34 Shutdown

Alexandra had a tense expression on her face while the game went on

The ball brothers carried their team to a 60-52 lead for the 2nd quarter.

Blackstone Academy's bench were silent because of it. Alexandra closed her eyes and sighed. Suddenly, Akihiko spoke up and said

"Coach, can I be in charge of the offense for the rest of the 2 quarters."

Akihiko's initiative to say such a thing surprised the rest of the team, Jason and Nash glanced at him. Their fists clenched tightly.

There was nothing to else for Akihiko nor Alexandra to say to the team, but something was different within the team while they made their way to the court

LaVar taunted them

"Had enough yet?!"

Akihiko gave a very cold glance at him while he walked to get the inbound pass.

Akihiko then got the ball aa he made his way to front court. LiAngelo was on him, he had a smirk on his face while he awaited Akihiko.

"I'm kind of surprised you pampered rich boys were able to make this far into the tournament, but this is where it ends." LiAngelo said

LiAngelo was going to use his signature move which was to steal. But before he could even move his arms, Akihiko began to make a move.

Akihiko simply made a behind the back move but before that, he started with an in and out dribble. LiAngelo wasn't able to react in time because Akihiko made the ball go through LiAngelo's legs.

LiAngelo tried to chase after Akihiko, but Akihiko did a snatch back as LiAngelo came tumbling to the ground.

"Bro, why did the man have to do him like that?!"

"Jesus! what a move!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Akihiko didn't even spare a glance at LiAngelo. Akihiko then shot the ball from the 3 point line.

*Swoosh*

"AND HE DRAINED THE THREE!?" the crowd reacted immediately seeing Akihiko's play.

Akihiko then got back to defense while getting patted from the back by his teammates.

LiAngelo who was still down in the ground was being offered a hand by his brother Zo.

But LiAngelo smacked his hand away as he got up and went back to offense.

"Chill bro." Lonzo said, seeing his brother acting like that.

LaVar had a tense expression seeing Akihiko do that to his son.

"Get back at him!" He said

..

LiAngelo made his way to front court, from there he didn't waste time at all. Seeing Akihiko who was right on him. He pulled-up, but he was in shock.

The ball was no longer in his hands as Akihiko poked the ball right out his hands before he went into his shooting motion.

"Without the use of the Eye of Ra, he was still able to predict and react to that?!" Nash said in disbelief.

Akihiko then got the ball, but he didn't even start a fast break because he dribbled so slowly. By the time he got to half court, the rest of the defense got back into their positions.

Akihiko who was nearing LiAngelo begun to suddenly speak

"I hate to break it to you, but mid-range, close-range, three-point-range, I can do them all."

Akihiko then jumped, LiAngelo who didn't expect this was stuck to the ground while Akihiko shot the ball from near half court.

"Swooosh"

The ball went in, indicating a 3 pointer.

"He's seriously amazing." Alexandra had nothing but admiration seeing Akihiko's plays.

"I didn't know he could drain the three from that far away." Jason said as he had a grin on his face.

Suddenly, Blackstone Academy's morale began to go high.

..

In their next possession, Jason posted up against Adebayo

Adebayo then said

"Again, you know you can't hope to score against me."

Jason merely smiled as he said

"You know, I've been practing a move in my spare time."

Adebayo who heard that was greeted with overwhelming force while Jason began to move as he dribbled towards the rim. Adebayo who was focused on staying on Jason, he was unable to react because Jason turned.

"No way."

After Jason turned, he then put all of his strength into his arms and legs as he jumped to slam the ball right in. Adebayo who was in the receiving end of the dunk was greeted with Jason's legs as he was still hanging on the rim.

"You're telling me he's a 1st year middle schooler?!"

"He looks like he can play in college or even the NBA at this point"

The crowd cheered seeing Jason completely domimate Adebayo at the low rim.

The 3rd quarter then ended with the momentum being completely on Blackstone Academy's side.

The score was then 74-82 with Blackstone Academy at the lead.

...

In the bench

LaVar suddenly spoke up and said

"Is that all you guys can do?!"

"You guys can do better than this, I know that for a damn fact!"

"Lonzo, LiAngelo, where's your damn spirit?!" He said as he patted both of their chests

"As for you Adebayo, show him who's really the man!"

