Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

After warming up, the starting players from both teams walked onto the court.

Ryonan's starting lineup:

Center: YuzumiPower Forward: IkegamiSmall Forward: Kenichi UesugiShooting Guard: Akira SendohPoint Guard: UekusaHakata University of Commerce's starting lineup:

Center: RyutaroPower Forward: Ken HoshinoSmall Forward: Ryoji MatsubaraShooting Guard: Yutaro IshidaPoint Guard: IchibaThe audience immediately noticed something unusual about Ryonan's lineup. "Hey! Ryonan's starting five has changed!" one fan exclaimed. "Yeah, their power forward is different from before!" another chimed in. "Looks like they made adjustments specifically for Hakata University of Commerce! But will it work?"

On the court, as Yuzumi and Hakata University of Commerce's center Ryutaro stood face-to-face in the center circle, the referee blew the whistle to signal the start of the game.

"The national tournament semi-final, Ryonan vs. Hakata University of Commerce begins now!"

The referee tossed the ball into the air, and both centers leaped high to contest the tip-off.

Though Ryutaro was only 195 cm tall—shorter than Yuzumi—his jumping ability was remarkable, allowing him to match Yuzumi in the fight for possession. The two touched the ball almost simultaneously, but in the end, Yuzumi relied on his strength advantage to tip the ball toward Uekusa.

Despite winning the jump ball, Coach Taoka Moichi frowned from the sidelines.

Ryutaro, an otherwise inconspicuous player on Hakata University of Commerce's roster, had displayed impressive athleticism. If the rest of Hakata's team matched his intensity, Ryonan could be in for a tough battle.

With possession secured, Ryonan initiated their signature fast-break offense. Uekusa quickly passed the ball to Kenichi Uesugi, who had positioned himself near the wing. As soon as Uesugi caught the ball, Hakata's small forward, Ryoji Matsubara, closed in to defend him.

It was clear that Hakata's coach, Takeda Yusuke, had studied Ryonan's opening plays. He wasn't going to let them execute their fast break easily.

However, Matsubara miscalculated. Uesugi accelerated past him with a quick burst of speed, leaving the defender momentarily behind. Breaking free, Uesugi drove straight toward the basket, drawing attention from Hakata's other defenders. Ishida Yutaka and Hoshino Ken moved to cut off his shooting angles, but Uesugi remained calm under pressure. Instead of forcing a layup, he delivered a precise bounce pass through their legs to Sendoh, who followed up with a powerful two-handed dunk.

2-0, Ryonan took an early lead!

"Wow! Ryonan scores first!" the announcer shouted.

"I didn't expect them to strike so quickly!"

"It seems Ryonan isn't backing down—they'll have a chance to win this game!"

"That's because Hakata hasn't hit their stride yet. Once they do, Ryonan won't find it so easy."

On Ryonan's bench, Coach Taoka Moichi remained unimpressed by the opening play. In his eyes, the fast break had failed—it was only thanks to Uesugi and Sendoh's individual brilliance that they managed to score. Clearly, Hakata had done their homework on Ryonan's tactics, but Ryonan knew little about Hakata's strategy, putting them at a disadvantage.

Now it was Hakata's turn to attack. Ichiba slowly dribbled the ball up the court, keeping a wary eye on Uekusa, who guarded him closely. Knowing the gap in skill between himself and his opponent, Ichiba opted to take matters into his own hands.

Uekusa rushed forward to defend, knowing full well that Ichiba was Hakata's captain and ace player. However, despite his tight defense, Uekusa couldn't contain Ichiba. With lightning speed, Ichiba broke to Uekusa's right side. Anticipating the move, Uekusa shifted to block his path—but Ichiba suddenly stopped, executed a slick crossover, and stepped back to the three-point line. Before Uekusa could recover, Ichiba rose for a smooth, effortless shot.

Swish! The ball sailed cleanly through the net. 2-3, Hakata took the lead!

"Wow! It's Ichiba's three-pointer!" the crowd erupted.

"He's already heating up! Looks like he's ready to explode today!"

On the court, Uekusa clenched his teeth in frustration. He had tried his best to guard against Ichiba's shot, but the opponent's movements were simply too fast. Now, Uekusa finally understood why Ichiba was considered one of the top players in the national tournament.

The game continued, and it was Ryonan's turn to attack again. This time, Uekusa controlled the ball more cautiously as he brought it up the court. Ignoring Ichiba's taunting glare, Uekusa assessed the situation and decided to pass the ball to Kenichi Uesugi, who was waiting beyond the three-point line.

Without hesitation, Uesugi caught the ball, rose into the air, and released a lightning-fast three-pointer. Swish! The ball went straight through the net before Matsubara, his defender, could even react.

5-3, Ryonan regained the lead!

"Wow! Ryonan's Kenichi Uesugi is deadly accurate from downtown!"

"That's right—he single-handedly kept Ryonan competitive against Toyotama earlier this season!"

