyama on the team, Shoyo's chances of reaching the nationals had significantly improved. The journey to the top was just beginning.