"I'm not coaching some losers, I'm coaching the winners!"

"Now go play your hearts out!!" LaVar said

"YEAH!!!! the whole bench said, they were once again in high spirits due to LaVar's speech.

Mike looked at the other side of the court as he said

"Well our opponents are not backing down any soon."

Every player had a determined expression as they want back to the court.

Lonzo got the inbound pass, he then immediately drove right to the rim with Nash on him.

Lonzo then began to hold the ball because he was going for a lay-up.

Nash went for a block but Lonzo fooled him because he simply dished the ball out to Adebayo, who catched it and dunked the ball right in.

"Now that's what we're talking about!!" LaVar screamed while he clapped

"Let's go, Blackstone!" The crowd began to chant

"Canyon Hills, seal the deal!" The opposing crowd also began to chant

"You heard them, let's get to it!" Akihiko said to his teammates

"Yeah!!"

Both teams were pumped up

...

Akihiko then got the ball as he approached LiAngelo

LaVar who was approached by one of the bench-warmers said

"Let me tell you, they won't be beating us any soon."

"Blood is always thicker than water, this is their special ability. As long as the brothers are in the same team, their individual skills will be amplfied by double. Once LaMelo grows up and joins them, it will be triple. This is due to the innate chemistry between them. Not only that, they will also share the same moves.

"This is why we're unstoppable."

The bench-warmer looked at Lonzo and LiAngelo in admiration.

It was the last 5 minutes of the game.

Nash who was guarding Lonzo was provoked because Lonzo said

"Give up, you can't guard me."

Nash chuckled and replied

"I've been holding back for a while now. Since it's the last 5 minutes, I'm not going to hold back any more."

Nash's eyes suddenly shifted to another hue

Lonzo didn't know what was happening but when he was about to drive, Nash poked the ball away from him.

"What?!" Lonzo said in shock.

Nash then grabbed the ball, and began to drive to the rim. Adebayo was there to greet him as Nash jumped for a lay-up.

Mid-air, Nash suddenly dished the ball by throwing it behind his neck to Jason, who then dunked the ball right in.

LaVar slammed the bench in frustration

"They've hidden it so damn well."

The score was practically tied

In the next possession, Lonzo avoided Nash so he simply passed the ball to #26 who then pulled-up and hit the jumper.

"Damn" Mike said in frustration.

Nash then received the inbound pass as he made his way to front court with Lonzo on him

"This is payback" Nash said

Nash then initiated a vicious crossover, But this was enough because Lonzo tripped and fell right to the ground while Nash stared him down and made the jumper

"OHHHHHHH!!!"

"Lonzo get up! Job's not done!" LaVar said

Lonzo then got up and it looked like that didn't faze him

"That's my boy!" LaVar announced

And before they knew it, it was the last 50 seconds of the game. It was still anyone's game because Blackstone Academy only had the lead by 1 point.

At this point, the gym was packed. Every seat was taken to the point some people were standing just to watch the game.

LiAngelo was dribbling the ball.

They now had 35 seconds to go.

He looked for any openings, and there it was. This was the only way.

LiAngelo then passed the ball right to the Adebayo for him to lay it in. Jason contested and said

"Oh no you don't!"

25 seconds..

But Adebayo somehow was able to beat Jason as he laid the ball in.

"DEFENSE!!" Lonzo screamed

They now held the lead by one point.

Alexandra didn't call for a time-out because she believed in one person on the court to take the last shot.

Akihiko then received the ball as he took his time dribblings towards half court.

17 seconds..

They couldn't afford to double team because leaving anyone open would ultimately be detrimental for their defense. So they already had a tight man to man defense instead.

10 seconds..

Akihiko then began to make his move as he drove through the three point line

8..

7..

6..

5..

LiAngelo who was chasing after Akihiko stumbled because Akihiko stopped his drive with a between the leg dribble

4..

3..

Akihiko then jumped and shot the ball for an open jumper

*Swoooooosh*

"LET'S GO!"

"2 SECONDS LEFT, GET BACK ON DEFENSE."

In the spur of the moment, Adebayo quickly passed the ball to Lonzo. But a hand catched it and threw the ball away, it was Nash

2...

1...

*BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*

"WE DID IT!" Mike screamed

"WE'RE GOING TO THE FINALS!" The whole team said in unison.