In this game, Yao Ming showed significant improvement compared to the previous match against Zhuji Middle School, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. However, with Liu Wei heavily restricted and Zhang Zhenpeng and Zhang Wenqi struggling, Yao Ming fought alone and couldn't turn the tide!
76:73, Zhuji Middle School, after a close match, defeated Nanmo Middle School in the East District finals, triumphantly lifting the championship trophy!
He Ximeng earned three honors, from defense, organization, to offense!
He swept the steals king, assist king, and the most prestigious East District MVP of this year's East District finals!
Similar to the Zhejiang Division, He Ximeng's average points were not high, far below those of Hu Weidong, Yao Ming, and Gong Xiaobin. But under He Ximeng's leadership, Zhuji Middle School achieved seven wins in seven games!
MVP is usually awarded to the core player of the championship team. He Ximeng was the undisputed choice!
Concurrently, He Ximeng was undoubtedly selected as the best point guard in the East District Finals Best Roster.
Yan Hui, unfortunately, lost to Yao Ming and missed out on the best center position.
Although Gong Xiaobin's team did not advance from the group stage, he was still selected as the best power forward.
Zheng Wu was elected best small forward, and Hu Weidong was the best shooting guard.
Zhang Zhenpeng was named East District Best Newcomer.
Coach Zhang Yide, this unusually mysterious coach who consistently sat calmly and confidently, more so than any other team's head coach, once again "accidentally" won the "Best Coach" title!
After the game, a reporter attempted to interview Zhang Yide, asking him to share the secret to the team's victory.
Zhang Yide replied with just two words: "Trust!"
...
After the game, Zhang Tianai immediately reported the joyous news of the championship to her mother... Upon hearing that her son Zhang Zhenpeng had led the team to another East District finals championship, Zhang's mother immediately instructed Secretary Wang. The "Big Golden Dragon" (referring to the team bus) then took the entire Zhuji Middle School team directly to Lülang Pavilion at Shanghai's Chenghuang Temple...
Lülang Pavilion, founded during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, is one of Shanghai's most famous and authentic signature restaurants.
The taste of Shanghai cuisine is similar to that of Hangzhou cuisine, both being relatively light and on the sweeter side. For Zhuji Middle School, this flavor profile was very appealing, and they enjoyed the meal immensely.
The journey back to Zhuji from Shanghai was quite long. Therefore, after the meal, Zhang Yide urged everyone to get on the bus and head back to Zhuji quickly, leaving no time for sightseeing at Chenghuang Temple.
It wasn't that Zhang Yide was unsympathetic. It was just that bringing 14 students out to compete carried significant pressure. Previously, staying in a unified hotel and commuting between the hotel and the court daily provided a relatively secure environment. Now that the competition was over and they were out for a celebratory meal, he worried about these young men, full of vigor, potentially getting into conflicts with others and losing control of the situation. He had to account for this to the students' parents.
Although "Third Master" (Zhang Yide) was a bit lazy and a bit greedy for money, he understood priorities clearly! He placed great importance on the safety of his students.
Despite the players being somewhat reluctant and not fully satisfied, "Third Master" still held some authority. Moreover, He Ximeng had little interest in sightseeing. With "Third Master" and He Ximeng forming an alliance, even the players' minor reservations were suppressed, and they all obediently boarded the bus. By the time the "Big Golden Dragon" returned to Zhuji, it was nearly midnight. Zhang Yide saw all the students home before finally being driven home himself...
When He Ximeng returned home, Ms. He Fengting was still waiting for him in the living room. Although she knew her son had already eaten dinner, she had prepared a lavish supper for him: Steamed Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens, Salt-baked Chicken, Xishi Tofu, Qingming Dumplings, and Stir-fried Snails...
There's a hunger that's called "Mom thinks you're hungry!"
Unable to refuse the warm hospitality, He Ximeng, under his mother's watchful gaze, chose to focus on the Stir-fried Snails and Xishi Tofu... He couldn't possibly eat the rest of the dishes this late at night...
While eating, the mother and son discussed their next steps.
Honestly, when she received He Ximeng's call informing her that Zhuji Middle School had become the East District finals champion and successfully advanced to the national finals, He Fengting found it hard to believe, thinking her son was joking.
Because, in her judgment, the strength of the Zhuji Middle School basketball team wasn't at that level. After the East District finals, He Ximeng should have put basketball aside and focused on studying for the college entrance exam next year...
Now, He Ximeng had directly borrowed the championship trophy from "Third Master" and placed it before his mother. Even if He Fengting wanted to disbelieve, she had to. The facts were undeniable: her son was truly going to compete on the national finals stage... and perhaps, in the future, even embark on a career as a professional basketball player...
Now that they had truly reached this crossroads, Ms. He Fengting seemed hesitant. She knew the path of a professional athlete was extremely arduous. There was a high probability of not achieving much and retiring with injuries.
"What are your thoughts?"
"I want to continue!" He Ximeng said firmly. "Becoming a basketball player has always been my dream! My dream has never changed... Especially reaching this point, I have even less reason to give up!"
He Fengting was silent for a long time, finally overcoming her desire to interfere with her son's pursuit of his dream. She took a deep breath and said, "...Since that's the case, then Mom will accompany you on this journey..."
"Yes! Thank you, Mom!" He Ximeng said, hugging He Fengting tightly.
"By the way, Mom, the national finals are being held in Beijing this time! Do you want to go with our team? And see your son's basketball skills..."
"Beijing..." Ms. He Fengting suddenly fell into reminiscence and then refused, "I'd rather not go. There will be opportunities in the future... It won't affect your performance on the national stage. If I go, you'll definitely be distracted..."
"That's not necessarily true! My mental fortitude is very, very strong..."
He Ximeng suddenly replied in a Henanese accent, making his mother laugh heartily.
From winning the Zhejiang Division to winning the East District, He Ximeng is steadily approaching his basketball dream.
At the same time, He Ximeng is also, game by game, strengthening his mother's belief and support for him to pursue a career as a professional basketball player...
Upon returning to school, the basketball team received commendations from the principal at a school-wide assembly. He Ximeng, as the captain, accepted the award on behalf of the team. This resulted in another wave of love letters from female students, forcing Zhang Tianai to guard He Ximeng like a hawk against girls from other classes trying to get close to him...