46 Chapter 46 : VS Shutoku V - A Sniper Battle
The game restarted with the ball in Takao's hand. But this time, with Midorima on the court, all Seirin players prepared their defense for the three-point attack to come. Furihata who is guarding Miyaji also looks at Midorima with wariness, preparing to double-team him with Koganei.
However, to their surprise, Shutoku didn't use Midorima right after he is on the court. No, they use him just to attract Seirin's defense to be more scattered. If when Midorima is off the court Seirin's defense could just focus on the post-up attack, now they have to be wary of the three-point attack too.
And that's what Shutoku wanted.
Facing Izuki, Takao charged forward with a quick crossover. When he saw Izuki still sticking on him, Takao made a small motion as if he would go for a behind-the-back pass. Seeing this, Furihata runs quickly to the path between Midorima and Takao to cut the pass.
However, Takao with his eyes could see Furihata's sudden movement and changed the pass direction in the last second to Miyaji who is cutting into the basket, leaving Furihata in out-of-position.
"What?!"
It is not only Furihata who is surprised, but almost everyone with the Seirin jersey has the same reaction too. No one could react quickly as they all are too focused on stopping Midorima, making it easy for Miyaji to score.
32 – 38
"Don't think we are just Midorima's lackey, Seirin," Miyaji growled. "We are Shutoku, the better team here. Remember that!"
All Seirin players have wry smiles, especially the senior member. Of course, they remember Miyaji with his sharp mouth. He was the second main scorer last year against them with 30 points. Whenever he had the ball will always be a dangerous attack for them, either with his slash attack, mid-range jump shoot, foul game, or sometimes even his three.
The ball was live again soon after, and it went straight to Izuki like always. But now, Shutoku is doing a massive change in their defense by having Midorima guarding Furihata.
"You might be able to fool Takao or Miyaji-senpai, but I am different."
Furihata smirked at that, taking the green-hair's words as a challenge. He signaled Koganei to set a screen for him, and when the cat-like senpai arrived, Furihata tried to escape from Midorima's guard using the screen.
"Not that easy!"
Midorima managed to avoid the screen with such ease. However, Furihata knows that it would happen. Midorima is ranked the second-best defender in the Generation of Miracles just behind Murasakibara, it would never be easy to face him.
That's why right after he saw Midorima manage to avoid the screen, he makes a quick stop and retreated back to his earlier position in a V route.
"What?!"
Midorima who is expecting him to run around the court like before is startled by the different pattern from Furihata. He tries to go back to Furihata, but he forgets about the presence of Koganei who is still setting a screen on him.
"Damn!"
Midorima cursed inwardly as now, Furihata has enough space to make a three. Izuki saw it too, as the point guard directed the ball to him quickly. After receiving the ball, Furihata pulled up a shoot as quickly as possible before Midorima could recover from the screen, and a second later,
*Splash!*
A three-point jumper on Midorima!
"YEAAH!" Furihata clenched his fist as he roared in celebration. The cheers from the audience grew as the shoot went in.
"Nice shoot, Furihata-kun!"
"Good screen too, Senpai!"
Furihata and Koganei fist-bumped before they went back for the defense.
32 – 41
Now, the ball is back in Takao's hand again. Just like before, Furihata prepared to cut the ball supply to Midorima whenever it comes.
'Better two points than three.'
That was his reasoning if Shutoku pulled up the same play as before with Miyaji. However, Takao who is holding the ball didn't do both. No, after trying to get away from Izuki with a double crossover, he retreated back to the three-point area with a quick step back and pulled up a three from the downtown.
*Clank!*
The ball touched the rim a little, but its bounce went back to the basket smoothly.
35 – 41
"Fyuh.." Takao wiped the sweat on his temple in a mocking motion. "I thought it wouldn't go in. Glad that I don't disappoint."
Shutoku's point guard said that casually as if that is not something big. However, the same couldn't be said for Seirin. Now, they are facing a big headache as Shutoku is showing how lethal their offense is.
Now that all Shutoku players have already scored, Seirin couldn't just put their focus on Midorima, as it would create more holes in their defense. But the moment they slip up, Midorima would step up with his three-point game. It would be almost impossible to stop their attack.
"Don't worry, everyone!" Hyuga tried to cheer his teammates. "Just like Riko said, we just need to outscore them. We are still on the lead, let's keep it as long as possible!"
"Hyuga-senpai is right." Furihata added. "Moreover, we don't need to think about Midorima too much. When Riko-senpai deems Kagami is ready, we can ease our worry a bit."
All Seirin players nodded, but now the worries in their eyes couldn't be seen again.
The game restarted with the ball on Izuki. This time, Furihata decided to just stand aside in the corner area and do nothing.
