The Legend Coach: Slam Dunk

The next day, at 9:30 a.m., the Kanagawa Prefectural Gymnasium was already packed, even though the match hadn't started yet. Shoyo's cheerleaders had placed large banners with the words "Fighting Spirit" on the handrails of the stands.

"Which team will make it to the national league this year?" the Shoyo cheerleader shouted through a megaphone.

"Shoyo!!!"

"It's Shoyo!!!"

The nearly hundred-strong cheerleading squad roared in unison.

"Hmph!" Miyamoto, the captain of Musashi, said disdainfully, "Shoyo actually dares to look down on us! How arrogant!"

"Captain, don't mind them. You know how Shoyo's cheerleaders are," one of Musashi's players advised, though he shared the same disdain. "But Shoyo's only better than us in cheerleading. The rest? Forget about it."

"Nanakubo and Shoyo!!!" the cheerleader shouted again. "Which team will win!?"

"Shoyo!!!"

"Shoyo!!!"

"Louder! I can't hear you!!!" the cheerleader urged.

"Shoyo!!! Shoyo!!!"

"Captain, Shoyo's cheerleaders are as loud as ever," remarked Okabe Yamato, the vice-captain of Hainan.

Okabe Yamato, 198 cm tall, 91 kg, third year, was Hainan's starting center and the current number one center in Kanagawa.

"Okabe, pay close attention to this game," said Hainan's captain, Hidekazu Otsu. "I heard Shoyo has a center over two meters tall, and he's not a rookie—he's a second-year transfer from Chiba Prefecture. He's been outstanding in their recent matches."

Otsu Hidekazu, Hainan's captain, was a third-year small forward, 187 cm tall, weighing 79 kg, and one of the top five players in the last winter tournament.

"Don't worry, Captain. A center from a mediocre Chiba team? How strong can he be?" Okabe dismissed the concern. "He's just tall. If he faces me, I'll teach him a lesson."

Otsu shook his head and warned, "Don't be careless. Never underestimate any opponent." Still, he had full confidence in Okabe's abilities.

Meanwhile, Yayoi Aida, now in her junior year, along with the entire Lingnan team and Coach Takaoka, as well as Kazumi Kawasaki and his disciples from Tsushin Kyuubu, had all taken their seats, ready to cheer for Kudo.

Inside Shoyo's makeshift locker room, Kudo was briefing the team on Shichikubo's lineup. "Alright, here's the situation. Bring your full strength and try to settle the game in the first half. Let Hainan and Musashi in the stands see what we're made of!" Kudo concluded. "Can you do it?"

"We'll get it done!" the team shouted.

"Then let's head out!"

"Yes!"

As the Shoyo players entered the court to warm up, the crowd erupted.

"Shoyo!!! Go for it!!!"

"Shoyo!!! Go for it!!!"

"Shoyo!!! Go for it!!!"

Kudo spotted Coach Takaoka and the others in the stands and gave them a nod of acknowledgment. He also exchanged a warm glance with Yayoi Aida. Though their relationship wasn't official yet, they had been on several dates, and their bond had grown significantly.

The players of both teams lined up opposite each other at center court and exchanged formal bows. "Please give us your guidance!"

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The referee blew the whistle and tossed the ball into the air. Sugiyama won the tip-off with ease, tapping the ball to Saionji, who drove in for a quick layup. Shichikubo's players were caught off guard, and before they could react, Saionji stole the ball and scored another layup.

Facing a shot from Shichikubo's small forward, Sugiyama delivered a massive block—his sixth of the game. Nakamura grabbed the loose ball, drove past his defender, and finished with a powerful dunk. The score was now 35:5, with only 10 minutes played. Shichikubo had managed just two field goals and one free throw. The gap between the teams was staggering.

By the end of the first half, the scoreboard displayed a shocking 68:9, electrifying the crowd.

"Is Shichikubo really that weak?" one of Musashi's players asked.

"It's not that Shichikubo is weak; it's that this year's Shoyo is too strong," Miyamoto replied grimly. "Shichikubo is one of Kanagawa's top eight teams. This year's finals won't be easy."

"How strong is that center, Sugiyama Shota?" Otsu asked, unfazed by the lopsided score.

"He's decent, but his opponents are too weak to truly test him," Okabe remarked. "Compared to me, he's still inexperienced."

Otsu nodded, tacitly agreeing. "Musashi's in trouble now."

"I can't wait to see how Miyamoto handles this," Okabe gloated.

"Let's go. This match is over," Otsu said, standing up.

"Yes, Captain!" the Hainan team replied.

"Captain, it looks like Hainan's leaving," one of Musashi's players noted.

"Hmph! Let's go too," Miyamoto said.

"Yes!"

"I can't believe Kudo-senpai has transformed Shoyo so much in just half a year!" Aida marveled.

"My dream of reaching the nationals just got tougher," Coach Takaoka muttered, glancing at Kudo's back.

"Kudo, you're working so hard. I can't fall behind," Kawasaki said excitedly. "When we get back, we're doubling our training!"

"Ah…" the team groaned.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes, Coach!" the Tsushin Kyuubu team replied.

In the locker room, Kudo addressed the team. "In the second half, the starters won't play. Substitutes, it's your turn. Shichikubo's confidence is shattered, but don't let your guard down."

"Yes!"

The final score was 120:32, securing Shoyo's place in the co-finals. Kudo also earned 200 SD points.

Perhaps inspired by Shoyo's dominance, Hainan crushed Sunrise West 172:60 two days later, even without their main players, and advanced to the co-finals.

In Group D, Minowa, one of last year's top four, narrowly lost 58:62 to East Funko, allowing East Funko to reach the finals once again.

The finalists of the prefectural tournament were now: Hainan, Musashi, Shoyo, and East Funko.

The round-robin matchups were as follows:

First Round: Hainan vs. East Funko; Musashi vs. Shoyo.

Second Round: Musashi vs. East Funko; Hainan vs. Shoyo.

Third Round: Hainan vs. Musashi; Shoyo vs. East Funko.

The first round would begin next Saturday.