162 Ryuo vs. Tokiwadai, Part-Two

While Shun and Tokiwadai were planning to break down Ryuo's offense, Ryuo's bench was looking back at their performance in the first quarter.

Hayama stood from his seat and spoke.

Hayama: "We are already ten points down."

Ryuo's shooting guard nodded and mentioned.

Ryuo's SG: "We rarely trail, and even if we do, it is by two or three points. And, surely not for a whole quarter."

Hayama nodded and spoke.

Hayama: "We tried to gauge Tokiwadai's dynamic by playing conservatively, so what do you guys think?"

The power forward sat up straight and gave his observation of his counterpart.

Ryuo's PF: "Tokiwadai's Power Forward doesn't actively participate in offense, he sets up screens, and is ready for rebounds.

The only time he scores in when Kageyama gets him the ball right below the basket."

He sighed and continued.

Ryuo's PF: "His defense is tough. When I don't have the ball, he remains in front of me to cut off the pass route, and when I do get the ball, he closes in and tries to make me pass the ball."

Ryuo's player's faces showed a displeased expression.

To an offensive team, Yuki was one tough player to handle.

Ryuo's power forward turned to their center and asked.

Ryuo' PF: "What about you? How is playing against Tokiwadai's center?"

The center turned to his teammates and revealed his experience.

Ryuo's C: "He only attacks close to the basket, if you get him the ball away from the basket, rather than trying to get inside, he will pass the ball.

But, when it comes to defense, he is a pain to play.

He immediately gets into a defensive position, and that height of his makes it very difficult for me to score the ball.

And, he may look skinny, but he has considerable power.

It is difficult to make him move, and he always tries to reach for the ball."

The shooting guard nodded and spoke.

Ryuo's SG: "He is so tall that I have only tried two three-point attempts, and he got the rebound on both without any problems."

The shooting guard continued about his defender.

Ryuo's SG: "Tokiwadai's small forward is fast.

He follows me around consistently, but the moment Tokiwadai gets the ball, he bolts away from me towards the basket.

It is so sudden that I have difficulty catching up to him."

Hayama nodded and turned to his point guard.

Hayama: "What about the first year?"

Ryuo's point guard cleared his throat and started.

Ryuo' PG: "He is the weak-link, he doesn't excel in any field.

He only tries to keep me outside."

Ryuo's shooting guard looked at his teammate and asked.

Ryuo's SG: "Should we get the ball to you?"

The point guard shrugged and replied.

Ryuo's PG: "Why not? Let's try that."

Hayama nodded and concluded.

Hayama: "We will back sift back to our usual playstyle.

Let's score a lot of points and win this game."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Both teams returned to the court, and the game started with the ball in Ryuo's possession.

Ryuo's point guard spoke to his teammates as he passed the half-court line.

Ryuo's PG: "Spread out. Make the defense spread thin."

Ryuo's members made sure to have ample distance between them. Their usual strategy was to make gaps in the defense so that they had space for a direct charge to the basket.

He saw that his Narumiya, who was his defender, wasn't closing in.

Ryuo's PG: 'I should take the chance to score on my own.'

He charged inside, and Narumiya came to defense, but Ryuo's point guard evaded him by a pass-fake and moved closer to the basket.

He reached the basket and jumped for a layup.

Ryuo's PG: "That was eas-."

But, just as he said that a hand slammed into the ball.

Ryuo's PG: "Huh?!"

He looked back to see Yuki blocking his layup.

Ryuo's shooting guard was also a little startled when he saw Yuki abandon his mark and block their point guard.

His eyes followed the ball and saw the free Narumiya pick the ball and immediately throw the ball towards Ryuo's basket.

He immediately knew who the pass target was as he and his defender were on the outside.

Ryuo's SG: "Shit!"

He turned and saw Kaitani already on the run and the ball flying towards him.

He sprinted after Kaitani, but Kaitani, with his distinct advantage, easily scored.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Hayama clicked his tongue and glanced at Shun.

Hayama: "You left him open for a reason, didn't you?"

Shun chuckled and answered.

Shun: "Narumiya, our first-year is still new, and of course, when we compare the defensive capabilities, anyone would see him as the weak link, but what people forget is that Tokiwadai has a player that specializes in defense.

Our power forward if nothing else is persistent, and your point guard dropped his guard too early."

Hayama hummed and jogged back to start another offense, but not before turning and saying.

Hayama: "We are just getting started."

Shun smiled as he saw Hayama returning to his side of the court, and spoke to no one particular.

Shun: "Us too are just getting started."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Ryuo's center looked at his struggling power forward teammate and called out.

Ryuo's C: "Hey! Pass!"

The power forward struggling against Yuki felt like he had just heard the voice of hope and passed the ball to the center.

The moment he caught the ball, he felt the presence of someone on his back.

He glanced back to see Hyakuzawa towering over him.

Ryuo' C: "Already?!"

Ryuo's center posted up and pushed to the inside. The progress was slow as Hyakuzawa was using all his weight to stop Ryuo's center.

