Chapter 6: The Start of the Prefecture Tournament.

After the two grueling weeks of training and preparation, the start of the Prefecture National Qualifying Tournament was about to begin. People have gathered at the Stadium for the opening ceremony, this is the first time that the Japan Sports High School Committee have announced that the Prefecture Qualifying Tournament will have a opening ceremony at the first day.

School of the entire prefecture of Kanagawa have gathered outside the stadium and wait for their turn to come inside. As for the top school's like Kainan, Shohoku, Ryonan, Takezano, Shoyo they were going to wait a while before entering the stadium.

[SAKURAGI: How come they let those guys inside already?! We are the ones that got into the Nationals! They should let us go first instead!.]

Sakuragi was nagging and complaining, and the other players from the top schools just watching him. They couldn't stop him because he is physically much stronger than them and so they just let him be.

[NOBUNAGA: Hey! Stop you're whining, Red head Monkey!.]

[SAKURAGI: AH! You wild monkey, don't get cocky just because you get to play for Japan!.]

[NOBUNAGA: HAH! You're just jealous because you don't have any chance to play for Japan! HAHAHAHA.]

Kiyota and Sakuragi continue to argue and make fun of each other until their eventually get calmed down by their captains and manager, Shoyo was the first team to get called inside and this year upcoming best player was another left handed point guard, First Year #14. Yurameshi Tagashi.

He has full back brown hair cut and was about 179cm tall. Many girls frown over him because of his looks, and that's why Sakuragi gets fixated on him, Nobunaga straight don't like him.

Next was Takezato, they were much more tougher than last year and many expected them to make into another final four appearance.

Next is Ryonan. The second favorite to win the Prefecture, led by the star forward. Akira Sendoh and his cast of Fukuda, some talented first years.

Next is Shohoku, they entered the stadium with their usual Jacket. And as they walk towards the court, cameras flashed at them as soon as they descended from the dugout. The squad that beat the Sannoh team was now here and ready to take the crown from Kainan.

The ever popular, Kaede Rukawa gets more attention from the media and fans alike, ever since he made his spectacular performance against Toyotama and Sannoh, and then there is the FIBA Asia U17 Tournament performance. Rukawa was expected to be the one to lead Shohoku into the nationals once again. Then the surprising player that getting attention was, Hanamichi Sakuragi. His popular went through the roof against that game with Sannoh, his tenacious attitude and hard working instincts is the reason why he was getting more and more popular.

The opening Ceremony ended smoothly and for the first game of the tournament, it was Janshi against Miuradai. Janshi's twin brother was too much for Miuradai and therefore, advanced to the next round. Next match was against is Tsukubu and Takezono. It was the battle of the big men, Koichiro Rango and Tatsumasa Oda.

In the first half, Tsukubu and Koichiro Rango uses their power and height against Takezono, and lead until the end of the half, 34-36. And then, Oda uses his skills to score and make sure that he and his team gets the win.

It all comes down to the last possession, Takezono has the ball and there only 15 seconds left in the game, both tied up at 86. Takezono's freshman point guard. Takehiro Date is dribbling the ball.

At the stance.

[SAKURAGI: ODA! Don't just stand there like an idiot and do something.]

[MIYAGI: Are you kidding me right now? You want Takezono to win and play against us, Hanamichi?.]

[SAKURAGI: Yeah.]

[RUKAWA: Idiot.]

[SAKURAGI: What did you say, you fox?!.]

Sakuragi grabs the collar of the jacket of Rukawa but he was stopped by Miyagi at the very beginning and Miyagi told Sakuragi to look at the court. There are only 7 seconds left in the game.

Oda runs to Takehiro and sets up a screen, Takehiro takes the screen and goes to his right, but the door closes on him as Rango defended him at the right wing of the perimeter, Takehiro gets doubled team.

There are only 3 seconds left, he throws an emergency pass towards Oda at the top key of the three point line, Oda catches it.

2 seconds left, he shoots a three pointer without any hesitation.

1 seconds left, the ball was still in the air and the buzzer sounds indicating that the game has ended.

The referee's three finger was still up confirming that the shot will count if the ball went in.

The ball swish through the net and the referee puts down his arm and the game was over. Takezono beats Tsukubu.

Final Score.

Takezono: 89

Tsukubu: 86

Takezono went through the first round and will face the new Shohoku in the next round. Sakuragi looked down at Oda who was still celebrating with his teammates after the match.

[SAKURAGI: Don't think you can win against someone like me, Oda.]

Sakuragi scoffs and went out of the stadium. The first round of the tournament was still on going and the were some very surprising results from the very first day.

Shoyo despite lacking in the depth of lineup still manages to win against the surprising Daneta High School, led by the freshman point guard, Yurameshi Tagashi. Shoyo pulled away in the second half to win the game.

Next was the Ryokufu High School, dominated the first game against the heavily favored, Kanahashi High School. Ryokufu led by Michael Okita, he scored almost half of the Ryokufu High scored the entire game.

It shock the whole stadium, Michael shows off the "East Bay Funk Dunk." In the fastbreak. Even Kaede Rukawa was taken aback when he saw Michael did it with such ease.

[RUKAWA: Hmm… Maybe if I beat him, I could play in America.]