Facing He Ximeng's competitive gaze, Da Zhi smiled faintly, maintaining his usual gentle and refined demeanor. He turned and gathered with his teammates, shouting their slogan: "Qinghua High School..."
"Go! Go! Go!"
"Hello everyone, and welcome to the Basketball Family channel. I'm your host, Old Sun! The game about to begin is the national high school basketball championship finals. The two teams competing are the ten-time champions, Qinghua High School, and the surprising dark horse, Zhuji Middle School!"
"The game is about to start! The distinct cheers from both teams just now reveal their different mindsets! Qinghua High School's cheer is quite ordinary, yet it exudes an aura of absolute confidence! After all, as a team with ten consecutive championships, Qinghua High School doesn't need to say 'victory'..." Conversely, Zhuji Middle School's spirited shouts, while seeming to convey higher morale than Qinghua High School, actually highlight their lack of confidence facing the ten-time champions..."
Although the host tried his best to remain objective and fair, his explanation clearly showed a bias towards Qinghua High School...
"Alright! The center players from both teams are now at the center circle, and the referee is preparing to toss the ball... Will Qinghua High School complete their eleventh consecutive championship, or will Zhuji Middle School create a miracle? Let's wait and see who will be crowned this year's national champions..."
The game began. Da Zhi and Yan Hui stood at the center circle. Yan Hui was shorter than Da Zhi and attempted a fake move to trick him. However, Da Zhi didn't fall for it at all, completely ignoring Yan Hui's feint and easily winning the tip-off with his own rhythm.
Zhang Yunpeng dribbled the ball past half-court at a controlled pace. Da Zhi extended his hand at the edge of the paint, requesting the ball!
Zhuji Middle School treated Da Zhi the same way they treated Yao Ming, resolutely double-teaming him, denying him any opportunity to score in the paint!
But after receiving the ball, before Feng Chen could even move, Da Zhi turned and shot, hitting a jump shot over Yan Hui's defense for two points!
"What... they didn't even give the double-team a chance?" Feng Chen was dumbfounded!
Yan Hui was also speechless. It was as if Da Zhi completely disregarded his one-on-one defense... However, given Yan Hui's height disadvantage and Da Zhi's unwillingness to force his way inside, choosing a turn-around jump shot, Yan Hui truly had no answer...
"Don't panic! Stick to your own rhythm!"
He Ximeng, receiving the ball on the baseline, loudly reminded his teammates not to let Da Zhi's seemingly effortless first basket affect their mentality.
Da Zhi's low-post skills and jump-shooting ability were unsolvable on the high school circuit. It was basically impossible to contain him head-on through defense.
Zhuji Middle School's only chance was to stay close in the opening stages and wait for Da Zhi's shooting percentage to drop as his stamina waned...
If they couldn't keep up in the opening stages, then everything would be over...
In the previous two games, Dizhi Middle School only held on for two quarters, and Nanmo Middle School lasted for three quarters. Now, it remained to be seen how many quarters Zhuji Middle School could withstand Qinghua High School.
Turning back, He Ximeng didn't trouble Yan Hui.
Against Wu Naiqun, Yan Hui could still find opportunities to create near the paint with the ball. Against Da Zhi, if He Ximeng continued to let Yan Hui handle the ball in the paint, it would be asking too much.
For Yan Hui to score inside, he had to find opportunities while on the move. For example, he could move to the high post to set a screen for He Ximeng!
He Ximeng used Yan Hui's high-post screen to block Zhang Yunpeng. Qinghua High School immediately switched defensively. Da Zhi was mismatched and chased He Ximeng. He Ximeng drew Da Zhi slightly towards the right side of the basket, then passed the ball low to Yan Hui, who had cut down...
Yan Hui caught the ball and attempted a two-handed dunk!
Da Zhi spun around, took a step, and from the flank, accurately pinned the ball, disrupting Yan Hui's sure-fire shot!
A scramble ensued inside the paint. Zhang Yunpeng managed to secure the ball under his body amidst the chaos, then, taking advantage of the disarray, threw it to Chen Lei, who was coming to receive it. Chen Lei quickly dribbled past half-court and passed directly to Li Nan, who was driving forward...
"Watch out for the three-pointer!" He Ximeng shouted from behind to Zhang Zhenpeng, who was retreating.
Unfortunately, it was too late!
Zhang Zhenpeng was actively defending, but he was positioned too far inside! He defended Li Nan's drive but gave Li Nan the space to shoot from outside.
Li Nan didn't hesitate, launching a running three-pointer!
With a quick release, the ball accurately swished through the net!
5:0! Qinghua High School displayed their sharp offensive and defensive prowess right from the start.
"It's over! I originally thought Zhuji Middle School would be a bit stronger than Nanmo Middle School, at least holding on until the fourth quarter... Now, it's looking doubtful..."
"If Zhuji Middle School only has this level of offense and defense, they'll be blown out by Qinghua High School before halftime..."
"Kid, did you watch the first two games?"
"No!"
"I knew you didn't watch the previous games... Qinghua Middle School is very strong, but Zhuji Middle School isn't weak either! The game has just started, so it's best not to speak too soon..."
"Tch~ They can't defend Da Zhi inside, and they can't defend Li Nan outside! Without even needing Jiao Jian, Chen Lei, and Zhang Yunpeng to exert themselves, this Zhuji Middle School will collapse..."
...
Compared to the previous two days, the Capital Gymnasium was packed today. Most fans only knew that Zhuji Middle School had defeated Fanyu Middle School and Shenyang Second High School, but how they achieved those victories remained a mystery to most. Only a very small number of fans, who had watched all three games consecutively, understood that Zhuji Middle School's journey to the finals and their chance to compete against Qinghua High School could not be explained by mere "luck."
Indeed, on Zhuji Middle School's second offensive possession, He Ximeng felt he should use practical action to boost his team's morale!
On this play, He Ximeng again called for Yan Hui's high-post screen. Zhang Yunpeng positioned himself early, squeezing in front of Yan Hui, intending to disrupt their pick-and-roll.
However, the chemistry between He Ximeng and Yan Hui was even better than Zhang Yunpeng had anticipated!
He Ximeng took a step back, changed direction to his left hand, and then drove through the middle.
Yan Hui, in turn, spun around and screened Zhang Yunpeng, who had just moved to the right, blocking him for He Ximeng...
He Ximeng successfully shook off Zhang Yunpeng and drove into Qinghua High School's paint through the middle.
Da Zhi matched He Ximeng's rhythm step-by-step, preparing to block He Ximeng as he went up for the layup.
He Ximeng was well aware of Da Zhi's intention. Thus, at the last moment, he appeared to be attempting a scoop layup, drawing Da Zhi's block attempt, but then pulled back with a spin move and finished with a left-handed reverse layup off the glass.
This basket was not easy! But He Ximeng, with his exceptional hang time and core strength, successfully made the shot, putting Zhuji Middle School on the scoreboard!