Chapter 307: Last 3 Minutes

The score on the court is 27 to 18.

Yukimiya Kazuma has 27 points; Aomine Daiki has 18.

From the start of the match until now, the entire audience has been thoroughly entertained.

Aomine is one thing, but no one expected that Yukimiya Kazuma of Izunomiya, who has been acting out of character today, would, once the ball reaches his hands, refuse to pass it out, just like Aomine.

On the court, Aomine Daiki's expression is very grim because, two turns ago, he finally realized that he had been tricked from the very beginning by that bastard, Yukimiya Kazuma.

Where was there any "Midorima three-pointers from everywhere"? Although no one knows how Yukimiya managed that opening shot, as his feral instinct deepened and his beastly senses perceived Yukimiya's breathing and rhythm during his mid-court shot, he gradually felt something was wrong.

In the end, he tentatively loosened his defense near the mid-court circle.

As expected.

This guy never intended to shoot from there in the first place!

Thinking back to how, hindered by that non-existent shooting threat, he had been easily broken through by Yukimiya so many times, allowing the opponent to seize the initiative, forcing him to sprint at full speed on every defensive turn, Aomine's face grew darker and darker.

At the same time...

he couldn't help but pant.

But this panting wasn't from anger; it was due to stamina depletion.

It hasn't even reached the end of the first quarter yet, but the duel between Aomine and Yukimiya in the first quarter is no joke; continuous offense and defense leave no time to catch one's breath.

And it is quite obvious...

when Imayoshi Shoichi, paying attention to the rhythm and wanting to execute standard tactics to relieve pressure on Aomine, saw that Yukimiya Kazuma on the opposite side seemed to have no such concern at all.

Even though the threat of "Midorima three-pointers from everywhere" was exposed, he still brought the ball up in the next turn, only now utilizing more screens.

His goal was to exhaust Aomine's stamina; otherwise, with his previous playing style, he would never have played this way.

Imayoshi Shoichi: "..."

Moreover, the worst part is that he actually succeeded.

Because of that opening design, Aomine was forced into a defensive disadvantage.

And the opponent's offense, relying on that non-existent super three-point threat, compared to the terrifying wrapping defense and abnormally high blocks Aomine faced on every shot, led to unfavorable offensive situations, while Yukimiya Kazuma's earlier play was exceptionally smooth and easy.

Furthermore, because of Yukimiya Kazuma's signature dual-mode shooting, most of the baskets were three-pointers; the score gap was thus widened step by step, and so was the stamina gap.

Currently.

It is Izunomiya's offensive turn.

Long Tian Zhang, having received Yukimiya Kazuma's eye signal (caaj), accelerated and ran over to set a screen for him.

Relying on his own powerful feral instinct, Aomine simply ignored this move and easily turned to dodge around it!

Long Tian Zhang was stunned!

He actually...

completely disregarded him!

Aomine's gaze indeed didn't even look at Long Tian Zhang; his attention was entirely fixed on Yukimiya Kazuma, while a flicker of surprise flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Yukimiya...

actually only shifted sideways using the screen, making no attempt to drive!

After Yukimiya Kazuma shifted one step sideways, he performed another crossover in front of his body, returning to the original position where Long Tian Zhang had set the screen. Long Tian Zhang, who was about to leave, froze his body, forcibly stopping the impulse to cut away.

Just like that.

Long Tian Zhang was sandwiched between Yukimiya Kazuma and Aomine.

In the next moment, Yukimiya Kazuma chose to shoot from the spot...

Asuka: Yumi-gakari!

"Asuka" has the characteristic of making subtle adjustments during the shooting motion to counter steals, but Aomine's feral instinct and agility are no joke; for safety's sake, Yukimiya chose to use Long Tian Zhang as a shield, utilizing his own height and Yumi-gakari's fadeaway ability to put the ball in!

Swish~!

Three points scored.

The score on the court is now 30 to 18.

"He scored again!"

"Come to think of it, what's wrong with Yukimiya Kazuma today? He's playing so selfishly."

"Indeed, it's completely unlike the group stage, or yesterday's match against Meisei."

"Although it's a 1v1 offense and defense, it feels like Aomine is running more and his movements are more exhausting, whereas Yukimiya Kazuma looks very relaxed."

"After all, Aomine had to defend at full strength starting from the mid-court circle before, and every time he had to use full power to block, then continue chasing the defense; but strangely, since a moment ago, he stopped defending, and Yukimiya Kazuma hasn't tried to initiate an attack from the mid-court circle again."

On the court.

Long Tian Zhang walked over to Yukimiya Kazuma's side, looking quite embarrassed, and asked, "Yukimiya, did you really need my screen just now? I felt like it had no effect at all; I was just standing there like I was being punished."

Yukimiya Kazuma, fully immersed in the 1v1 with Aomine, shook his head slightly. "How could that be..."

"Thanks to you, Aomine didn't have time to steal the ball."

"Really?" Long Tian Zhang didn't quite believe it.

"Yes. Once that first move was broken, with your help, I was able to save a lot of energy."

Hearing this, Long Tian Zhang nodded and couldn't help but turn his head to look at Aomine not far away.

Then he gave a self-mocking smile.

Seriously...

What was I thinking?

But...

before long, the belief in his heart began to waver again.