'Sometimes, when you are facing the best defender, all you need is do nothing and let your teammates do the work.'
Izuki tried to get away from Takao's guard with a hesitation move. He leaned his body forward to drive, and retreated it back slightly when he saw Takao could keep up with his speed before he leaned his body again to leave Takao behind.
He changed his pace from 100 to 0 to 100 again just to fool Takao, and it works!
Now, he is running to the paint area where Kimura and Otsubo are waiting for him. Facing Shutoku's infamous twin tower, Izuki knows he couldn't win against them, so he decided to kick the ball out to Hyuga who is being guarded by Miyaji.
Hyuga took a stance for a three-point, but he was stopped by the arms that suddenly appeared in front of his face.
"Don't think about it, Megane!" Miyaji growled as he extended his arms high.
However, Hyuga smirked as he knew what to do. He didn't aim for the basket like he usually does. Instead, he chooses to twist his arm at such a weird angle so that Miyaji's arm touches his, and no matter the result of his shoot, he could hear the whistle blown by the referee, and a second later,
"Shutoku #8 defensive shooting foul, three free-throws for Seirin #4."
"YEAAH!"
"Nice play, Captain!"
All Seirin players approached him for a high-five which the captain received with a happy face before he steps up to the free throw spot.
He converted all the free throws into points easily, widening the gap between the two teams once again.
35 – 44
A second later, the game started again with the ball in Takao's hand. However, right after they passed their own zone, Midorima spoke,
"Takao, give me the ball."
All Seirin players on the court shivered a bit, they all straightened their backs for the upcoming three.
'Yeah, this would happen sooner or later. I am surprised he could be patient for this long.' Furihata muttered inwardly.
Takao who heard the request shrugged helplessly before he sent the ball high for the shooting guard. Midorima catches it with ease, but keeps the ball high for a moment, avoiding Koganei's steal attempt.
A second later, he lowered the ball and leaned his body as if he wanted to drive forward. Koganei instinctively followed his movement, but Midorima retreated the ball quickly before he pulled up a three-point shoot from his spot.
A jab step!
All Seirin players are stunned by the triple threat move from Midorima as they all are a bit familiar with that move. They all remember how Furihata did the same in his game against Kagami and couldn't believe the move would be played against them. But they couldn't do anything as the ball went into the basket smoothly.
*Splash!*
"Oha Asa is right," Midorima spoke right after the ball went in. "Cancer is unstoppable today. Just remember it, Seirin."
Then, he retreated back to prepare for the defense.
38 – 44
"Senpai, can I have the ball?" Furihata suddenly asked before the game restarted. Seeing no harm comes from doing that, Izuki shrugged before he handed the ball to Furihata. Now, the game restarted with the ball in Furihata's possession.
Yeah, after seeing Midorima pulling up the latest three, the competitiveness in Furihata's heart burned brightly as he wanted to face the best shooting guard in the generation head-on.
He dribbled the ball slowly, passing the middle court with ease. With Midorima in front of him, he couldn't just pull up a shoot without getting rid of Midorima first as the green-haired boy would stop him easily. So, he passed the ball first to Hyuga before he run toward his captain quickly.
Midorima followed him with ease as no one from Seirin set up a screen like in the earlier play. But Furihata didn't really care. Right when he is in front of Hyuga, the captain handed the ball again to him and sets a screen immediately for Furihata.
Seeing Furihata managed to get rid of Midorima by using Hyuga as his wall, Miyaji who is the one guarding Hyuga changed his focus on Furihata quickly. A second later, Midorima who is able to escape from Hyuga's screen also chases him immediately to stop the incoming three-point.
But if there is one thing that Furihata understands really well about a screenplay, players tend to forget about the screener and put all their focus on the one who is holding the ball, just like in this moment.
Seeing he managed to attract Miyaji and Midorima in his direction, Furihata didn't hesitate to send the ball with a behind-the-back pass to his captain who is on the right wing without anyone guarding him.
"WHAT?!"
Both Miyaji and Midorima didn't expect that the ball would go to the captain once again, and they couldn't react quickly enough to stop the incoming shoot from Hyuga.
*Splash!*
38 – 47
"WOAAAAH!!" The cheers erupted from the audience.
"This is Incredible!"
"I know, right?! This is the fifth three for Seirin just in this quarter!"
"Their captain is so amazing!"
"I cannot believe they would dare to go for a three-point game against Midorima!"
"Yeah!"
Back to the court, the game started again with the ball in Takao's possession. But he didn't hold the ball for too long before he dishes it to his left side where Midorima escaped from Koganei's guard with ease.
He uses his height advantage to pull up another three without anyone able to block it.
*Splash!*
Another three!
