Chapter 243: The match ended very quickly

Neither side requested a timeout; the game flowed smoothly.

Even though Shutoku was already trailing Kirisaki First by 6 points at this moment.

Nakatani Nita knew clearly that Shutoku’s deficit had nothing to do with the tactics they had prepared.

It was purely that their players’ individual abilities were not a match.

Under Kirisaki First’s defense, Shutoku had shot 53% in the first quarter.

Such efficiency was not low; at the very least, last year, before Midorima arrived, Shutoku’s average field goal percentage was at this level.

In other words, facing the defending champions Kirisaki First, they had still played at their normal standard.

But this was not enough, because Kirisaki First’s shooting percentage in the first quarter had exceeded 70%.

Haizaki had made 7 of 9 shots, including 2 of 3 from three-point range, scoring a game-high 16 points.

In the Shutoku lineup, aside from Midorima, there was no player who could match up with Haizaki.

And Tendou, with 4 points and 8 assists in the first quarter, was involved in over 20 of the 27 points Kirisaki First had scored.

Looking at Midorima, he had no stats recorded for the quarter.

This meant that Nakatani Nita’s attempt to use Midorima to neutralize Tendou had failed.

Thinking of this, Nakatani Nita had no choice but to execute the second plan.

"Midorima, get ready; what happens next depends on you!"

Upon hearing this, Midorima, along with the other players, nodded vigorously.

"What kind of scheme are they cooking up?"

Tendou had a good habit.

He would open up an anime to watch during timeouts, and occasionally, he could even see the opponent’s tactical choices.

But this time, the production team kept a secret and did not reveal Shutoku’s intentions.

"Then I'll look forward to it a little."

The break between quarters passed quickly.

The ten players from both sides returned to the court, neither side making any substitution adjustments.

Once in the knockout stage, unless the lead was large enough, most teams would choose to let their starters play the entire game.

Kirisaki First had possession.

Right from the start, Haizaki scored 2 points on a mid-range jumper off an assist from Tendou.

Haizaki’s plundering potential was not as good as Kise’s copying, but his suppression of lower-tier players was the strongest.

You use it, I take it to use, and by the time I’m done, you can’t use it anymore.

It was unreasonable to the extreme!

Miyaji Kiyoshi received special attention from Haizaki; from his specialty drives to layups, and even his mid-range shots, everything was plundered by Haizaki.

If this continued, Miyaji Kiyoshi might not even know how to play basketball anymore.

But he had no complaints or regrets.

Shutoku’s basketball philosophy was "unyielding," and these four big characters were almost carved into Miyaji Kiyoshi’s DNA.

He was not a genius-type player.

In his first year of high school, Miyaji Kiyoshi didn’t even make the Shutoku roster; he couldn’t even get a spot as a substitute.

However, he was good at studying, so he would always finish his schoolwork as quickly as possible to devote his extra time to training.

Thus, by his second year, Miyaji Kiyoshi used his hard work to break into the Shutoku roster, becoming an important substitute for Shutoku.

But he wasn’t satisfied; he continued to work hard, using all his spare time for training, and finally became a starter for the powerhouse Shutoku in his final year of high school.

A player like this could not be killed!

Possession changed.

Shutoku had the ball; this time Midorima was not floating outside the team, and for the first time since the game started, all five Shutoku players participated in the offense.

"So, how are you going to play this?"

Tendou’s eyes locked onto every Shutoku player.

The futures of all five people flashed through his brain like a slideshow.

Under his gaze, the entire Shutoku team was moving rapidly, and everyone began to run.

In the end, they began to converge toward Midorima’s direction.

After Midorima and Takao Kazunari exchanged a look, he ran over directly to take possession of the ball.

Then, Midorima, whose main focus was shooting, launched an individual drive while facing Tendou.

"Midorima is going to play one-on-one against Tendou?" Someone found it unbelievable.

Although Midorima’s individual ability was outstanding—he had proven his ability when playing against Seirin.

But that was Seirin.

He was now facing Tendou, a player who could lock down Aomine and Akashi, and who had never lost a one-on-one.

"Is he really going to challenge Tendou one-on-one?"

"Of course it’s not one-on-one; we, Shutoku, are a five-man team!"

Nakatani Nita roared in his heart in response.

The next second, the moment Midorima started, Miyaji Kiyoshi moved close immediately, keeping his hands clearly visible, blocking firmly in front of Tendou.

It was useless; Tendou turned and chased after him.

However.

Just when people thought Shutoku was finished, Takao Kazunari also rushed over to set a screen for Midorima, followed by Kimura Shinsuke and Otsubo Taisuke.

"Infinite screens?!"

The fans at the scene were stunned; what was Shutoku trying to do?

They were using the entire team’s strength to create a shooting space for Midorima!

Was it worth it?

It was worth it!

Shutoku proved with their actions that Midorima was worth them doing this.

Infinite screens?

It should be infinite pick-and-rolls.

Shutoku’s players didn’t stay idle after completing their screens; they immediately started running, pulling all of Kirisaki First’s players away, giving them no chance to get close to Midorima.

Even so, Tendou admired Shutoku’s determination.

This wasn’t an ordinary pick-and-roll; it was the whole team creating a shooting opportunity for Midorima alone.

As long as there was someone in front of Midorima, they would continuously block that person and pull them away, keeping them far from Midorima.

This was truly using the strength of the whole team to fulfill one person, Midorima!

At this moment, there were a full 4 people standing between Tendou and Midorima.

Tendou bent his body downward, making a motion to gather power.

And Midorima, he was quickly using his teammates’ screens to find a shooting opportunity.

He was very cautious, wary of Tendou’s Six Eyes, ensuring that Tendou couldn’t catch up to him before throwing the ball into the hoop.

His seniors.

Miyaji Kiyoshi, a genius of effort, an ordinary player who couldn’t even make the roster, spent three years to become a regular.

He studied hard just to have more time to practice.

Kimura Shinsuke, whose family ran a fruit shop, usually had to help out at home, so his time was limited.

But just like Miyaji Kiyoshi, he always found ways to add extra training. As long as the distance wasn’t far, he would run while delivering goods, using the fruit as weight-training equipment.

Otsubo Taisuke, the captain of the basketball club, although he would often lose his temper due to his own willfulness, was a reliable senior who would wake up early to help buy lucky items and took great care of him.

Takao Kazunari, well, Midorima didn’t want to mention that reckless guy.

In short, Midorima only wanted to throw the ball into that damn hoop; this was a shooting opportunity the whole team had created for him.

*Boom~*

When the basketball returned to his control, Midorima, having run into an opening, didn’t hesitate; he gathered the ball and prepared to jump and shoot.

But, it was also at this moment that Tendou’s magnetic voice suddenly rang in his ear.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form!"

"Four!"

As the words fell, Tendou transformed into a streak of white light and rushed out.

The speed was so fast it made one’s hair stand on end; Shutoku’s four players hadn’t even rolled to the basket before he completed four direction changes in an instant.

"Step!"

Tendou stepped heavily on the floor; the unusual extreme speed meant his body was tilted when he completed the sudden stop.

"Almost got shaken off by you, Midorima." His eyes were exceptionally bright, dazzling like gemstones, yet they made Midorima feel a chill.

"How is that possible!!" Nakatani Nita saw this and stood up directly from his seat.

What had he just seen?

That Tendou Tiandao Tiandao Jingyan had completed four direction changes in one breath, passing through the screen formed by the four Shutoku players, and caught up to Midorima...