Even though Morishige Hiroshi was sprinting with all his might, no matter how fiercely he pumped his legs, he couldn't catch up to the ball.
Miyagi drove straight into the paint, now defended only by Kawashima Naoto. Hayama's tall build became a burden instead of an advantage—Miyagi didn't even need to feint; he simply slipped past diagonally with his speed. Meihou's players scrambled back, collapsing toward the rim.
After clearing Hayama, Miyagi continued the assault, then abruptly switched hands, brushing tightly past Kawashima. He went under the backboard as if preparing a reverse layup—but didn't shoot. Instead, he looped back out and sent the ball flying toward the arc.
The timing was perfect. Nango, cutting along the sideline, arrived just beyond the three-point line. He caught the pass with both hands and rose up smoothly.
Miyagi's pupils shrank. He yelled frantically, "Behind you!!"
But Nango had already sensed the thunderous footsteps in his peripheral vision—Fatty closing in like a charging rhino.
Still, he didn't stop.
His knees bent. His toes nearly lifted. His wrists prepared to snap forward—
"Thump! Thump!!"
Morishige Hiroshi took two heavy steps and launched himself into the air, attempting a mid-air interception.
But he flew past nothing.
Nango dropped back down, landing calmly. And the instant Morishige completely overshot—
Nango rose again.
A quick-release jumper.
Splash. Three points.
The lead stretched again.
Coach Murai trembled with rage. He glared daggers at Nango, muttering viciously, "That brat! How many times have I told him?! Still the same mistakes! And this hateful first-year kid—using our dunk opportunity to launch a fast break?! Unforgivable!"
Meihou's fans sagged in their seats. They had just stood up to cheer Morishige's dunk, only to be crushed back down seconds later.
Morishige Hiroshi's expression soured. This was the first time he'd suffered such a silent loss following a dunk. So in the next possession, his body language made it clear—he was furious.
Meihou ran another pick-and-roll. Miyagi got caught in Morishige's screen again, but this time it wasn't a wall of meat—it was a brick wall. Morishige braced fully, and the impact nearly knocked Miyagi off his feet.
Seeing Miyagi stagger, Hayama immediately fired a bounce pass to Morishige.
Nango grimaced. Letting him dunk freely again is too much…
After a brief hesitation, he stepped under the basket.
Morishige's eyes lit up. Redemption. He charged in with even more force.
Sendo's smile faded.
Akagi's face darkened.
The gym held its breath.
Boom!
Both jumped simultaneously.
Morishige brought the ball back behind his head and swung forward with explosive power.
Nango raised both arms like a volleyball blocker, meeting him head-on.
Clap!!
Nango made contact with the ball—but also with Morishige's hand.
Beep!
The whistle blew immediately.
Both crashed back to the floor—Morishige landing solidly, Nango stumbling backward several steps before bracing himself and clutching his chest.
Kano shot up in panic, grabbing Eri's arm.
"Is Nango okay?! He's hurt, isn't he?!"
Eri gave her a soothing pat. "Calm down. He just needs to catch his breath."
Sakuragi and the others surrounded him.
"Nango!"
"You alright?!"
"Need to rest??"
"I'm fine… just let me breathe…" Nango hissed, rubbing his chest.
Damn… completely miscalculated.
Shouldn't have challenged him straight on.
And I even picked up a foul. What a loss…
Wait.
A foul?
Nango blinked. He recalled something.
Has Morishige even taken a free throw today?
Could it be… he's weak at the line? Should we try hacking him?
But his thought was shattered instantly.
Morishige stepped up and coolly sank both free throws—clean form, steady rhythm, obviously trained.
Nango sighed. So much for small tricks… This one has to be won honestly.
After the inbound, he pulled Miyagi and Sakuragi aside.
"If they run pick-and-roll again, I think we should double-team Hayama first," Nango said seriously. "Don't let him pass to Morishige. If he gets the ball, we're dead."
Miyagi nodded. The last few possessions proved that point clearly.
But Sakuragi raised a hand. "Why not double-team Morishige instead?"
Double Morishige… and leave Hayama alone?
Nango and Miyagi exchanged looks. Considered it.
Two seconds later, Miyagi said, "Near the end of the first half, Morishige couldn't get the ball. Their entire offense collapsed."
Nango nodded. "Let the other four be the scorers, huh?"
Sakuragi folded his arms triumphantly. "Exactly! The rest of them are trash compared to him!"
"Alright. I'll tell Rukawa and Mitsui to collapse inside," Nango concluded, heading to inbound the ball.
Miyagi brought the ball up and waited for Nango to set up, but instead of cutting inside, Nango set a screen at the three-point line. Miyagi used it to drive in—but was immediately confronted by two towering defenders.
Kawashima's length deterred a pull-up jumper. Miyagi could only keep driving.
Morishige tracked every step. Miyagi didn't dare shoot over him, so he circled under the rim again and threw a pass outward.
But Meihou had seen this play too many times.
Kawashima Naoto stretched out his long arm—
Swipe!
A clean steal.
Still, Meihou couldn't fast break. Shohoku's speed shut that down at once.
Forced into another half-court set, Meihou initiated another pick-and-roll.
But this time—
Miyagi and Sakuragi abandoned Hayama and double-teamed Morishige instantly.
Hayama blinked in shock. They actually left him wide open??
He immediately pulled up.
Clang!
A clean miss.
Nango grabbed the rebound easily, and Shohoku took possession once more.