Slam Dunk: Muguro

Chapter 423 Rebound Thieves
Nango stood there, stunned, completely bewildered by Kogure's attack.

Looking at Nango standing still in place, Ikegami couldn't help but feel worried and asked, "Nango, should we switch garrisons?"

"No, I want to try again!"

Nango politely declined Ikegami's offer.

Nango knew very well that even Ikegami was no match for Kogure.

Furthermore, as a player, choosing to escape when faced with difficulties will hinder growth.

He is not the kind of person who would give up easily when faced with difficulties.

If it were gOat, they would have already traveled during off-peak hours.

Rather than doing that, it's better to take the responsibility yourself.

To put it another way, it was an honor for him to be Kogure's opponent in his final battle.

Uozumi patted Nango on the shoulder approvingly, acknowledging his fighting spirit.

This indomitable spirit is exactly what the team needs, embodying the spirit of 'bravery and decisiveness'.

"Keep going, Nanxiang! Don't give up! I believe the future is yours!"

It's clear that Uozumi is optimistic about its future.

Encouraged by Uozumi, Nango felt a warm current flowing through his heart.

He quickly adjusted his mindset and prepared to meet Kogure.

Soon, the Ryonan team's offensive horn sounded again.

Sendoh dribbled the ball across the halfway line, his eyes scanning the field from side to side, seemingly trying to organize the team's attack.

Nobuhiko Okamoto was affected and his attention was somewhat distracted.

Suddenly, Sendoh took a step forward, catching Okamoto Nobuhiko off guard.

Okamoto tried to adjust his defensive position, but Sendoh was just too fast.

After successfully breaking through Nobuhiko Okamoto's defense, Sendoh did not rush to advance, but instead chose to pull up for a jump shot.

There was nothing they could do; Kogure was still roaming the paint district, and Nango simply couldn't take him away.

shuh~
As the sound of the basketball piercing the net rang out, the Ryonan players breathed a sigh of relief and patted Sendoh on the shoulder in celebration.

With this basket, Ryonan successfully narrowed the gap to single digits.

Unfortunately, his good fortune didn't last long. Kogure once again demonstrated his outstanding ability to break through defenses, skillfully shaking off Nango's entanglement and quickly advancing towards the basket.

Uozumi had no choice but to step up and defend. Just as he got close, Kogure quickly passed the ball to Akagi with perfect accuracy.

Bang~

Before Yu Zhu could turn around, the groaning of the basketball hoop echoed behind him.

Sure enough, Akagi got stuck on the basket.

Uozumi expressed his helplessness, saying that he couldn't help with the defense, and he couldn't not help with the defense either.

Offense and defense reversed!

Sendoh broke through Okamoto Nobuhiko's defenses again, but he did not completely shake off his opponent.

The two advanced side by side and engaged in a reasonable confrontation.

Chi~
Sendoh came to an abrupt stop, and Okamoto Nobuhiko stomped his foot, using the reaction force of the floor to force himself to stop.

Just then, the Immortal Path was activated again, and it looked like he was about to complete the breakthrough.

Suddenly, a dark figure rushed out from behind Nobuhiko Okamoto.

pop~
Using his wingspan advantage, Kogure once again made a steal.

The basketball landed on the ground, bounced, and flew out of bounds.

Sendoh stood with his hands on his hips, looking helplessly at Kogure.

Even though he was very careful, Kogure still managed to find an opening.

Ryonan had possession of the ball, and Uozumi quickly served it out, passing it back to Sendoh.

After receiving the ball, Sendoh took a tentative step.

This step may seem random, but it is actually full of strategy.

Okamoto Nobuhiko tensed up, instinctively trying to block Sendoh's attack route.

Taking advantage of Okamoto Nobuhiko's momentary loss of balance, Sendoh quickly took a step back and executed a step-back jump shot.

The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air as it flew towards the basket.

Just when everyone thought the ball was about to go in, it hit the front edge of the rim.

On the sidelines, the Ryonan fans couldn't help but sigh.

Kogure quickly took a step back, as if his feet were springy, and leaped high into the air, grabbing the basketball.

Rebound +1!

The Shohoku team launched a fast break immediately.

The Shohoku players had long developed a fast-break mentality and were even able to play a run-and-gun offense alongside Shoyo.

Ryonan quickly returned to defense, but Uozumi was a step too slow, allowing Akagi to take a two-body-length lead.

In just two or three seconds, all the Shohoku players had crossed half-court.

Akagi was unstoppable, driving straight towards the basket.

