LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 85: Untitled
As soon as everyone was in position, Aomine immediately called for the ball.
Clearly, he was dissatisfied with Wiggins ignoring him earlier and was eager to score a spectacular basket right over him.
Akashi wasted no time passing the ball, and Aomine caught it effortlessly, launching his offensive against Wiggins.
Aomine assumed a triple-threat stance, trying to shake Wiggins with feints, but his attempts had little effect.
He decided to drive forward with a single dribble, but Wiggins' height and wingspan immediately posed a challenge.
Wiggins' defensive range completely neutralized Aomine's path to an easy score.
Aomine's expression grew more serious as he realized his opponent was not only as fast as him but also stood over 10 centimeters taller.
Such a matchup presented a real challenge for Aomine, making it difficult to find an effective way to attack.
But then, a confident smirk tugged at the corner of Aomine's lips. The tougher the challenge, the more it awakened his competitive fire. He craved battles against powerful opponents to continually push his limits.
What followed was a masterclass in ball-handling from Aomine.
First, he executed two sharp crossover dribbles in quick succession, trying to create space, but Wiggins stuck to him relentlessly, leaving no opening.
Aomine then transitioned into a behind-the-back dribble to change direction, followed by a wide crossover to the right.
This time, he finally created a sliver of separation, catching Wiggins just slightly off balance.
Without hesitation, Aomine rose for a jump shot.
But just as he elevated, Wiggins reacted and leaped to block.
Unexpectedly, Aomine halted his shooting motion mid-air, using the fake to shift direction and drive toward the basket.
"Damn, a pump fake!" Wiggins realized, momentarily caught off guard by Aomine's move.
By the time Wiggins recovered, Aomine had already surged into the paint.
Facing Davis, who stepped in to help defend, Aomine wasted no time. He lobbed the ball high toward the rim, aiming to connect with Murasakibara.
Murasakibara, stationed near the basket, jumped without hesitation to catch the lob.
But just then, Wiggins leaped alongside him, showcasing his unbelievable vertical leap that seemed to defy gravity.
Wiggins used his exceptional athleticism to grab the ball over Murasakibara's towering reach, stunning everyone on the court.
The crowd was speechless, marveling at Wiggins' incredible ability to outjump even Murasakibara and snatch the ball from above his head.
Securing the rebound, Wiggins immediately locked in, his focus razor-sharp. Without wasting a second, he found the sprinting Schroeder and delivered a perfect pass.
"Don't jump so early next time" Davis said, patting Wiggins on the shoulder. His tone was firm, offering advice. "Even if you're late, your defense can still make a difference."
Wiggins nodded seriously, his expression resolute. "The opponents are no joke" he replied briefly but firmly.
Davis couldn't help but agree. Murasakibara, his direct matchup, was a formidable player. If they were the same age, Davis wasn't sure who would come out on top.
Schröder, now with the ball, wasted no time initiating a fast break. With a lightning-quick crossover and a spin move, he powered past Akashi's staunch defense, moving into the three-point line with explosive speed.
Sensing the danger, Midorima quickly stepped up to help defend, planting himself in Schröder's path.
Meanwhile, Akashi tightly marked Russell to prevent any chance of a pass.
But Schröder, undeterred by Midorima's presence, displayed his resilience and aggressive playstyle. With firm strides, he drove hard toward the basket, showing a fierce determination to score.
Midorima absorbed the contact but gritted his teeth and stood firm.
Unexpectedly, Schröder executed a no-look pass at the last second.
Standing beyond the arc, Russell received the pass cleanly after giving Akashi a slight shove to create space.
In a blink, Russell pulled up for a three-pointer.
His release was swift and seamless, each movement fluid and natural as if perfected through countless repetitions.
The ball arced beautifully through the air before swishing through the net with a crisp sound.
"That release speed!"
Akashi was caught off guard, unable to react in time as Russell's quick shot left no window for defense.
Akashi's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Russell's release to be this fast — comparable to that of Midorima.
With the score now at 7:0, Akashi's expression grew more serious.
He understood that this team was far stronger than they'd anticipated, and this game would be anything but easy.
Taking the ball, Akashi advanced to the frontcourt to set up the next play.
"Pass it to me!" came Shiro's voice, confidently calling for the ball.
Shiro recognized the urgency of the situation. His team needed a spark, and he was ready to step up to break their scoring drought.
Akashi, trusting in Shiro's abilities, delivered the pass without hesitation. After all, Shiro had always been the team's ace, the player who could be counted on to deliver in crucial moments.
With the ball in hand, Shiro scanned the court, his sharp gaze locking onto LaVine, who stood poised in a defensive stance.
LaVine couldn't help but admire Shiro's aura of confidence and power. It was clear to him that Shiro was no ordinary player.
LaVine braced himself, determined not to let his guard down. After all, he didn't want to be the reason his team missed out on the substantial bonus promised for victory.