After receiving the ball from Hidesuke, Makoto took a triple-threat position. Show me what you've got, freshmen, said Hidesuke to himself with a smirk. Makoto dribbled the ball on the floor, then crossed it through his legs and dipped low, easily getting past Hidesuke.
What the hell is this? He got right past me, thought Hidesuke to himself, shocked. Makoto then pulled up and shot a wide-open mid-range shot that swished.
"Well, that was disappointing. I expected better from you, Captain," said Makoto with a straight face after yawning.
"You cocky little brat, that was just a fluke. Just because you made a single shot doesn't mean you'll win," said Hidesuke as he passed the ball to Makoto.
I couldn't even react to his movements just now. He's a tricky one. As soon as the ball reached Makoto, he immediately touch-passed it to Ko, leaving Hidesuke stunned. Makoto then ran toward the hoop, leaving Hidesuke behind.
"Pass the ball quickly, Yamazaki!" shouted Makoto as Ko passed the ball to him.
Makoto took two steps and shot a layup that swooshed.
"Wow, the kid is not half bad," said Basara to himself, impressed.
"He's really giving Hidesuke a hard time. That's something you don't see often," said Daichi.
"Played a little basketball, my ass. He's not your average twelve-year-old," said Takumi to himself.
"I won't let you insult me in front of my team," said Hidesuke with a serious look on his face as he passed the ball to Makoto and started playing defense, pressuring him.
Now then, let's see how you handle pressure, rookie, thought Coach Izanagi to himself as his interest peaked. Makoto used his pivot foot to spin around, facing Hidesuke while looking for a way to pass him.
Makoto dribbled the ball and pulled away from Hidesuke, creating space between them. Hidesuke then tried to close the gap between them, but Makoto utilized Hidesuke's momentum against him. He dipped and drove, getting by him. Hidesuke then recovered and cut him off.
Makoto crossed through his legs and went in the opposite direction; however, Hidesuke tried to stop him once more. Makoto spun back to the other direction, causing Hidesuke to fall to the ground on his butt.
"Whoa, an ankle breaker!!" shouted Basara, shocked.
What the hell? This kid just dropped Hidesuke. That's crazy, insane even, said Daichi, shocked.
Makoto then pulled up and attempted to shoot a two-pointer; however, towering above him was Takumi, who was trying to block. Makoto, calm as ever, passed to Ko mid-air. Ko, shocked by how he received the ball, still managed to shoot a layup that swooshed.
"This kid, Makoto Kurai, is exactly what our team is missing," said Coach Izanagi with a smile, impressed and glad.
Hidesuke, who was embarrassed, got up silent, but anger was reflected in his face. Hidesuke then slowly walked toward Makoto with malicious intent in his eyes.
"Don't bother trying anything that will make you look stupid. You're the captain. Have some self-control."
"Let's switch markers. I want to give it a shot at guarding this kid," said Takumi.
"You're right, Takumi. He's all yours," said Hidesuke.
I can't believe this guy is the same age as me. He's way better than me at basketball. Even though I have a better build than him, I don't think I'll ever be as good as him, thought Ko to himself.
This is so cool. So this is basketball face-to-face. Absolutely amazing. I can't wait to learn all of that, thought Shino to himself excitedly.
Takumi then passed the ball to Makoto. Let's see what all the fuss is about with this kid, thought Takumi to himself.
Makoto then started dribbling the ball and attempted to get past Takumi by crossing the ball through his legs and changing directions.
However, Takumi reacted and stayed in front of him. Looks like Takumi has everything covered here. Makoto then bounced the ball on the ground, spinning it in a different direction, and ran past Takumi, receiving the ball behind his back.
"Wow, that kid even got by Takumi," said Basara, surprised.
Makoto then drove to the rim and shot a layup. Takumi, who was trailing Makoto, jumped into the air to block him.
"Damn, I miscalculated his reach," thought Makoto to himself.
"Nice one, Takumi," said Hidesuke happily.
Takumi then dribbled the ball over the three-point arc and prepared to attack. Makoto Kurai truly has the potential to become a prodigy in this sport. However, currently, Takumi is at a higher level than him, thought Coach Izanagi to himself.
Takumi then dribbled the ball strongly to the rim, and Makoto stepped to guard him. Takumi then turned his back to Makoto and shimmied, leaving Makoto confused and frozen in place as to whether he was going left or right. Takumi then turned to the right and shot a fadeaway jumpshot, which, due to the difference in their heights, went in.
"What the hell?" thought Makoto to himself as the basketball swooshed.
"The unpredictable fadeaway gets them every time," said Basara.
After receiving the basketball from Makoto, Takumi crossed to the left, and Makoto reacted, staying in front of him. However, Takumi spun and got by him. Takumi then shot a layup that swooshed.
On the next possession, Takumi passed the ball to Hidesuke, and he pounded the basketball on the ground, pushing Ko back toward the rim.
"Crap, he's strong," said Ko as he strained to contain Hidesuke.
After that, Hidesuke scored a layup over Ko. After the ball was checked up, Hidesuke set a screen for Takumi.
Utilizing this screen, Takumi drove to the rim, jumped in the air, and dunked the basketball. Hidesuke scored a layup over Makoto. Takumi scored another fadeaway jumper over Makoto, and Hidesuke scored a jumper, finishing the game between them.
"The game ended exactly how I expected it to, but I'm impressed by this kid's potential. He is the embodiment of what a point guard should be. We will be a dangerous team this year," said Coach Izanagi to himself with a smile.