Chapter 110 - Finals: #7 (1/2)

Akashi made an on-court decision to double-team Shun.

He decided not to bring in Kise back on the court.

They were having difficulty keeping up with Shun, and if Midorima was once again double teamed, then closing, and crossing up the point-gap would take more effort and time.

Akashi walked to Aomine and told him about the decision.

Akashi: ”Aomine, I will be joining you in defending Kageyama.”

Aomine wasn't happy when he heard that.

Aomine: ”No, I will defend him alone. You stay with your mark.”

Akashi understood Aomine's point of view, and he was expecting some resistance from Aomine.

Akashi: ”Aomine, I understand why you want to defend Kageyama alone, but if we don't slow him down, we will not be able to close the point-gap.

I want the point-gap to close by the end of this quarter. So, please cooperate with me on this.”

Aomine shut his eyes close, put his hands on his waist, and thought while tapping his foot on the floor.

He opened them after a couple of seconds and gave his decision.

Aomine: ”Okay, you can join me.”

Aomine had difficulty saying the words and had a really unwilling face.

Akashi smiled slightly and spoke.

Akashi: ”Good, my mark is Yuki Tetsuya, and he is an inside player. So, Murasakibara will take him on as well.

Shun got the inbounded ball from Yuki.

Shun nodded to Yuki, signaling him to go ahead and tie up his defender.

Yuki went ahead and got into position. His defender was Akashi, and Akashi did get close to him, but he was giving Yuki some space.

Yuki wasn't surprised. Tokiwadai hadn't been scoring with other members other than Shun and sometimes Mibuchi.

So, Akashi giving him space didn't seem fishy to Yuki.

Shun crossed the half-point line and a few steps in, Aomine was near Shun, to defend him.

Shun slowed down near Aomine and stopped when Aomine was within Shun's range.

Shun started to dribble slowly; he dribbled behind his back, he moved the ball between his legs and then brought the ball near his c.h.e.s.t level, ready to use a change-of-pace to flash by Aomine from the left.

But, then Shun saw something with his court vision that he thought could cause a whole new deal for him, so he decided to get out of there before the trouble reaches him.

Shun did a right-to-left crossover, but Aomine knew about the incoming trouble and tightened up on the left.

Aomine: ”We will see how you escape this time.”

Shun clicked his tongue as the trouble was already here.

-*-*-*-

Kaitani rubbed his hands against his knees as he saw Akashi Seijuro running towards and arriving near Shun and Aomine to trap Shun in a double-team.

Kaitani: ”Isn't this bad. If they start double-teaming Kageyama, we won't be able to keep up that point-gap.”

The coach glanced at his student and spoke.

Coach: ”There had been times when other teams double-teamed Shun, but this time the players double-teaming him are quite skilled.”

Kaitani frowned as he worried about Kageyama on the court.

Shun wasn't able to escape in time, and Akashi arrived in a position to defend Shun with Aomine by his side.

Shun got into a position where the ball was away from his defenders. He didn't want them to steal the ball from him.

Shun grinned with a little frustration behind his smile.

Shun: ”Hoho, Dai-chan bringing back-up to defend this weak old me, eh?”

Before Aomine could reply, Akashi spoke first.

Akashi: ”Kageyama-kun, provoking him will make no difference. The two of us ready to guard you, and will not let you pass us.”

Shun knew Aomine was going to be extremely serious as now he had to share his defense position with Akashi.

Shun tried to pass his double-team, but they were already in position, so Shun wasn't able to escape them.

Shun glanced at the shot clock.

Shun: 'I don't want the shot clock to end on me. Let's try to get the ball to Mibuchi-san.'

Shun scouted the position with his court vision and decided to pass the ball.

Shun jumped up and threw the ball over Akashi's head. He threw it high enough that both Aomine and Akashi weren't able to put a hand on the ball.

Shun: ”Yuki!”

Yuki, who was now free, ran towards the ball to catch it. He caught the ball and looked around to find Mibuchi.

He ran towards Mibuchi, and Mibuchi also ran towards Yuki.

Midorima followed Mibuchi as his defender.

Yuki dropped the ball behind himself and then screened up fro Midorima.

Mibuchi increased his speed and caught up to the ball.

Yuki's screen slowed down Midorima, giving Mibuchi enough time to shoot the ball.

Midorima got around Yuki's screen and tried to block Mibuchi, but he wasn't able to reach in time.

The ball went to the hoop, but missed the center and bounced off the rim.

Murasakibara and Aone jumped for the ball, and due to Aone's favorable position, he was able to get a hand on the ball.

-*-*-*-

On the bench, Hyakuzawa got up from his seat after seeing Aone getting to the ball first.

Hyakuzawa: ”Yes!”

-*-*-*-