Chapter 105 - Finals: #2 (1/2)

The game had gotten an exciting start with Tokiwadai scoring the first points.

Teiko now had the ball, and Akashi wanted to score as soon as possible.

Akashi: 'If our offense gets blocked this time, we will lose the momentum to Tokiwadai.'

Teiko's captain and playmaker scouted the court and tried to find the play with the highest chances of scoring, and he did find one way they could score with a high likelihood of scoring.

Akashi brought the ball to the half-court line and jogged past it, and just before Yuki got in his vicinity to guard him, he passed the ball to the inside area.

The ball found its way to just outside the low-post into the hands of Murasakibara.

Murasakibara caught the ball, and with his back to Aone, he started to push him back.

Commentator A: ”Ah, we see the first post-play of the game. Let's see which of the center prevails in the post.”

Mursakibara pushed Aone into the paint. Know Murasakibara could use a front turn to face to the basket, but he didn't and kept pushing until they were Dee, and then faced the basket and rammed the ball into the basket.

Aone wasn't able to hinder Murasakibara and couldn't stop him from dunking.

Aone: ”Ugh!”

The viewers cheered for the powerful dunk, and the commentators provided some insight.

Commentator A: ”As expected, Murasakibara-kun's physique is suited to basketball, isn't it?”

Commentator B: ”Yes, he jumped from a good distance from the basket and was still able to put the ball into the rim. His wingspan helped him cover the extra distance.”

Commentator A: ”But he could've used a front turn to score with less effort, but he chose to force his way in.”

Commentator B: ”True, but this isn't something uncommon in basketball, players with great physique use their bodies to score rather than rely on finer skills.

Players like him don't need those skills, as they can do the same without said skills.”

Shun gazed at Murasakibara and thought.

Shun: 'He has gotten strong, how to score on him. Hmm...'

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The ball was now in Tokiwadai's possession, and Kaitani was the one it past the half-court.

Shun was on the three-point arc, and ready to get the pass. Kaitani got the pass, and Shun charged into the paint with the ball.

Kise rushed to stop Shun, but Shun got passed him with a single hesitation look.

Kise got close to Shun for a shot block, but Shun slipped past him the moment he came close.

Kise: ”Dammit a fake.”

The commentator chuckled and spoke.

Commentator B: ”A well-executed hesitation dribble is always fun to see. Kise-kun closed in too early.”

Shun got just inside the Dee and jumped for a layup, but all was not easy as he saw Murasakibara jump for a block.

The ball found its way to Aone, who jumped for the dunk behind both of them.

Shun smiled and spoke.

Shun: ”You committed too much in guarding me.”

As Murasakibara and Shun got to the ground, Aone's hands were already near the basket.

Murasakibara frowned as he saw Aone put the ball into the hoop.

-*-*-*-

Juliet, in the stands, was colored impressed with Shun's show of reflexes.

Juliet: ”Kageyama-kun's reflexes are impressive. That pass was an extremely swift decision on his part.”

Kendo was a sport of reflexes. Kendo players had to react to every move of their opponent and avoid getting hit, one hit and they got one big step close to defeat.

Inuzuka: ”Kageyama is quick. He slips away whenever I try to put him into a headlock or such. He is quite agile as well.”

Hikigaya shook his head at his friend.

Hikigaya: ”When you nodded, I thought you would share something about Kendo, but of course, you would talk about headlocks.”

Shikamaru didn't even give the courtesy of looking at Inuzuka and said.

Shikamaru: ”You're an idiot.”

Inuzuka clenched his fist, and a vein bulged on his forehead, he wanted nothing but to put both his friends in holds and choke them until they apologized, but he stopped when he saw President Temari looking at him with a watchful look.

Inuzuka sighed and thought,

Inuzuka: 'These guys are taking advantage of the president sitting beside us. These damn smartasses!'

And, Hikigaya and Shikamaru were indeed smiling with their heads turned away from the rest of them.

Shun was near the right corner of the three-point arc, and in front of him was Aomine.

Shun and Aomine were looking at each other.

Shun used his court vision to look for a path to the basket.

Shun: 'I can't go straight. Aomine and Murasakibara will be tough to force through.'

He saw a path that he could maneuver through.

Shun: 'Ok, let's do this.'

Shun smiled at Aomine to throw him off.

Aomine: 'Hmm... why is he smiling?'

He saw Shun taking the ball into both of his hands, and raising his slightly.

One explanation entered Aomine's mind.

Aomine: 'He is going to shoot.'

He immediately closed in and jumped for a block.

Shun smile widened as he saw Aomine jumping.

Shun lowered his hands and drove past the mid-jump Aomine.

Aomine was shocked at the sudden shot fake.

Aomine: ”I made a judge-miss!”

The commentator presented their analysis of the move.

Commentator B: ”What we just saw was an excellent shot-fake. Kageyama-kun had his hands on the upper hemisphere of the ball, so the referee didn't call him for double dribble.”

Shun ran diagonally to the left, away from the basket.

That was when Midorima appeared in front of Shun.

Shun: ”Oh, I wasn't expecting you.”

Shun put a little force on his feet and made sharp direction change towards the basket.

Midorima was expecting that Shun would keep going away from the basket, so he was not ready for the sharp turn.

Midorima: ”What control!”

Shun now ran unopposed towards the basket.

Near the low-post, Murasakibara was ready to block the incoming Shun, but that was where Aone came in.