Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

During the halftime break, Ryonan's players returned to the visiting team's locker room.

Taoka Moichi, their coach, refrained from immediately praising them for their first-half lead. He knew this wasn't the time for complacency.

As a team accustomed to competing at the national level, Ryonan could not afford to relax. He anticipated that Luoan would come out with a fierce counterattack in the second half. To maintain their lead, Ryonan had to stay sharp, particularly on offense, as their opponents would likely strengthen their defense.

Taoka's gaze landed on Kenichi Uesugi and Sendoh, who were chatting casually. His eyes were filled with confidence. Even against the toughest opponents in the national competition, their offensive abilities would rarely be outmatched.

Meanwhile, in the home team's locker room, Coach Kasahara was rallying his players.

"You've done well in the second half of the first period," he said. "We've regained our offensive rhythm. Now, in the second half, our mission is simple: strengthen the defense! If we can shut them down, we'll close the gap."

Kasahara swiftly laid out his defensive strategy, knowing the importance of executing it flawlessly.

The short break ended, and both teams returned to the court.

Unlike the start of the first half, Luoan's players no longer appeared overconfident. Instead, they looked focused and determined, the deficit weighing heavily on their minds. It was clear they now understood the strength of their opponents.

"Beep!" The whistle blew, signaling the start of the second half.

Yuzumi and Shiramizu Rinsheng jumped simultaneously to contest the ball. Despite Shiramizu's best efforts, Yuzumi's sheer athleticism and dominance allowed him to win the tip-off with ease, giving Ryonan possession.

With Luoan now on high alert, fast breaks were no longer an option. Uekusa carefully advanced the ball, scanning the court as his teammates took their positions.

As he prepared to initiate the offense, Uekusa was suddenly double-teamed by Aida Shusuke and Akihiro Takai. The unexpected pressure caught him off guard.

"When did I become worth a double-team?" Uekusa thought, puzzled.

He hastily passed the ball toward Sendoh, but Akihiro Takai intercepted it mid-air. Wasting no time, Takai launched a lightning-fast counterattack, sprinting toward Ryonan's basket. Sendoh gave chase, determined to stop him, but Takai cleverly passed the ball to Aida Shusuke, who followed closely behind.

Aida completed the play with a powerful dunk, igniting cheers from the Luoan crowd.

Ryonan responded immediately.

Uekusa pushed the ball forward once more, this time passing it to Sendoh early. Luoan's defense, however, was relentless. Sendoh quickly found himself surrounded by Akihiro Takai and Takahashi Susumu.

Despite the intense pressure, Sendoh remained composed. He spotted a gap between the defenders and made his move, slipping through with agility. But just as he thought he was clear, Aida Hideki appeared, executing a perfectly timed steal.

Luoan capitalized on the turnover with another quick counterattack, cutting the score to 47:32.

Coach Kasahara watched in satisfaction, his defensive adjustments proving effective. If his players could maintain this energy, they would stifle Ryonan's offense and eventually close the gap.

He glanced at Taoka Moichi across the court. The Ryonan coach sat calmly on the bench, legs crossed, showing no sign of concern. Kasahara's confidence faltered. Did Taoka have a hidden strategy?

Uekusa advanced the ball once again, now feeling the weight of two consecutive turnovers. He hesitated, unsure of how to proceed, until he noticed Kenichi Uesugi signaling for the ball.

"Right," Uekusa thought. "How could I forget him? His offensive skills rival Sendoh's, and he always has a way to surprise the defense."

Without hesitation, Uekusa passed to Kenichi.

The moment Kenichi caught the ball, Akihiro Takai and Fukaohara closed in on him. But Kenichi didn't flinch. In a fluid motion, he jumped, caught, and shot—all in one seamless action.

"It's a quick shot!" Ikegami shouted from the sideline, recognizing the move instantly.

Before Takai and Fukaohara could react, the ball sailed over their outstretched hands and swished cleanly through the net.

Kenichi's shot broke Luoan's defensive momentum and added two points for Ryonan.

"Damn! What kind of shooting form is that?" Akihiro muttered, visibly frustrated.

Fukaohara nodded in agreement. "His release is so fast, and his accuracy is insane. He might be tougher to handle than Sendoh."

From the sideline, Kasahara's eyes shifted between Kenichi and Taoka. A realization dawned on him.

"So, that's where your confidence comes from," Kasahara thought. "This guy… Could he really be even better than Sendoh?"