"And his release is even quicker than Ichiba's just now!"

"It's obvious—this is Uesugi's way of challenging Ichiba. The duel has begun!"

On the court, Ichiba glanced over at Uesugi, fully aware that the shot was meant as a message. But he didn't flinch. Such displays of skill wouldn't intimidate him.

Ichiba regained possession and once again faced off against Uekusa. When he held the ball outside the three-point line, Uekusa, wary of another long-range attempt, moved closer to defend. Ichiba seized the opportunity, quickly dribbled to his right, and blew past Uekusa. As he advanced toward the basket, Ikegami came over to help defend, but Ichiba spotted Ken Hoshino cutting behind Ikegami. With a swift pass, Ichiba sent the ball to Hoshino, who finished with a smooth layup.

5-5, the game was tied once more.

Ryonan launched another attack. Uekusa brought the ball up the court and found Matsubara tightly guarding Kenichi Uesugi. To prevent his pass from being intercepted, Uekusa decisively chose to swing the ball to Sendoh on the opposite wing.

Sendoh received the pass, dribbled between his legs to change direction, and effortlessly broke through Ishida Yutaka's defense. As he approached the basket, Ken Hoshino and Ryutaro converged to block his path. Undeterred, Sendoh elevated high into the air, using his exceptional hang time to evade their attempts at a block. With a powerful reverse layup, he sent the ball soaring into the hoop.

"Wow! Ryonan's No. 7 is unstoppable!" the crowd cheered.

"Yes! Both inside players of Hakata University of Commerce couldn't stop him!"

"It turns out Hakata has twin stars, but Ryonan's duo is just as formidable!"

Sendoh's performance electrified the audience and ignited the competitive spirit of Hakata's twin stars, Ichiba and Hoshino. Over the next ten minutes, the two teams exchanged brilliant plays, with Ichiba and Hoshino showcasing their chemistry while Uesugi and Sendoh countered with equal brilliance.

Despite Uekusa and Ikegami's best efforts on defense, they struggled to contain Hakata's dynamic duo. On offense, however, Ryonan thrived, particularly thanks to Uesugi's sharpshooting and Sendoh's versatility. Matsubara, tasked with defending Uesugi, grew increasingly frustrated as the freshman consistently drained three-pointers with ease.

As time passed, the game evolved into a fierce duel between Uesugi and Sendoh versus Ichiba and Hoshino. By the 12th minute of the first half, the scoreboard read 34-32 in favor of Ryonan.

"This game is incredible! The ace players of both teams are scoring impossible shots—it's a spectacle!"

"Yes! Neither team has been able to pull away. Their strengths are evenly matched!

"I didn't expect Ryonan to hold their ground against Hakata University of Commerce like this!"

While the audience marveled at the thrilling display, Hakata's coach, Takeda Yusuke, grew increasingly dissatisfied. The rhythm of the game wasn't aligning with his pre-match plans. He believed Hakata should have been leading by now, and the current deadlock—or worse, trailing—was unacceptable.

Standing up from his seat, Takeda signaled to the referee.

"DEEDEE!"

"Hakata University of Commerce calls a timeout!"

The sudden timeout called by Hakata University of Commerce brought an end to the thrilling back-and-forth battle, leaving the audience buzzing with speculation. "I think Coach Takeda must be furious!" one fan remarked. "They've been trailing for so long despite being last year's runner-up!" another chimed in.

"Sannoh is watching from the sidelines—this can't sit well with him," someone else added. "It all depends on how Hakata adjusts now, but Ryonan has proven they're no pushovers!"

On Hakata's bench, Coach Takeda Yusuke wasted no time scolding his players as they returned from the court. He accused them of abandoning their tactical discipline and allowing Ryonan to dictate the pace of the game.

"The strength of Hakata lies in our balanced roster," he emphasized. "We don't rely on individual brilliance—we thrive as a team. Why are you trying to match Ryonan's style? They excel at playing through their star players, and we're falling into their trap!"

After Takeda's stern lecture, the players began to grasp the issue at hand. Meanwhile, on Ryonan's bench, Coach Taoka Moichi kept his instructions minimal. Though he anticipated that Hakata would adjust their strategy, he couldn't predict exactly what they'd do. Instead, he trusted his players to adapt on the fly.

The timeout ended, and the game resumed. Hakata University of Commerce regained possession, with Chiba Ichi dribbling the ball up the court. Uekusa moved to defend him, but Chiba suddenly accelerated, catching Uekusa off guard. Unable to keep up, Uekusa was left behind as Chiba blew past him.

Chiba drove toward the basket, drawing Yuzumi's attention. Just as Yuzumi stepped in to block his path, Chiba flicked the ball over his head with a quick pass. Ryutaro leaped into the air, caught the ball mid-flight, and slammed it home with authority.

"Wow! What an incredible aerial relay!" the announcer exclaimed.

"Chiba's vision and Ryutaro's finish were flawless!"

