Chapter 45 : VS Shutoku IV : It's Raining Three Here!
"Good job, everyone!" Riko praised her players, and a rare, satisfied smile could be seen on her face. Her expression is mimicked by her players as she could see the goofy grin on her players' faces. But her smile vanished immediately as she wore her usual serious expression.
"Okay, let's focus on the second quarter, as it would be harder for us to keep it up." Her players straightened their backs and sharpened their eyes to keep their focus on the coach.
"For the players, Kagami-kun, Kuroko-kun, you are out."
"What? Why?!"
Not only Kagami, but everyone on the team is also looking at Riko with shocked expressions. Kagami is the first player who managed to block Midorima's shoot since the tournament begin, after all. Putting him on the bench right after he got the block would cut off his momentum, which was kind of a bit stupid decision by her coach.
However, Riko answered all their question just by pointing at Kagami's legs.
"Your legs are shaking." She spoke, "I know you haven't noticed it yet, due to the adrenaline of the game. But I counted since the beginning of the game, you have already jumped eight times this quarter. Five times to stop Midorima and three times to dunk the ball. You forced your knees to hold the weight of your body that much and it is only in the first quarter. Adding that with the exhaustion from the last game, I am afraid you will end up with an injury before the game is over."
Now, the mood turned from a happy one to a somber one as they all noticed Kagami's condition. After thinking for a few seconds, Kagami let out a dejected sigh before asking,
"If I am not on the court, what's your idea of stopping him?"
Now, Riko is smirking as an idea comes to her head.
"Well, if he is still playing, just let him take all the shoot he wants."
"What?" Everyone is surprised and looked at Riko in confusion. "Why would we do that? He is their main scorer, should we try to stop him?" Koganei voiced their confusion.
"Normally, yes, we would do that." Riko nodded, admitted Koganei's point. "However, no one except Kagami-kun can stop him, right? That's why, if he is still on the court for the second quarter, Koganei, you will be the one who guards him. Use all your tricks to tire him up. We might let him score, but not that easy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, coach!" Even though Koganei still doesn't understand the strategy, he still gives his coach a nod.
"Meanwhile, for our offense.." Her grin widened more, frightening several players. "They are not the only ones who have good shooters, right? Junpei, Furihata-kun, are you ready?"
The two best shooters in Seirin shared the same grin, knowing their coach's intention.
"Ooh.. I have been waiting for this since the beginning." Hyuga chuckled a little, a hint of excitement could be seen on his face.
"Yeah." Riko nodded. "If we cannot stop Midorima, all we need to do is to outscore him. They might have Midorima, but we have two decent shooters that might only be one level behind him. Let's make this quarter a raining three!"
"Yes, coach!"
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"So, Senpai, what do you think will happen in the second quarter?" Kise asked Kasamatsu on the spectator seat. Kaijo's captain pondered for a moment before he shrugged,
"Well, I can think of a lot of scenarios that could happen in the second quarter. For the starter, will both the red-hair and your former teammates play from the start again?"
Kise frowned a little before replying,
"I don't know about Kagamicchi, but Kurokocchi would not play for the beginning, I think. He is not the best with stamina. And as for Midorimacchi, he is one of the best among all five of us in terms of endurance, so there is no doubt he will play."
"Yeah, but that is if you see it from the physical aspect only," Kasamatsu nodded his head, confusing Kise for a bit. "Think of it from his psychological side. This is the first time someone managed to block his shoot, so no one knows how his mental state is right now. If I were his coach, I would no doubt put him on a bench, letting him rest for a while and to keep his mind calm."
"I guess that makes sense.." Kise nodded while letting out a little hum, thinking about his former teammate's condition.
"Either way, you will see that in about a minute. Both teams are already prepared for the game again. See, your former teammate is sitting on the bench." Kasamatsu pointed his fingers at Shutoku's bench. Kise nodded a little before asking another question.
"So, without their aces on the court, what do you think will happen?"
Kasamatsu let out a small snort before he replied,
"You underestimate both teams, Kise." Seeing the confused face from his kouhai, he continued speaking, "I mean, of course, your former teammate is strong as hell. But Shutoku is not a small team, you know? They were the third place in the last inter-high tournament and beat us to fourth place, you know? Even without Midorima, they are still a very strong team, so I doubt it would affect them too much."
"So, it will still be in Shutoku's favor?"
"I wonder about that too.."
Kasamatsu didn't give a direct answer to Kise's last question. Instead, he let his gaze land on Seirin players, where Furihata is warming up a little. Seeing the relaxing atmosphere among Seirin players, he knows they are up to something, and he couldn't wait to see it too.
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The second quarter started with the ball on Seirin's possession. Now, the five on the court for Seirin are Izuki, Furihata, Hyuga, Koganei, and Tsuchida. It is a roster designed for a three-point game like this.
However, when they saw the players on Shutoku's side, they frowned a little.
"So, Midorima is not here, huh?" Furihata muttered.
"Well, it is understandable. They want to keep their best player fresh in the critical moment. We couldn't do anything about it." Hyuga shrugged nonchalantly. However, seeing the smirk on Furihata's face, Hyuga knows his Kouhai is up to something.
"What are you thinking, brat?" Hyuga knows whatever Furihata thinks would be catastrophic for their opponent, so he couldn't help but feel excited as well.
"Nothing drastic really." Furihata shrugged. "I just wonder what would their reaction be if we widen the gap with a three-point game. I mean, it's their style, right? With Midorima on the team? That would be like spitting on their face."
His grin widened as he couldn't stop himself from bouncing in excitement. Hyuga could only smile wryly as he muttered,
'He is really a terrible person.'
