Volume 24

The match restarts, Hanamichi and Rukawa are both in the match. Minami is stunned that Rukawa is still playing even though he has one eye to see. In the next moment Toyotama in possession, Minami opens up a chance for Kishimoto to score. The score 28 to 34 against Shohoku. Menawhile Ryota is getting really angry at Itakura, Itakura is making fun of Ryota being so short. Calming down, Ryota speds passed Itakura, and passes to Hanamichi. The ball being so high makes everyone wonder if anyone can catch it. However that person is Hanamichi who leaps up and catches it, Toyotama is stunned by such a jump. Then again Hanamichi lands with the ball, the referee blows the whistle (Hanamichi did this kind of foul against Ryonan, 'interference above the basket'). Ryota pulls Hanamichi's face for wasting such a good opportunity to do a 'Mid Air Slam' i.e. when the ball is falling in the air taking the ball and slamming it in the basket. Toyotama on the offense, with Itakura taking a 3 pointer and scoring. It turns out that Itakura is the 3rd top scorer in his district, Kishimoto is 2nd and Minami is 1st. No wonder Toyotama wins each match with such a high score. Their scoring ability is rightly classes as A. Rukawa on the other hadn isn't daunted and starts to retaliate, even though he has only one eye vision, he still manages to shoot in the basket. Rukawa then reveals that he has in fact practiced jump shooting 100 000 times, this is Hanamichi's 5 times. Yet another Shohoku offensive, Rukawa takes the ball and leaps, Kishimoto and Itakura both leap up to defend. Instead of facing them, Rukawa turns his bakc and lobs the ball. The ball misses, but Rukawa was pushed, hence he gets 2 free throws. Because he cannot judge distances with just one eye, he closes his eye and uses his instincts. The ball goes in, Hanamichi is really jealous that Rukawa has reahced this stage. Hanamichi remembers his training and now begins to wonder what was it all for? The second free throw misses, and Hanamichi manages to get the rebound. Not willing to let Rukawa take over the game, Hanamichi does his jump shoot. But Hanamichi is surrounded by Toyotama players and the ball gets stolen. Toyotama takes the chance to fast attack and get 2 more points. Shohoku's ball and Akagi finds Rukawa is heavily guarded, and Hanamichi isn't. Hanamichi gets the ball, and does a perfect jump shoot. The ball goes into the basket, surprise is on the faces of all the Kainen players and the Shohoku team. In just 4 months, Hanamichi has gained most of the skills to becoming a basketball player. Toyotama fights back and Itakura scores 3 more points, the score 33 to 43. A change comes over Minami, Rukawa's determination in becoming Number 1 basketball player starts to make him unsure of himself. As a result his shooting suffers, each time Minami misses Shohoku gains the rebound and attack to gain more points. Mitsui takes a 3 pointer and brings the score 36 to 43. With just 5 minutes left, Shohoku have chased back the score to even. Toyotama coach calls for a time out. At the side bench Kishimoto is angry at the pathetic way Minami is playing. When the time out is over the Toyotama team walk out as though it is a team with its spirit broken. Shohoku are once again attack, adn Minami is not getting the shots in. A powerful slam dunk by Rukawa makes Minami decide to take out Rukawa permanently. When Minami gets the ball, he rushes to Rukawa and leaps, his knee poised to knock Rukawa out. Rukawa's eye never waned and dared Minami to try; Minami ends up blacking out and knocks his head on the ground. A cut on his forehead means that Minami is taken off. In the rest room, Minami awakes to find Jiei, Toyotama's ex-coach (retired), looking over him. Minami and Kishimoto both respect Jiei, and use his strategy to play their games. i.e. 80% attack 20% defense. Jiei tells Minami to play out of enjoyment, and not to go against everyone. Minami returns to the match, and Hanamichi performs another jump shoot. The ball scores and Shohoku now lead by 10 points. 91 to 81. Minami joins in the game and lets loose his 3 point shooting ability. In less than a minute he scored two 3 pointers, bringing the score within winning distance. In the last moment, Akagi and Hanamichi both lead up and grab the last rebound. Such a powerful save ends the hopes of Toyotama. Shohoku won the match 91 to 86. Sannoh leave to practice. Anzai sensei meets up with Jiei, they are both old friends. Anzai sensei wants to know if he should show Sannoh's performance tape to his team. Jiei understands Anzai's concern, Sannoh is a different class of basketball team (AA class in the book guide). Meanwhile Sannoh's coach Doumoto has set up a practice match for his team in preparation for the match with Shohoku. The practice opponents are ex Sannoh players (which is the University All Star team). Aida's sister upon seeing Doumoto's training for Sannoh, views Shohoku's chances of winning near to zero. Back to the Shohoku team, Anzai sensei has finally decided to show his team the Sannoh video.