Chapter 51

With the players ready, the referees wasted no time and one of them positioned themselves in the middle for the jump ball. Otsubo represented Shutoku in the jump ball, while the center from Shinmei Academy, who was slightly shorter but still formidable, prepared to jump against him.

As Otsubo and the opposing center faced each other, it was evident that Otsubo had the advantage with his muscular physique. The opposing center seemed somewhat intimidated by Otsubo, especially with his serious expression and distinctive thick eyebrows, which made him appear grumpy.

Once all the players took their positions, the referee tossed the ball up for the jump ball. As expected, Otsubo easily won the jump ball and tapped it to Takao, who was ready and waiting.

Takao didn't rush into action after receiving the ball. He waited for the opposing team's players to cross the half-court line before dribbling towards the center of the court. Takao called for a basic isolation play, as he was still getting a feel for the game since his last match was a long time ago in middle school. Despite feeling slightly nervous and excited, he didn't want it to affect his performance, so he called for a post-up play.

Recognizing his signal, his teammates quickly cleared out, leaving no opposition for the post-up play with Otsubo. Seeing his teammates clear out, Takao passed the ball to Otsubo once he reached his ideal position. After the pass, Takao also cleared out to create space for the post-up play.

Rather than rushing to back down his defender, Otsubo surveyed the floor to assess if he would face a double team. Surprisingly, no one from the opposing team intended to double-team him, so he aggressively backed down, using his strength to push his defender closer to the paint.

As Otsubo approached the basket, the double team finally came, but it was too late. Otsubo shielded the ball from his defender using his body and smoothly executed an easy layup under the basket, scoring the first points of the game and bringing the score to 2-0 in favor of Shutoku.

With the successful post-up play, his teammates swiftly jogged back to the other side of the court to defend. It was now Shinmei Academy's possession, and their point guard attempted to pass the ball towards the half-court line. However, Takao applied immediate pressure, not allowing him an easy time crossing the half-court line.

Caught off guard by Takao's pressure defense, the point guard was forced to pick up the ball with both hands, rendering him unable to continue dribbling. He looked to his teammates for support, realizing that the referee was close to calling an 8-second violation. Consequently, he passed the ball toward the half-court to one of his teammates.

However, it proved to be a significant mistake as Ichigo swiftly intercepted the pass, positioning himself in front of the ball. He jumped up with tremendous height to catch the ball, leaving the Shinmei player behind him astonished, as if witnessing someone flying through the air.

After landing, Ichigo wasted no time and immediately initiated a fast break, passing the ball ahead to Takao, who had already sprinted ahead with the Shinmei point guard. Takao anticipated Ichigo's intentions and rushed towards the basket as if going for a layup.

Anticipating Takao's layup, his defender tried to get close to block the shot. To his surprise, Takao simply tossed the ball towards the backboard. The Shinmei point guard believed Takao had overthrown the shot and went for the rebound.

But just as he prepared to grab the rebound, he noticed a shadow looming over him. Before he could even turn around, he felt someone jump over his back.

Ichigo, who had passed the ball to Takao, maintained his momentum, knowing that the ball would return to him. As expected, Takao's pass was intended for an alley-oop play. Ichigo didn't disappoint as he leaped with force to catch the ball. He also sensed someone beneath him but paid it no mind as he executed a powerful windmill dunk.

A referee blew his whistle, signaling an "Over the back foul, number 9, Shinmei's ball." Hearing the call, the players on Shutoku's bench immediately expressed their dissatisfaction, booing the referee. Some fans in the crowd, especially passionate Shutoku supporters, joined in, as they were excited about the play and disregarded whether it was legal or not—they just wanted it to count.

Ichigo was taken aback by the foul call but chose not to argue and simply shook his head in frustration. Even Takao wore an irritated expression after his and Ichigo's impressive play was nullified. It would have been an unforgettable highlight, but the referee had to spoil the moment by calling a foul on Ichigo.

