Days passed by.
Soon, the National Tournament Regional Qualifiers were about to start.
Homi Academy basketball club has no beautiful manager.
On this day.
An extra hurriedly walked into the basketball club holding an A4 paper.
He brought everyone the groups for the National Tournament Regional Qualifiers.
As last year's regional champion, Homi Academy enjoyed certain treatment this year.
In the group stage, they didn't encounter even one of the "Four Heavenly Kings."
Although the National Tournament grouping is in the form of a draw, no one can say clearly whether there is back-room manipulation involved.
Anyway, Yuuto heard that in the past, every year Homi Academy participated, they would encounter at least one Four Heavenly Kings team in the group stage.
Hmm, those are the four teams with the best historical records in Tochigi Prefecture.
But this year.
Homi Academy drew a superb lot in the group stage.
Yuuto's heart was clear as a mirror.
This is probably because the leaders of Tochigi Prefecture want results.
As last year's regional champion, Homi Academy's lineup this year has only strengthened, not weakened.
On the contrary, the starting cores Yuuto and Ota have grown a year older, and their strength has improved further.
They are the team least affected by graduation.
In contrast, other teams have more or less suffered a decline in strength due to third-year players graduating.
Therefore.
This year's Homi Academy is the team with the highest probability of breaking through successfully.
"Good draw!"
"Indeed a good draw. Except for us, Groups A and C both have two Four Kings teams. This way, we can welcome the round-robin in our best condition."
"Don't be so optimistic. Games have to be played one by one. Consider qualifying from the group stage first."
"..."
Everyone looked at the grouping, feeling happy.
Last year, they had to fight bloody battles against two Four Kings teams to break out of the group stage. This year, there are only underdogs in the same group. The difficulty of breaking through is more than half lower.
"Finally about to start."
Yuuto didn't say anything to dampen the mood.
His thoughts had already flown to the National Tournament.
He looked forward to the start of the competition, then gaining victory points to carry out the second simulation.
"Our tactical reform is very successful. Ota and Yuuto have already thoroughly understood the new tactic."
"But others cannot slack off either. Next, you have to increase your running."
The geezer coach felt that having Yuuto and Ota was already enough to penetrate Tochigi Prefecture.
But for the subsequent National Tournament, other players need to participate.
They can't continue to stand still waiting for Yuuto to pass the ball like this, but must participate in the tactics, tearing apart the opponent's defense with positioning, creating larger activity space for Yuuto.
For middle school students.
The difficulty of such cooperation is already considered very high.
Fortunately, they still have time. If basketball IQ is low, then practice; practice until they can do it.
Just like this.
Homi Academy began day-after-day training.
Then on this day.
The Prefectural Tournament began.
In an arena that can hold a maximum of 10,000 spectators, the participating teams of Tochigi Prefecture gathered together.
As a small city with a population of only 160,000, this gymnasium is already the most luxurious one in Tochigi Prefecture.
No large-scale events have ever been held here, not national ones, and definitely not international ones.
Any large-scale event will choose developed areas like Tokyo, Kanagawa, Kyoto, etc., to be held.
Especially international events, which will only be held in brand-new multi-functional gymnasiums.
Those venues can hold tens of thousands of spectators.
This arena in Tochigi Prefecture is also considered a multi-functional arena. Besides basketball, it also hosts volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and other events.
When people talk about Tochigi Prefecture, they always describe it as a countryside place.
Even the people here long to go out of this 'village' to seek better development.
Okukozome is even a village within a village!
There is no exclusive team bus. It's a music school, after all, they didn't invite you to play basketball. Activity funds are limited.
The members first gathered at the school, and then took the subway together to the competition venue.
Before the game started, the regional person in charge gave a nutritious-less speech.
Most of the words were already spoken last year.
The audience also listened drowsily. Only when the game started did they perk up again.
Homi Academy had a game on the first day.
As last year's winner, local fans also wanted to see what progress Homi Academy made this year.
Homi Academy's opponent today is not weak.
Last year, they were assigned to Group A and were only one step away from breaking out of the group stage.
Although Homi Academy was assigned to a group without Four Heavenly Kings teams, the comprehensive strength of the group is actually the strongest among the 3 groups.
Many teams with hope of breaking through were stuffed into their group.
As the opening game.
This game received the treatment of being broadcast live by the local TV station.
What are the fans expecting?
They want to see a better Homi Academy.
Economically, Tochigi Prefecture, lacking labor force, cannot develop overnight.
But these "country bumpkins" are equally indignant about the disdain from big regions.
Since poverty cannot be changed, then work hard in other places.
For example, sports.
Players from both sides entered the court to warm up, then returned to the bench.
Yuuto tied his shoelaces. He had already taken off his jacket, revealing a gray-white number 10 jersey.
The coach was seizing the time to explain tactics.
They all hang out in Tochigi Prefecture; many coaches know each other and have played against each other, so they have some understanding.
"Cheer up! Fight with the fighting spirit of a lion fighting a rabbit!"
"But no need to be too nervous or afraid. Their understanding of us remains at last year!"
"This year we are stronger, and we have also innovated in tactics. Compared to us, they are blind now..."
The coach's spit flew everywhere; he was very passionate.
Translated, his words meant "Advantage is with me."
After a small interlude, Ota led the team onto the court.
Although the arena is small and some places appear dilapidated, the fans on the scene were enthusiastic, and the cheers were still warm.
Many students from Homi Academy arrived to cheer for the team.
Sora also came to the scene today, sitting with Migiwa Kazuha, Haruka, Nao Yorihime, etc.
At this moment, she was on level ten alert against the young miss Migiwa Kazuha next to her.
During the time back at school, she had figured out that Yuuto was not dating, but had a close relationship with this rich young miss.
Sora hated this woman who goes to school in a luxury car!
Hearing Migiwa Kazuha shouting and cheering for Yuuto, Sora struggled for a moment and also shouted out, "Do your best, Idiot Yuuto!"
However, it was useless!
Her maximum decibel was not even as loud as the neighbor aunt educating her child daily. Soon it was drowned out by the sound of the arena and couldn't reach Yuuto's ears.
The game was about to start. The atmosphere before the jump ball was quite friendly.