Chapter Seventy-Eight: 50 Points!
"WE WON!"
"WE WON!!"
"OOOOH—!!"
Though Ryonan had dominated the entire game, when the final buzzer truly sounded, emotions suppressed for so long erupted like a volcano. Every player genuinely felt this weighty joy!
"Thank god... thank god..." Coach Taoka shot up from his seat, hands trembling from excitement, voice carrying slight choking emotion. "My dream... Ryonan's dream—finally realized!"
This was Ryonan High School Basketball Club's first Kanagawa Prefecture championship trophy in thirty years of existence!
Though Yagami Sorato felt happy, he lacked that "rain after long drought" feeling experienced by Coach Taoka or Uozumi Jun.
He'd only joined the team a few months ago. Besides—winning the prefecture tournament was just the beginning.
"It's not over yet, Coach." Yagami Sorato felt Coach Taoka was getting overly excited. "Didn't you say the goal was dominating nationals?"
"...You brat, show some excitement!" Coach Taoka glanced helplessly toward Yagami Sorato. Seriously—making him look like a coach who'd never seen anything.
He was about to say something more when he suddenly noticed something unusual. The originally noisy gymnasium had instantly quieted.
"What's happening?"
Coach Taoka turned his head questioningly. He saw Aida Hikoichi standing frozen at the sideline, his notebook dropping with a "thud" to the floor. Pointing at the screen, his voice twisted from extreme shock: "C-Coach! Look!"
"Y-Yagami scored 50 points this game!!!"
Following his finger's direction, Coach Taoka's gaze locked on the arena's massive electronic screen displaying this game's technical statistics clearly:
Ryonan number 10, Yagami Sorato: 10-for-13 three-pointers, 8-for-12 mid-range shots, 4-for-4 free throws—50 total points!
"F-fifty points?!"
Everyone's eyes fixed on that statistical line before erupting in even more turbulent noise.
"You're kidding! That first-year freshman scored 50 in the finals?!"
"Doesn't that break Kanagawa high school finals' individual scoring record?!"
"He practically carried half of Ryonan's scoring!"
"Even more absurd than last year's Sendoh..." Ikegami Ryoji murmured. Though during the game he could sense Yagami Sorato was scoring plenty, 50 points was too... too shocking.
Among Shohoku's team, players who'd been staring downward looked toward the big screen.
Mitsui Hisashi gazed blankly. This was the opponent Coach Anzai assigned him to defend. He'd given everything—yet... it was meaningless?
Miyagi Ryota clenched his fist. He couldn't forget how Yagami Sorato had limited him offensively. If only he'd organized the team's offense earlier, perhaps...
Akagi Takenori looked toward Uozumi Jun, releasing a complicated sigh. The opponent's transformation, Fukuda and Yagami's additions—it wasn't only Shohoku that had grown stronger, was it?
"You're absolutely crazy~" Sendoh Akira approached the sideline, smiling easily. "Let's celebrate together!"
"Fifty points—next time I want that too!" Fukuda Kicchou's eyes burned looking at both.
"Not as easy as you think, Fukuda." Uozumi Jun said behind him. "By the way, your defense still has huge room for improvement. How many times did I have to cover for you this game?"
"...I know." Fukuda Kicchou muttered reluctantly.
"YAGAMI! YAGAMI!"
"YAGAMI!! YAGAMI!!"
Uekusa Tomoyuki and Koshino Hiroaki pulled Yagami Sorato to center court. Ryonan's players fell into wild joy, thoroughly enjoying the arena's cheers.
"Looks like Kanagawa's throne has completely shifted." Fujima Kenji watched Kainan's players silently departing. "Taking back position from this monster won't be simple..."
"Little Sorato did it deliberately, right?" Kise Ryota's expression looked strange. "Last time I scored 40 points, so he had to score 50!"
"Why does your way of addressing him change daily?" Kasamatsu Yukio complained irritably. "If it sounds that simple, score 60 points next time we face Ryonan."
"That's what Kasamatsu-senpai said, so next time I'm really scoring 60, okay?" Kise Ryota protested.
"WHAP!"
Kasamatsu Yukio's palm struck his head. "Prerequisite—we have to WIN!"
"Hey, Kasamatsu-senpai! Was hitting me necessary this time?" Kise Ryota covered his head. "Haven't you been hitting me more often lately?"
"Hmm? Have I?" Kasamatsu Yukio examined his own palm. "No wonder it feels so natural..."
"Gorilla, let's line up."
Among Shohoku's team, the two first-years—Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede—displayed the calmest demeanor.
Both teams' players lined up at center court.
"THANK YOU FOR THE GAME!!!"
When the championship trophy was handed to Coach Taoka, the on-site announcer's soaring voice resonated throughout the arena:
"We hereby announce—the team victorious in this Kanagawa Prefecture Inter-High preliminary tournament, claiming the championship—is Ryonan High School!"
"Congratulations on winning the prefecture preliminaries championship!"
Cheers and applause surged like tidal waves. Immediately following, individual award announcements pushed the atmosphere toward new heights.
"Now presenting this tournament's individual awards. Receiving the Most Outstanding Player Award (MVP)—Ryonan High School first-year, Yagami Sorato!"
"What? Yagami?!"
"I thought it'd definitely be Sendoh..."
"Can't help it—dropping 50 in the finals, breaking the historical record. The selection committee couldn't possibly not choose him!"
Before the discussion settled, the next award ignited the arena again.
"Receiving this prefecture preliminary tournament's Best Newcomer Award is also—Ryonan High School first-year, Yagami Sorato!"
"Double awards! A first-year simultaneously sweeping MVP and Best Newcomer?!" Nakamura Heisuke exclaimed in shock. "A monster! This guy's absolutely a monster!"
"WHAP!" Aida Yayoi rolled up her materials, smacking his head. "Why are you surprised? If he's MVP, obviously he's Best Newcomer too."
"Oh right, makes sense..."
Amid the arena's commotion, Chinatsu Yui in the stands covered her mouth tightly, eyes instantly moistening.
"Sorato!" She waved her arms forcefully. Though her voice drowned in the crowd, she still shouted with maximum volume.
Chinatsu Kazushi and his wife exchanged glances, eyes showing helpless smiles.
"Finally, announcing this tournament's Best Five players selected for outstanding performance!"
"Ryonan High School first-year, Yagami Sorato."
"Ryonan High School second-year, Sendoh Akira."
"Shohoku High School first-year, Rukawa Kaede."
"Kaijo High School first-year, Kise Ryota."
"Kainan Affiliated third-year, Maki Shinichi."
"Three first-years?!"
"Looks like all three super rookies the media reported are included?!"
"No Jin Soichiro?"
"Then what about Mitsui Hisashi?!" Many spectators debated.
"Forget it—not a single center position!" Someone exclaimed in surprise. "I thought at least Akagi would make it."
"Seems Kanagawa truly welcomed a brand new era..."
"These players come from this tournament's Final Four teams. Next, they'll represent Kanagawa advancing to the Kanto regional qualifying tournament!"
"Let us offer the warmest applause with our most sincere blessings! May they continue displaying even more spectacular performances one week from now on that court!"
"Clap clap clap..."
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