basketball stories

Shohoku us counting on Kaede Rukawa to make a difference when they are trailing Kainan by fifteen points and the strategy is working until Captain Akagi twists his ankle, shifting the pressure to Sakuragi to step in and save the game.

The much-anticipated game between Ryonan High and Kainan High, in which Kainan has taken the lead and a key player from Ryonan has gotten into foul trouble, has gotten exciting, but the Shohoku team leaves early when they hear that Coach Anzai has collapsed and is in the hospital.

Akagi gets his wish when he and Shohoku are paired against Kainan, the "Kings, " but the skills that have brought Kainan to Nationals sixteen years in a row may cause Akagi to regret his desire.

The Shohoku High team pushes hard to win the game that is their last chance at going to Nationals and they are hanging onto a one point lead in spite of Mitsuo's collapse. As Ryonan keeps the pressure on, Sakuragi steps up defensively, Shohoku's final hope of staying in the tournament.

In spite of a badly sprained ankle that could end his basketball career, Captain Akagi returns to the game in the second half, refusing to let Kainan intimidate him. The Kings are not letting up the pressure, however, and, with Kainan's lead widening and ten minutes left on the clock, Coach Anzai decides on a drastic move.

In the second half of the game, Shannoh has a seemingly impossible lead, and Shohoku is working harder then they ever have before.

With one minute left in the game, Shohoku and Sannoh both stand a chance of winning the tournament.

With Sannoh pulling way ahead in the second half, Sakuragi tries to reinvigorate the Shohoku team and help them find their rhythm.

Shohoku High's basketball team is dismayed when they learn their team's rank after they make it to Nationals and must take on an A-ranked team in order to make to the next round, where they could have to face last year's champion, Sanno Kogyo.

Shohoku has the lead against Ryonan with only ten minutes left, but Mitsui is fatigued and feels like he is on the edge of collapse.