While chasing Yamamoto Kuma, Matsumoto Minoru approached Akagi.

Whenever Kogure passes to Akagi, Matsumoto Minoru will block the passing lane.

Kogure naturally noticed Matsumoto's positioning, and he immediately came up with a plan, making a motion to pass the ball to Akagi.

Minoru Matsumoto instinctively took a step, but his expression changed immediately after realizing it was a passing feint.

But by then, it was too late.

sigh~
Just then, the sound of a basketball hitting the net came from behind.

After successfully outmaneuvering Matsumoto Minoru, Kogure then passed the ball to Yamamoto Kuma, who scored a layup.

At this moment, Coach Taoka realized the urgency of the situation and quickly made a decision to request a timeout from the referee.

Beep~
As the referee blew his whistle, the players from both sides began to leave the field in an orderly manner and return to their respective benches.

Kogure sat on the bench, his expression calm, his breathing steady, completely composed.

Coach Anzai didn't say much, he simply gestured for the players to catch their breath.

For a moment, the atmosphere on the Shohoku bench was relaxed.

On the other side, the Ryonan bench was filled with a tense atmosphere.

Under Coach Taoka's guidance, the players worked hard to adjust their mindset and prepare for the challenges ahead.

After the timeout ended, both teams returned to the court and gave their all in the rest of the game.

During this timeout, Coach Taoka substituted Jin for Nango.

The main reason he replaced Nango was to prevent Nango from being mentally broken by Kogure.

In addition, A Shen has accurate shooting ability, which can create space for his teammates.

This is something that Nanxiang cannot do.

Of course, Ah Shen's shortcomings are also obvious. He has height but is weak in physical confrontation and lacks the ability to protect the rim.

After the game restarted, Ryonan launched an attack.

Ashen began making runs around the field, with Kogure closely following, his eyes fixed on Ashen.

Kogure's positioning skills were clearly superior; every movement was fluid and natural, without any unnecessary actions, and he always appeared in the right position.

For a time, A-Shen was unable to shake off Kogure.

In terms of positioning, Kogure is far superior to Ajin, because his positioning ability has reached its maximum value.

In addition, Kogure's athletic ability far surpasses that of Ajin.

Both A-Shen and Mitsui are good at three-pointers, but they are different types of players.

Compared to the well-rounded Mitsui, Jin lacks independent offensive capabilities and is more like a role player.

A-Shen tried various strategies, sometimes stopping abruptly and changing direction, sometimes accelerating and sprinting, and using teammates to cover for him, but Kogure was always able to quickly adjust his position, leaving A-Shen no opening.

Ah Shen never managed to escape, being relentlessly pursued by Kogure, causing every attempt he made to come to naught.

However, Ah Shen did not give up. Even if he couldn't find an opportunity, he would keep running.

His purpose on the field was simple: first, to create space for his teammates; and second, to wear down Kogure's stamina.

Both teams' players on the field also took action, with Ryonan players spreading out and taking away their respective opponents.

Soon after, Sendoh broke through and passed the ball, drawing the defense before assisting Ikegami to hit a three-pointer.

sigh~
With Kogure taken away from the paint zone, Ryonan's attack became noticeably smoother.

Offense and defense reversed!

As soon as Kogure crossed the halfway mark, Ikegami immediately came to greet him.

On the other side, A-Shen's defensive target was Yamamoto Kuma.

Soon, Nobuhiko Okamoto passed the ball to Kogure again.

Kogure grips the ball with both hands, assuming a triple threat stance.

Ikegami stood opposite Kogure, with a step between them.

Ikegami's eyes were filled with solemnity and focus. He leaned forward slightly, his knees bent, ready to face Kogure.

He was well aware of Kogure's strength and dared not be careless in the slightest.

Suddenly, Kogure moved.

He first made a feint, then immediately launched a crossover step without hesitation.

Kogure's cross step became increasingly refined, with almost no superfluous movements, and was full of deception.

Even though Ikegami was on guard, his body still reacted instinctively, and he lost his balance for a moment.

Kogure seized this fleeting opportunity and quickly broke through Ikegami's defense.

Before Ikegami could turn around and chase, Kogure chose to stop and jump shot.

sigh~
The basketball traced a beautiful arc and pierced the rim perfectly, the net swaying gently as the ball passed through.

Cheers erupted from the audience, applauding Kogure's brilliant performance.

Kogure glanced at Ikegami and gave him a confident smile.

For him now, there's not much difference between a national defensive stalwart and an ordinary player.

Of course, other players might not be so sure.

