Homi Academy won the jump ball first. The team's point guard brought the ball across half-court, then decisively handed it over to Yuuto.
Possessing only the "The Big Fundamental" talent, Yuuto demonstrated what simple and efficient basketball is right from the start.
The small forward matching up against him was the opposing team's scoring leader.
But as high as his offensive talent was, his defense was equally terrible.
He wasn't strong in confrontation, and his footwork was slow.
He was assigned to mark Yuuto because Yuuto didn't run particularly fast last year. With just a slight delay, the rest of the team could immediately complete the defensive rotation.
Of course, Yuuto wouldn't let pass the opportunity to squeeze a soft persimmon.
"Bring it on, Yuuto! I'll let everyone know who the strongest small forward in Tochigi Prefecture is!"
"The louder you bark, the more guilty you prove to be." Yuuto wasn't a typical Japanese person; he loved trash talk too much.
He looked at his opponent with disdain and said, "If I don't crush you, people might think you're a player on my level."
"Nani?!"
The opponent in front of him obviously hadn't heard such meaningful trash talk.
Even when they trash-talked usually, it was stuff like, "I will definitely defeat you today," "You are strong but I am stronger," "Feel the gap between you and me," and so on.
In his astonishment, Yuuto had already passed the defender in one step.
Too simple.
Just dipping a shoulder and changing direction, the opponent was thrown into the Pacific Ocean by him.
After breaking through, Yuuto skillfully stopped and jumped to shoot in a textbook posture.
He even had ample time to adjust his breathing rhythm while in the air.
Swish!
Yuuto opened the scoring.
"So simple?"
"Asakura's defense is as stable as ever."
"That's right, so stable it's like he isn't even there."
"With this kind of ball, I could do it too if I went up!"
"..."
The audience didn't know how to complain.
This play.
No matter how you looked at it, it was very ordinary. It didn't look like Yuuto was awesome, but rather that the opponent was too trash.
But the head coach of Yamaguchi High School, Homi Academy's opponent today, had his pupils shrink sharply.
"Is it my illusion?"
Although his disciple's defense was bad, it wasn't bad to this extent.
Moreover.
Based on his understanding of Yuuto, he wasn't a player known for ball-handling.
In his understanding, Yuuto was a player who used his brain, knowing how to use his physical advantage to bully ordinary people.
But today...
"I hope it's my illusion." He planned to continue observing.
Yamaguchi High's turn.
Drawing cards... (Likely a metaphor for setting up plays/strategy)
Their tactical goal today focused mainly on speed.
Ota still carried a lot of weight in Tochigi Prefecture; his large model was the strongest weapon.
But while he was tall and strong, it also meant he moved slowly.
In set offense, they focused on screens.
The team center pulled to the high post immediately. If Ota didn't come out, they looked for shooting opportunities in the mid-range. If Ota came out, they hit the ball into the paint.
Ota chose to follow out, perhaps because they had practiced pick-and-roll tactics a lot recently.
One has to say, in middle school level games, tactics are simple and easy to understand.
After all, if it's complicated, the players can't digest it.
Asakura's defense wasn't good, but his offense was very active.
Using his teammates' screens, he was like a sharp knife piercing straight into Homi Academy's heartland.
Crossover between the legs, step forward, then drop step and push off to break through.
With a standard hesitation move, he passed the defender, broke into the paint, and skillfully jumped for a bank shot.
While in the air, he had even thought about how to respond to Yuuto after scoring.
Until the dome spotlight was suddenly swallowed by Yuuto.
Yuuto's jumping ability was average, but after his speed increased to 80 points, his jump speed took a qualitative leap.
In the eyes of the fans, he was simply a Great Wall, completely enveloping Asakura.
"How can this guy jump so well?"
Despite his surprise, he continued to shoot. This ball would likely be blocked nine out of ten times.
But he was a genius after all, possessing a calm mind and excellent passing skills.
After the shooting route was blocked, he folded his body in the air and then passed the ball to a position behind Yuuto.
This kid's offensive talent is indeed not bad.
Asakura's teammate received the pass and jumped immediately without sloppiness.
But when he was halfway up, Yuuto slapped the ball out with the force of a thunderbolt in a help defense.
Smack!
The people of Yamaguchi High were struck by lightning.
"How did he jump so fast?"
"Wasn't he still in mid-air just now?"
"Is this teleportation?"
"..."
The audience also started to lose their calm.
Yuuto's offense was very plain, but this defense was brilliant.
This kind of continuous jumping to finally complete a block was like a Wall of Sighs.
Sora felt deeply touched.
Yuuto was indeed a bit impervious to reason, especially recently. Many times her temper was useless, like hitting cotton...
The geezer coach waved his fist vigorously in celebration on the sidelines, while the Yamaguchi High head coach next door felt a surge of bad feeling.
That is an extraordinary child!
Absolutely!
"But why? Clearly last year he was so... ordinary."
Last year's Yuuto was already strong, the best small forward in the Prefectural Tournament. That's why Asakura clamored to take out Yuuto and replace him.
But even so, last year's Yuuto was still very ordinary.
Sports are unlike other things, especially basketball. Whether you have talent or not can be seen at a glance.
Yuuto looks very talented now.
Bang~
The basketball hit out of bounds. Yuuto wasn't excited after landing.
During this time, he had long adapted to the 80-point speed attribute.
Jumping low also has a small benefit: landing is faster, allowing for a quick second jump.
"Yuuto, good job."
The team's power forward came over to high-five Yuuto. This time he didn't refuse. After all, they are teammates; interaction is necessary to stimulate team cohesion.
But he couldn't help but speak, "This is your man. Don't let him run under the basket so easily."
Then he pointed at Asakura and said, "This guy is pretty good. I can at most defend one against two."
"..."
Bastard!
Bastard!
Bastard!
"What did this bastard say just now? At most can only defend two? And facing me?"
Damn it!
Asakura simply couldn't believe his ears.
He definitely heard wrong, right?
He is the sharp knife of Yamaguchi High School, averaging 23.5 points per game last year.
Such stats are already outstanding for this age group.
Result... Result...
Damn Yuuto!