In the front row of the stands, among Kainan's supporters, Amu turned to Coach Riki Takato.

"It looks like Hakata's changed their offensive approach," Amu observed.

"Yes," Takato replied. "This is their true strength. Chiba and Hoshino were just caught up in matching Kenichi Uesugi and Sendoh earlier. As a championship contender, we've studied Hakata extensively—they're at their best when everyone contributes equally. It's hard to defend against them unless your team vastly outclasses theirs, because every player on the court is a core piece. You never know where the focus should be."

Takato paused, his expression thoughtful.

"And defensively, they're just as strong. Their double-teams and rotations are nearly flawless. Even Kainan would struggle against this style."

Despite being rivals with Taoka Moichi, Takato couldn't help but feel concerned for Ryonan as the game unfolded.

When Ryonan regained possession, Uekusa cautiously brought the ball up the court. Matsubara Ryoji immediately positioned himself between Uekusa and Kenichi Uesugi, making it clear he wouldn't allow an easy pass. After more than ten minutes of play, Matsubara had realized he couldn't stop Uesugi one-on-one, so he focused on cutting off his opportunities to receive the ball.

Meanwhile, Chiba Ichi subtly shifted closer to Uesugi's side, ready to intercept any careless passes. With limited options, Uekusa reluctantly swung the ball to Sendoh on the wing.

As soon as Sendoh caught the ball, Ken Hoshino and Yutaka Ishida converged on him, forming a suffocating double-team. Trapped between two experienced defenders, Sendoh struggled to find space. However, using a series of feints, he managed to create enough room to whip a quick pass to Ikegami, who stood wide open.

Ikegami didn't hesitate, rising for a jump shot. But just as he released the ball, Matsubara Ryoji lunged forward and swatted it away with a fierce block.

"Wow! Ryonan's attack falls apart!"

"Yes! Hakata's new formation is already paying dividends!"

"Now we're seeing the real Hakata University of Commerce! The score will widen soon!"

Seizing the loose ball, Hakata quickly transitioned into offense. Chiba Ichi once again broke past Uekusa's defense, leaving him in the dust. As Chiba drove toward the basket, Sendoh sprinted across the court to cut him off. Though surprised by Sendoh's speed, Chiba reacted instantly, whipping a no-look pass behind his back to Yutaka Ishida on the left wing.

Without hesitation, Ishida rose for a three-pointer. Swish! 34-37, Hakata took the lead.

"Wow! Hakata scores again!"

"They've clearly elevated their game after the timeout. Ryonan's in trouble now!"

"I told you—Ryonan isn't on their level!"

On Hakata's bench, Coach Takeda Yusuke watched his players execute his adjustments perfectly and couldn't suppress a smirk. Glancing at Ryonan's bench, he saw Taoka Moichi's grim expression and felt a surge of satisfaction.

Ryonan attacked once more. Uekusa brought the ball up the court, tightly guarded by Chiba Ichi. Feeling trapped, Uekusa spotted Kenichi Uesugi cutting toward him and immediately passed the ball.

As Uesugi caught the ball, Matsubara Ryoji and Yutaka Ishida closed in, forming yet another double-team.

"Hakata's defense is lightning-fast! Uesugi and Sendoh are getting doubled as soon as they touch the ball!"

"Yeah! This is going to make Ryonan's offense miserable!"

In the back rows of the audience, Jun Tsuchiya leaned against the railing, observing the action intently.

"Their defense is solid," he murmured, "but will it really work against him ?"

Having personally faced Kenichi Uesugi before, Tsuchiya knew better than anyone how unstoppable his offensive abilities could be. While Hakata's defense might contain Sendoh, he doubted it could hold back Uesugi.

On the court, Matsubara and Ishida continued to pressure Uesugi, determined to prevent him from driving to the basket. But Uesugi ignored their presence entirely, opting instead to pull up for a contested three-pointer right in front of them.

His decision startled the defenders, who jumped to contest the shot. However, Uesugi leaned back mid-air, effortlessly evading their attempts to block him. The ball arced beautifully through the air and dropped cleanly through the net. 37-37, the score was tied once again.

"Wow! Uesugi hit a clutch three-pointer over two defenders!"

"This guy's personal ability is insane!"

"The score is tied again—this game is electrifying!"

Hakata countered with precision teamwork. Chiba Ichi broke through the defense and dished the ball to Ken Hoshino inside. Facing a double-team from Sendoh and Ikegami, Hoshino calmly kicked the ball out to Yutaka Ishida beyond the arc. Ishida drained another three-pointer without hesitation.

For the remainder of the half, Hakata executed their offense with surgical efficiency, repeatedly finding open shooters and capitalizing on their teamwork. Ryonan, meanwhile, struggled under Hakata's relentless double-teams and rotating defense. Even Uesugi and Sendoh found it increasingly difficult to connect, let alone score.

By halftime, Ryonan trailed 46-56, a daunting 10-point deficit.