Right after the ball went in, Midorima turned around and stares at Furihata and Hyuga with cold eyes, as if saying, 'I dare you to do that again.'
That's a challenge!
Furihata grinned in excitement. This is the first time he feels his blood pumped like this, but he likes this sensation of playing against a strong opponent. He glanced at the clock a little to see the time left before the second quarter ended.
00:58
'It seems Riko-senpai wanted to save Red for the next quarter. Good! We still have one minute left. Let's rock this building.'
Furihata asked for the ball again in the next possession. Now, seeing as all the pass routes to his teammates were blocked by Shutoku players, he has to do this play by himself.
'Fine! I'll do it myself!'
He tried to drive forward, but the moment he made a contact with Midorima's body, he knew he couldn't win in a physical confrontation. So, he decided to dribble backward for a step before he leaned his body again to charge at full speed.
But Midorima managed to react in time and followed Furihata's movement with ease, so Furihata decided to dish the ball to the one Shutoku least expected this quarter, Tsuchida.
"Nice pass, Furihata-kun!"
Right after receiving the ball, Tsuchida tries to send it immediately with a simple floater. But he changes his mind the moment he saw Otsubo extend his arms up to block his eyesight.
"Don't think about it, Seirin!"
Yeah, the moment Tsuchida saw Otsubo's movement, he knew he would be stopped without any problem. So, he decided to bounce the ball to the free-throw area where Koganei suddenly appeared, cutting inside from the corner area and rushing into the basket for a layup.
But the moment he jumped,
*Slap!*
"Not that easy!"
Kimura who is guarding him managed to block his attempt to score, resulting in the ball bouncing wildly to the sideline. However, when everyone thought the ball would be out-of-bound, Izuki who didn't participate in the attack suddenly charged to the ball at his full speed, and right before the ball touched the floor, Izuki dives in and slapped it back into the court.
"WHAT?!"
Takao who loses his focus on Izuki because of Kimura's block is dumbfounded by Izuki's hustle. Not only him, almost everyone on the court also has a similar reaction. The only one who managed to react quickly to Izuki's play is Hyuga, who suddenly appeared to clean the mess.
"Nice hustle, Izuki."
Right after saying that, he pulled up another three, and a second later,
*Splash!*
"YOOSSHAAA!!!"
"Nice one captain!"
"You are on fire today!"
All Seirin players celebrated the play for a while. But they were stopped by the quick play from Shutoku.
"Go back to defense!" Hyuga shouted, trying to warn his teammates.
However, they are too late as the ball is already in Midorima's hand who is standing alone in a very good spot for a three-point.
*Splash!*
Another three!
"Nice one, Midorima!"
"Twenty seconds left! Go back! Defense!"
"Come on, Seirin!"
"Close the game with another three!"
The cheers from the audience were so defeaning. But it was not enough for the players on the court to lose their concentration. Instead, the cheers only make their focus sharpened more. Twenty seconds left, if Seirin could widen the gap, that would be the best way to end this quarter.
Unlike the last play, now the game is started with the ball from Izuki again. In a clutch time like this, it would be better for a team to go with the play they are familiar with instead of trying something new. That's why Furihata took a step aside and decided to just attract Midorima's defense in the high-post area.
Izuki waited until the time left is only seven seconds before he starts moving. And the moment Izuki dribbled forward, Hyuga run at the same time to get away from Miyaji.
"Damn!" Miyaji gritted his teeth, trying to follow Hyuga's movement.
But Hyuga who took inspiration from Furihata's off-the-ball movement didn't slow down for a second. He made eye contact with Furihata, and the first-year point guard suddenly knew his captain's intention. He sets a screen for Hyuga to escape from Miyaji and right at that moment, Miyaji shouted,
"Midorima, switch!"
Seeing his senpai couldn't get away from the screen, Midorima decided to follow his senpai's order and chase Hyuga who is running to the corner area. But what they didn't expect is for Hyuga and Furihata to fool them with the same play the Seirin duo did against them earlier.
Hyuga uses himself as bait to attract Midorima and Miyaji's attention to him, and just like in the earlier play, both Shutoku players forgot about the screener. Right after Furihata sets a wall for Hyuga, he runs sneakily to Izuki's position and asks for the ball.
That was when Midorima and Miyaji realized they were fooled by the same play again.
"DAMN!"
Under normal circumstances, it would be almost impossible for Seirin to fool Shutoku's defense with the same trick. However, due to the adrenaline of the buzzer beater, almost all the players on the court couldn't think with a clear head, and both Hyuga and Furihata took advantage of the situation.
*Splash!*
The moment the ball went into the basket, they could hear the buzzer ring loudly, ending the second quarter with the lead in Seirin's hand.
44 – 53
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