Chapter 15: Kanagawa’s Sweet 16.

The Kanagawa Prefecture Interhigh Qualifying Tournament Top 16 has been completed.

Column A Match.

(1) Kainan Affiliated University High School versus Reijuko High School.

Kanashiro High School versus Miuza Academy.

Column B Match.

(2) Shohoku High School versus Wakanamiya High School.

Kenita High School versus Akazaro High School.

Column C Match.

(3) Ryonan High School versus West Kanagawa High School.

Ichishi High School versus Shoyo High School.

Column D Match.

Ryokufu High School versus Ferimoshi High School.

Genreno High School versus Sanamari High School.

Ryokufu became the dark horse of the tournament, they defeat the Takezato in dominating fashion. From ace Michael Okita to the trio of the freshman that the Ryokufu had. The first year point guard, Eiji Ryo a steady guard that compliments the playing style of Michael. The shooting guard, Eizan Davis, the Japanese-American who is the same playing style of Michael but Eizan is also a glue guy that can fit into any team. The power forward, Eikichi Tsutsumoto, a reliable forward who gets a rebound and defend the paint well. And their senior center captain, a transfer student from the Miyagi Prefecture, Chitose Miyanagi. These five players were the anchor that supports and led Ryokufu to the top 16.

At Shohoku Basketball Gym.

[SAKURAGI: Hah! Those guys were going to be defeated by me, Tensai Sakuragi!.]

[AYAKO: I don't know if you have the time to worry about Ryokufu right now, Hanamichi.]

[MIYAGI: That's right, Sakuragi.]

[SAKURAGI: Che.]

[AYAKO: Our worry right now should be Wakanamiya High.]

[SAKURAGI: Why would I worry about Wakana-whatever, their are small fry.]

[COACH ANZAI: You should be the one that should worry the most, Sakuragi-Kun.]

[SAKURAGI: Not you too old man.]

[COACH ANZAI: Ayumu Watari is like you Sakuragi-Kun. But, a little better.]

Sakuragi gets annoyed when Coach Anzai says that Ayumu is slightly better than him. Sakuragi to himself knew that he is the best player in the prefecture but as of right now, Coach Anzai, who should know the best told him straight up that Ayumu is better than him. Sakuragi gets up and walks out of the gym, Ayako and other members tried to stop him but they couldn't. In the end, the meeting went and ended without Sakuragi.

At the nearby park, Sakuragi was shooting a basketball with his jumpshot, Sakuragi was still thinking of what Coach Anzai told him and it bugs him as Sakuragi knows that Coach Anzai was the one that supported him wholeheartedly and agrees to what he was saying, but now, Coach Anzai is telling him that he was still not good enough and there are another player who were better than him.

[KAZUKI: Should you be here practicing by yourself instead of being in the team meeting or something?.]

Sakuragi turns around and saw Kazuki Sakuragi, his uncle.

[SAKURAGI: What do you want?.]

[KAZUKI: Nothing, just happen to see you on my way home.]

[SAKURAGI: Then go home, Grandpa and Grandma might be worried about you.]

[KAZUKI: Hey, Hanamichi, want to play one on one?.]

Sakuragi drops the ball and looks Kazuki straight into the eyes and asked him if he was serious, Kazuki nodded and smiles, Sakuragi doesn't want to accept but Kazuki told Sakuragi….

[KAZUKI: What? Are you scared, Hanamichi?.]

Sakuragi gets annoyed by what Kazuki told him and accepts his offer, the two play one on one. And after multiple times of playing, Sakuragi never defeated Kazuki and he also doesn't score in all of the matches that they played.

[KAZUKI: That was a good warmup, Thanks for the game Hanamichi, I'll see you around.]

Kazuki walks away and leaves Sakuragi flabbergasted at the moment because of what happened to him being utterly defeated by his uncle and he couldn't stop him even once.

Kazuki remembers that Sakuragi will face off against Wakanamiya's Ayumu Watari tomorrow and thinks for a moment if he should give Sakuragi some tips, but Kazuki knows that the game that they had just earlier will be much more helpful than an advice.

Tomorrow morning, at the stadium A.

The eight schools have gathered and began their preparations for the match, the first game will be the Kenita High School versus Akazaro High School, and with the advantage of having a bunch of shooters, Akazaro advance to the top 8 and will be waiting for the winners of the Shohoku vs Wakanamiya.

At the Wakanamiya High Locker Room, the room was filled with tense and cold air due to the anxiety of facing against the school that defeated the Sannoh.

[CHIE: It will be fine, their high schoolers just like us, there is no need to be afraid of them. Let's just play how we normally play.]

The captains word give the players a confidence to go out there and give their best. But, when they get out of the locker and made their way to the court, Shohoku's was just made it also but their best players, Kaede Rukawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi gave the players a nervousness when they stared at those two.

[DAI: Can we really beat these guys?.]