Ryuo's center seeing that he won't be able to go inside anymore, did a front turn to the basket and got into a layup motion.

He released the ball, but his eyes popped out when Hyakuzawa hopped from his position and blocked the layup.

Ryuo's C: "You got to be kidding me."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Play by play, Yuki and Hyakuzawa started to make cracks in Ryuo's offense.

Ryuo's shooting guard shot the ball in a long-range two, but it was off, and four players immediately gathered under the basket.

Both teams' center and power forward got ready for the rebound.

Hyakuzawa and Yuki looked at each other and nodded.

Hyakuzawa, rather than jumping for the rebound, boxed out Ryuo's center from jumping, eliminating two people from the rebound scrimmage.

Ryuo's center was startled at the sudden move and realized.

Ryuo's C: 'Shit, I won't reach in time.'

Yuki and Ryuo's power forward jumped up for the rebound, and Yuki won the contest without any problem.

Yuki caught the ball and thought.

Yuki: 'Aone-san, Hyakuzawa, and Shun. Compared to those guys, this is much easier.'

Yuki threw the ball to Shun, who ran with the ball towards the basket.

Hayama appeared in front of Shun.

Hayama: "I am going to have to stop you here."

Shun shook his head and responded.

Shun: "Yeah, that is not going to happen."

From his left hand to the right hand, he passed the ball between his legs and then exploded to the left, leaving behind a stunned Hayama.

After he found a direct path to the basket and weaved through Ryuo's players, and laid the ball into the basket.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Hayama looked back at the Tokiwadai team, and as his point guard passed him, he stopped and said.

Hayama: "Get me the ball. I will score one."

The point guard gazed at his captain and nodded.

The lightning beast was ready to roar.

-*-*-*-

In the very next play, Hayama got the ball, and Shun was immediately near him.

Hayama looked at Shun and spoke.

Hayama: "Let's use three as a test."

Shun, who heard that perked up and thought.

Shun: 'Ooh! He is going to use it!'

Shun got ready for Hayama's signature skill.

Hayama dribbled the ball on the spot, and the sounds of loud dribble reverberated in the gym.

-*-*-*-

Tokiwadai players were surprised by the had dribbled.

Kaitani whistled and spoke.

Kaitani: "How hard is the dribbling to make that much sound.

Can he even control that?"

Ryuo's shooting guard smirked and said.

Ryuo's SG: "Control? That is not even his hardest dribble."

Kaitani's eyes widened at the statement.

Kaitani: "He can dribble harder!"

The shooting guard's smirk widened, and he asked.

Ryuo's SG: "Yeah, why you scared? Our ace is going to go on a scoring rampage."

Kaitani nodded and replied.

Kaitani: "Yeah, I not sure if I can stop that if he dribbles that fast and hard. And, you are saying that he can turn that up? Of course, I will be a little worried.

But, a scoring rampage?"

Kaitani shook his head and continued.

Kaitani: "That isn't going to happen.

Our ace isn't going to be passed with that."

-*-*-*-

Shun focused on each of the dribbling sounds ready to move on the moment's notice. His nervous system primed itself to be ready for the slightest movements.

Hayama dribbled the ball from the left hand to his right hand in a super speed dribble and exploded from the left.

He smiled as he moved past Shun.

But, just after a step, Shun was once again in front of them with a smile on his face.

Shun: "You have to be faster if you want to pass me."

Hayama came to a sudden stop but maintained his dribble. He clicked his tongue and thought.

Hayama: 'Three fingers aren't enough. Let's try four.'

Hayama put four fingers on the ball, and the sound it made it was even louder.

Shun's eyes sparkled in anticipation.

Hayama put force in his arm ball arm and said as he went into another drive.

Hayama: "Here I go, Four!"

The ball was pushed to the floor with a tremendous force. And, when it hit the floor, the whole gym was filled with the loud boom of the dribble.

Hayama once again exploded from the left, but his eyes widened as he saw a hand intercepting the ball that was coming up towards his hand.

Hayama: "Haah?!!"

He looked up to see Shun leaning slightly to get a hand on the ball.

Shun intercepted the dribble with his right hand and pushed it to the floor, it bounced to his left hand, and the next moment, Shun was running towards the basket.

Hayama stood stunned in his place, with only one thought on his mind.

Hayama: 'He stopped my four-finger dribble.'

Hayama was shocked at how effortlessly Shun had stolen the ball mid-dribble.

Hayama: 'How could he even react to that!'

But, of course, to the wielder of God-Speed Impulse, reaction time was Shun's specialty.

Near the basket, Shun jumped and slammed the ball into the hoop, scoring Tokiwadai another two points.

He glanced back at Hayama and saw him standing him at the same spot.

Shun: 'Now what will you do?'

Hayama turned back to see Shun looking at him.

Shun raised his hand and showed him five fingers and mouthed out the word five.

Hayama clenched his fist and thought.

Hayama: 'If that is what you want, then I will show you level-five.'

Shun smiled, seeing the reaction and thought.

Shun: 'He should've done that from the start. Now, let's see the strongest of Hayama Kotaro.'