The match between the two teams started shortly.
Since Rukawa and the others were not in the starting lineup, Akagi struggled against Miuradai's center, Murasame. Miuradai capitalized on this, gaining an early advantage.
Despite Akagi and Mugure scoring a few points through their coordinated plays, the tide of the game remained firmly in Miuradai's favor.
Realizing the need for change, Coach Anzai made a bold move, substituting in Miyagi, Mitsui, Rukawa, and Sakuragi all at once.
Kenichi Uesugi, watching from the sidelines, was thrilled.
"The starting five of Shohoku are finally on the court!"
The momentum shifted immediately.
Miyagi's sharp drives, Mitsui's accurate three-pointers, and Rukawa's spectacular shots left Miuradai floundering. Shohoku quickly pulled ahead with a commanding lead.
Desperate, Miuradai's coach unveiled his secret weapon: Naito, a powerful player who had transitioned from rugby to basketball.
At first, Naito's physicality caused problems for Shohoku. However, the team quickly adapted, exposing his weaknesses and widening the gap even further.
By the final whistle, Shohoku had crushed Miuradai with an overwhelming score of 114–51, securing their first victory in the county tournament.
The audience was abuzz with astonishment.
"I can't believe Shohoku is this strong!"
"Yeah! Miuradai is no pushover, but they got destroyed!"
"Could Shohoku actually make it to the national tournament this year?"
Suddenly, a confident voice broke through the chatter:
"But if Shohoku is this strong, how much stronger must Ryonan be, since they defeated Shohoku not long ago?"
The crowd turned their attention to Ryonan.
Indeed, Shohoku had shown impressive strength, but Ryonan had already beaten them.
How strong was Ryonan, really? Could the king of Kanagawa be dethroned this year?
As the Ryonan team left the arena, anticipation for the county tournament finals began to build.
With established powerhouses like Kainan and Shoyo, the rising Shohoku, and the formidable Ryonan, this year's finals promised to be unforgettable.
Preparation for the FinalsOver the next few days, Ryonan's coach, Tanaka Shigeichi, kept the team focused on training.
Most preliminary matches offered little challenge, so he didn't bother having the players attend. Even Shohoku, despite their potential, faced weaker opponents in subsequent games.
However, Tanaka canceled the team's training schedule for one key match: the Round of 16 between Tohoku and Nanakubo. The winner of this game would face Ryonan in the quarterfinals.
By the time Tanaka and the Ryonan players arrived at the arena, the match had already begun.
Even so, their entrance caused a stir.
"Look, it's Ryonan!"
"They must be here to scout tomorrow's opponent!"
"Where's Kenichi Uesugi? Oh, there he is! That yellow hair stands out!"
Settling into their seats, the Ryonan players saw Tohoku leading Nanakubo by more than 10 points.
Despite Nanakubo's efforts to close the gap, Tohoku maintained control. By halftime, they were firmly in the lead.
In the second half, Tohoku intensified their offense, quickly widening the score gap. Nanakubo had no answer and was soundly defeated.
The final whistle blew, with Tohoku securing an easy victory and advancing to face Ryonan.
As the Ryonan players prepared to leave, Tohoku's No. 4 player walked toward their section of the stands.
Curious, the Ryonan players turned to watch.
To their shock, the player raised his right hand and flipped his middle finger at them.
Tohoku's coach rushed onto the court, dragging the player away and bowing repeatedly in apology.
But the damage was done. The Ryonan players were furious. If not for the presence of the crowd, they might have jumped down and confronted him.
Coach Tanaka's expression darkened as he turned to his team.
"I don't need to tell you what to do tomorrow," he said through gritted teeth.
The audience, stunned by the incident, buzzed with excitement.
It was the first time they had seen such blatant provocation on the basketball court.
And judging by the furious expressions of the Ryonan players, tomorrow's game promised to be unforgettable.
The next morning, the basketball arena was packed long before the gates officially opened.
The buzz surrounding the game was fueled by Basketball Weekly's coverage and the provocative actions of Tohoku's player.
Fans speculated eagerly about the upcoming showdown:
Would Ryonan exact their revenge, or could Tohoku shock everyone?
Only one thing was certain: this match was the most anticipated game of the tournament so far.