Chapter Eighty-Eight: Is This Right?
"Let's go."
Coach Taoka rose first, leading Ryonan's players out.
If the morning's observed Masahou was a team with decent strength, then Shutoku they'd just witnessed made Ryonan's members feel tremendous threat.
Just as materials collected by the coaching staff indicated, Shutoku's playing style centered on first-year Midorima Shintaro. And this "Generation of Miracles" member was completely qualified to receive such treatment.
Beyond that, every position on Shutoku was strong—nearly impossible to find obvious weaknesses. Takasago Kazuma was at least one of Kanagawa's four great centers, yet he'd gained no advantage whatsoever in the paint.
Precisely because of this, Coach Takato hadn't even dared to bring in Kainan's other shooter Miyamasu Yoshinori. Otherwise, with opponents' defense having no holes, Miyamasu Yoshinori would instead become Kainan's weakness.
However, regardless, this was only the tournament's first day.
For Group A's Ryonan to face Group D's Shutoku, both had to advance first.
"Hikoichi, did you complete your assignment properly?"
After returning to the team's lodging inn, Yagami Sorato found Aida Hikoichi.
"Of course, I'm a professional!" Aida Hikoichi said proudly. "They definitely have many small movements, but calling them malicious seems like a stretch."
"I see. Maybe opponents' strength isn't sufficient to make them use underhanded methods yet." Yagami Sorato said thoughtfully.
During the afternoon match, Aida Hikoichi hadn't watched with Ryonan's members. Instead, he'd taken his video camera to observe Kirisaki Daiichi's game.
After Yagami Sorato explained his concerns to teammates, though everyone found it hard believing someone would commit malicious injury in high school games, to prevent problems before they arose, Coach Taoka also agreed to have Aida Hikoichi investigate first.
"I asked my sister for their previous game recordings. If we need to watch for Hanamiya Makoto, last year's footage should be sufficient." Aida Hikoichi said.
"Mm, I'll leave this to you."
"Hehe, no problem!"
Regional preliminaries, Day 2 schedule:
Group A: Ryonan vs Masahou, Kirisaki Daiichi vs Kaisei
Group B: Urayasu vs Shohoku, Seirin vs Yuta
Group C: Touou vs Kaijo, Shumei vs Izumikan Tsumugu
Group D: Umezawa vs Shutoku, Ikemoto vs Kasugabe
"Kanagawa teams' matches are all scheduled for morning. So hard to choose." Weekly Basketball's rookie editor Nakamura Heisuke looked distressed. "Senpai, which match should we watch?"
"Obviously all of them!" Aida Yayoi looked sharp and full of energy. "The venues aren't far apart. Just allocate time properly."
"Huh? All of them?" Nakamura Heisuke lamented.
"Ryonan is Kanagawa's champion team. Their match obviously can't be missed."
"Shohoku's opponent Urayasu Commercial High School is Chiba Prefecture's champion team, a nationals regular. Naturally must be covered too."
"And Kaijo versus Touou's match, not only like yesterday is a showdown between the two strongest regions—Kanagawa and Tokyo—but their aces are both 'Generation of Miracles' members. This match is also today's most anticipated!"
Aida Yayoi rattled them off before glancing at Nakamura Heisuke.
"Tell me, which match can we skip?"
"Go! Must go to all of them!" Nakamura Heisuke straightened his chest, answering loudly.
Though knowing this might sound bad, thank goodness Kainan was eliminated yesterday. Otherwise this morning would require running to four venues... he silently thought.
When the two arrived at Court A, Ryonan and Masahou's teams had already begun warming up.
"Whoa, you guys are Kanagawa's champion team?" A monk-headed guy pointed at Ryonan's members in amazement. "You look so ordinary!"
"Huh?" Ryonan's members all turned toward him.
"Ooh, two meters is really tall!" Tsugawa Tomoki said excitedly. "But I've watched footage—your technique is poor even among centers!"
"Brat!" Uozumi Jun walked before him, staring down from his height advantage.
"THUMP!"
Masahou High School's captain Iwamura Tsutomu hammered Tsugawa Tomoki's head with one fist. "Don't run around, idiot!"
"Sorry, this guy speaks without thinking." Iwamura Tsutomu pulled Tsugawa Tomoki behind him, nodding slightly toward Uozumi Jun. "He's always like this—whatever enters his mind comes straight out."
"What?!"
After interacting with Yagami Sorato so much, Uozumi Jun could completely understand this level of cold mockery. Wasn't this saying his poor technique was fact?!
The referee heard Uozumi Jun's roar and looked over, gesturing for both teams' players to separate.
"Uozumi-senpai, you won't get provoked this easily, will you?" Yagami Sorato looked at him.
"Of course not!" Uozumi Jun's face showed fury. "This match, we absolutely crush them!"
"Yes, Uozumi-senpai!" Koshino Hiroaki brimmed with fighting spirit, determined to display his training results in this game.
"Haha, everyone's very fired up." Sendoh Akira laughed easily.
"That's not it at all!" Ikegami Ryoji rolled his eyes. "But we definitely crush them. These bastards actually dare look down on us!"
Warmups ended. Both teams' players stood at center circle.
"Please take care of us!!"
Before the match even started, the court's gunpowder smell was already extremely thick.
Ryonan's starting lineup: Point guard Yagami Sorato, shooting guard Koshino Hiroaki, small forward Sendoh Akira, power forward Ikegami Ryoji, center Uozumi Jun.
Masahou's starting lineup: Point guard Kasuga Ryuhei (179cm/66kg), shooting guard Tsugawa Tomoki (180cm/68kg), small forward Sakamoto Kenjiro (178cm/65kg), power forward Omuro Yoshikazu (185cm/75kg), center Iwamura Tsutomu (187cm/87kg).
From both sides' physiques, Masahou's starting lineup was a size smaller than Ryonan's players, but their faces showed no fear whatsoever.
"TWEET!"
As the whistle sounded, the referee tossed the ball vertically into the air.
"PAP!"
Uozumi Jun used absolute height advantage to tip the ball toward Ryonan's direction.
"ROAR!" Uozumi Jun's strange roar made both teams on court shake.
Yagami Sorato caught the ball and, as expected, paused briefly. After picking his ear with one hand, he rapidly pushed forward.
"Don't think you're getting past!" Tsugawa Tomoki stopped him at the three-point line. "Actually, I'm surprised you guys could beat Kise. Did you match up against him?"
"Hehe, let me see your ability!"
Yagami Sorato protected the ball, glancing inside. "Little baldy, you're a bit noisy."
Uozumi Jun charged into the paint. As Yagami Sorato pulled back creating space, he simultaneously flicked the ball out with one hand.
"Rather than worrying about Uozumi-senpai's technique, think about how to stop such a giant beast."
"PAP!"
After entering past the free-throw line, Uozumi Jun received the pass. Both feet pushed off simultaneously as he took flight!
Iwamura Tsutomu had just established position when he noticed shadows overhead. Uozumi Jun's frame completely blocked the gymnasium's ceiling lights!
"Is this right?" A question suddenly appeared in his mind.
"BANG!!"
Uozumi Jun hammered the ball heavily through the rim with both hands. Iwamura Tsutomu flew straight backward out of bounds.
"ROAR!" Uozumi Jun bellowed furiously.
No whistle!
Spectacular poster dunk!
Ryonan 2 - Masahou 0
"Seems your captain's technique isn't good enough to stop him yet." Yagami Sorato smiled.
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