The game resumed with Shinmei Academy regaining possession. As the ball was inbounded to their point guard, he took his time, keeping an eye out for Takao.

Takao immediately applied pressure defense as the point guard received the ball. However, this time, the point guard was ready and evaded Takao's defense. Unbeknownst to him, as he passed by Takao, someone swiftly poked the ball out of his hands.

Ichigo, determined to make up for his previous mistake, didn't rush back to the other side of the court. He patiently waited for the right moment to strike, like a predator waiting for its prey to pass by.

The opportunity presented itself when the point guard, having evaded Takao, momentarily let his guard down. Ichigo pounced on the opportunity, swiftly poking the ball away from him.

The ball bounced towards Takao, who was chasing behind the Shinmei point guard. As Takao retrieved the ball, Ichigo sprinted towards the basket, signaling for the pass. Takao, not wanting a repeat of the previous turnover, made a safe decision and executed a basic bounce pass to Ichigo.

Ichigo caught the ball as he accelerated towards the basket. With his proximity to the rim, a single dribble and a few steps placed him directly in front of it. Perhaps fueled by his lingering frustration from the previous play, Ichigo decided to put on a show. He went between his legs and unleashed an Eastbay dunk, showcasing his incredible athleticism and flair.

The crowd erupted with excitement after witnessing Ichigo's incredible dunk. It was a move they had never seen before in a game, and even the players from both Shutoku and Shinmei were amazed by his athleticism.

Feeling proud of his accomplishment, Ichigo had successfully redeemed himself after his previous failed play. The game paused momentarily as the crowd continued to cheer. It took a few minutes for the excitement to die down and for the game to resume.

With the momentum firmly on Shutoku's side, they continued to dominate the game. Takao and Ichigo's relentless pressure defense made the game fast-paced and challenging for Shinmei. Shutoku players put on a show, executing dunks from Ichigo and Otsubo, as well as a barrage of three-pointers from Midorima, scoring from various angles on the court.

Even when the bench players from Shutoku entered the game, their defense remained formidable, making it difficult for Shinmei Academy to score. It was clear that Shinmei was greatly affected by Shutoku's defense, struggling to find opportunities to put points on the board.

On the other hand, Shutoku had free rein on the court, enjoying a one-sided victory. Ichigo decided to showcase his dunking abilities, opting to score mainly through powerful dunks. He also displayed his improved dribbling skills, effortlessly maneuvering past the opposing team's players.

While Coach Nakatani might not have been entirely pleased with Ichigo's antics, he allowed it to continue, understanding that it provided a stress relief for the players and added entertainment value for the Shutoku supporters in the crowd.

As a result, the first game of the tournament for Shutoku High ended as a complete blowout. The final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game, with the score at 140-35 in favor of Shutoku. Coach Nakatani had already pulled out his starters in the middle of the third quarter, recognizing the significant lead his team had established.

By that point, Shutoku had already reached a score of 99-18 after the starters were substituted, demonstrating their overwhelming dominance. The game was a clear indication of Shutoku's prowess and set the stage for their future matches in the tournament.

As the game came to a close, the referees gathered the players from both teams at the center of the court for the customary post-game greetings. In this face-to-face encounter, the players from Shutoku High remained filled with excitement, particularly the bench players who were unsure when they would get another chance to play in the tournament.

On the other hand, the players from Shinmei Academy wore gloomy expressions, having been eliminated from the tournament after just their first game in the preliminaries. Despite their devastation, they accepted their loss, acknowledging the formidable strength of Shutoku.

Once the players finished their bows, the coaches from both teams shook hands as a sign of respect. Despite the convincing victory, Coach Nakatani praised the opposing team's coach and players. He also offered words of consolation to the opposing coach, who simply nodded in response. The Shinmei coach also expressed admiration for Coach Nakatani's players, particularly the freshmen—Ichigo, Takao, and Midorima.

And just like that, Ichigo and his team had a successful start to their tournament debut by blowing out their first opponent.