Even Sawakita and Mitsui couldn't score on Ikegami's head so easily.

The pace of the game became increasingly intense, with players from both sides exchanging blows on the field, and the score began to rise alternately.

Whenever one side scores, the other side responds quickly.

In the tense and exciting competition, time seemed to stretch out.

The audience held their breath, not wanting to miss a single exciting moment.

However, Shohoku's offensive performance was superior, consistently putting the ball into the basket.

As time went by, Shohoku's lead became increasingly obvious.

They not only took the lead in the score, but also overwhelmed their opponents in terms of momentum.

The game continued, but the balance of victory was gradually tilting towards Shohoku.

bang~
As the first half was about to end, Nobuhiko Okamoto got an open shot opportunity with the help of a screen.

He leaped up and flicked his wrist forcefully.

Just then, Sendoh rushed up and caused him some disruption.

bang~
The basketball hit the rim and ultimately failed to score.

"Rebound!"

As Akagi roared, he tightly entangled Uozumi.

On the other side, Kogure used his positioning skills to easily suppress Ikegami.

Although Ikegami is a national defensive stalwart, his positioning ability is not very good.

Kogure seemed to have anticipated the basketball's landing point, and the instant it bounced off the ground, he leaped up and grabbed the offensive rebound.

After grabbing the rebound, Kogure raised his hand to shoot, successfully kicking Ikegami.

Just as Ikegami was about to land, Kogure went to meet him.

pop~
During the fall, Ikegami, in a moment of desperation, increased the force and slammed it hard onto Kogure's arm.

Beep~
At the same time, the referee's whistle blew.

In mid-air, although Kogure was hit to some extent, he was not greatly affected.

His center of gravity remained stable, and he steadily released the basketball in his hand.

sigh~
The basketball hits the net!

On the Shohoku bench, Yoko, who was responsible for recording the game data, stared intently at Kogure.

"This is the captain's fifth offensive rebound, and his offensive rebounding percentage even exceeds 30%!"

Ye Zi's voice was filled with excitement.

Thanks to his excellent judgment and positioning skills, as well as Akagi's help, Kogure was able to grab five offensive rebounds in the first half.

Kogure's offensive rebounding percentage is more than double that of gOat.

As we all know, GOat's offensive rebounding percentage is even lower than Nash's!

A forward known for his historically exceptional physical attributes had a lower offensive rebounding percentage than a point guard known for his frail physique.

This is the essence of pragmatic basketball!

As soon as Ye Zi finished speaking, the players on the Shohoku bench rushed to check Kogure's stats.

hiss~
The next moment, gasps of shock rang out, contributing to global warming.

24分17篮板10助攻6盖帽3抢断
These are just Kogure's stats for the first half!

For most players, they won't achieve such statistics throughout the entire game.

The key point is that this is the data Kogure got in the first half.

Horror!
Naito said in a deep voice, "If the captain plays the whole game, he has a good chance of breaking the single-game rebounding record and has a chance to achieve a quadruple-double again!"

Miyagi couldn't help but exclaim, "With the captain's ability, achieving a quadruple-double isn't difficult!"

Even for high school star players, it's not guaranteed that they'll ever achieve a quadruple-double in their entire career.

In this respect, they can't even come close.

"If the captain plays the entire game, the stats will be absolutely terrifying."

"Sigh, I hope Ryonan doesn't surrender too quickly!"

While the Shohoku players were discussing it, Kogure calmly sank the free throw, adding 1 point to his score.

With little time remaining in the first half, less than three seconds were left.

Ryonan serves, and A-Shen receives a pass from his teammate near the center circle.

With time limited, he made no adjustments and relied on his instincts to shoot the ball—a long-range three-pointer.

The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air as it flew towards the basket.

shuh~
Unexpectedly, the basketball pierced straight through the net.

For a moment, the audience was stunned.

This long-range three-pointer not only gave Ryonan a valuable three points, but also greatly boosted the team's morale.

The Ryonan players, who had been somewhat downcast, instantly perked up.

"Ah Shen, that was a fantastic throw!"

The next moment, the Ryonan players ran to A-Shin and high-fived him in celebration.

“This luck…” Nobuhiko Okamoto couldn’t help but shake his head.

"Okamoto, this isn't just luck!"

Mitsui retorted, knowing full well how incredibly accurate Ashin's three-pointers were.

Even from the center circle, Ah Shen's shooting ability still gives him a certain probability of hitting the target.

This is Mitsui's recognition of Ajin!
(End of this chapter)