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The game started with the ball in Izuki's hand. On the left side of the court, Furihata is being guarded by Shutoku's #20 who is on the court for Midorima.
"No Midorima here?" Furihata exclaimed in a mocking tone. "I guess that will be an easy time for us." The happy tone that comes from his mouth really irritates his guard so much as his guard snaps,
"Don't underestimate me!"
Furihata raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Ooh.. I am not underestimating you! I am just stating the truth! You are far weaker than Midorima, after all. I bet I could make the next shoot on you."
He could see his guard clenched his fist, but not giving him any answer.
"Another silent type, huh? You guys are no fun." He sighed before started running to the paint area.
"WHAT?!"
His guard tried to follow him, but he was getting blocked by Tsuchida's screen which came out of nowhere. Furihata didn't stop in the paint area and kept running, passing Koganei who is in the high post area before arriving on the right wing.
"HERE!" He yelled at Izuki, asking for the ball.
Seeing his guard is almost three steps behind, Izuki didn't hesitate to pass the ball to Furihata. However, before he could pull up a shoot, Otsubo suddenly appeared in front of him, extending his arm high to block the ball.
"Not so easy, Brat!"
Furihata knows about it too. That's why he slides the ball to his right side, where Hyuga is waiting in the corner without anyone guarding him.
"What? Where is the defense?!" Otsubo shouted in surprise, couldn't believe his teammates letting the shooting guard in a wide-open position like this.
Furihata smirked, already knowing that his senpai would be in a wide-open position. The reason he runs around the court from left to right like a fool is not only to get more space and get rid of his guard but also to scatter Shutoku's defense. And now, with all their defense centered on the paint area, Hyuga could take a shoot with ease, resulting in another three-point for Seirin.
*Splash!*
28 – 32
"Nice one, Captain!"
"Good pass, Furihata-kun!"
They celebrated for a while before turning their focus back on the defense. Now, the game restarted with the ball in Takao's hand with Izuki guarding him. Takao decided to make it simple, throw the ball high to Kimura who is waiting in the low post area.
"Nice pass, Takao!"
In terms of strength, Koganei is clearly not a perfect match for Kimura, so the power forward is overpowering him easily before making an easy layup under the paint.
30 – 32
That was an easy point, yet no one from Shutoku celebrated it. They know that Seirin is still in the lead, so they choose to focus back on their defense quickly.
The game started again with the ball in Izuki's hand. However, Shutoku switched their defense by having Takao guarding Furihata and Izuki with their #20.
"Oh, you are here again," Furihata spoke. "I am a bit disappointed to not face Midorima here. But I think you will be sufficient enough this time. The earlier is too weak, after all."
"Well, what can I say? You are a hundred years earlier to challenge him." Takao shrugged but still kept his guard tight.
Furihata nodded, but he furrowed his brows a little seeing how off his teammates' positioning is.
'This is too scattered. If they are going to do a man-to-man marking, it would be tough for Tsuchida-senpai and Koganei-senpai, but as long as the ball goes in, it doesn't matter.'
Izuki who is holding the ball also realized that, so he asked Tsuchida for a pick-and-roll game.
"Nice one, Tsuchida!" Izuki shouted after passing the screen. It doesn't really get rid of his guard, but at least now there is more space to exploit in the high post area.
But Izuki doesn't see it that way. By doing a pick-and-roll game, he knows the focus on his opponents would fall on either him or Tsuchida. Yet he still remembers their strategy for this quarter.
'Make it a raining three!'
After attracting the attention of the defender, he kicked the ball outside where Hyuga is waiting. But unlike before, Miyaji is in front of him, ready to stop the shoot whenever he wants.
"Not that easy!"
Yet just like in the earlier play, Hyuga slides the ball to his left where Furihata suddenly appeared in a very good spot in the wing side area with Takao chasing him from behind.
"Nice pass, Senpai!"
When Takao saw Furihata taking a stance for another three, he gritted his teeth and jumped quickly to the ball, trying to block the shoot.
"Not gonna happen, bastard!"
However, Furihata just backed down from his shooting form, letting Takao pass him in the air before he pulled up another three-point shoot.
*Splash!*
A pump fake three!
"Good shoot, Furihata-kun!"
"Nice as always!"
While his teammates wanted to celebrate his shoot, Furihata is thinking about keeping the pressure on, so he shouted at his senpai,
"Keep it up!"
When all the senpai hears what he said, they all knew his intention and keep the pressure on Shutoku players immediately from their own side.
A full-court press!
Shutoku players are trying to move the ball faster to get out of their own zone, but when Otsubo passes the ball to Kimura on the Seirin's side, Koganei suddenly appeared in front of Kimura, blocking the path of the pass.
"SHIT!"
"STEAL! DEFENSE, GO BACK!"
They tried to warn their teammates who have already been in the offense position. However, it was way too late as Seirin is already punishing their scattered defense by giving the ball to Hyuga.
Seirin captain didn't hesitate for a second before pulling up another shoot, and this time, it is from way downtown.
*Splash!*
Another three! This is Hyuga's third three-point shoot today!
"LET'S GO, CAPTAIN!"
"WE ARE ON FIRE TODAY!"
"IT'S A RAINING THREE!"
All Seirin players celebrated like crazy. However, their celebration was stopped by the sound of the buzzer, and when they saw Midorima is already on the sideline, Hyuga and Furihata couldn't help but lick their own lips in excitement, couldn't wait to have a head-on battle against the best shooting guard in Japan right biw.
"So, the boss is coming again, huh?"
30 – 38
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