During the interval, the head coach of Panyu Middle School racked his brain, still unable to pinpoint the reason why his team was being dominated. As the referee's whistle blew to start the second quarter, Panyu Middle School, for the sake of stability, switched back to their full starting lineup.
Seeing this, He Ximeng quickly signaled Cui Tianci on the sidelines to remind "San Ye" to adjust Zhuji Middle School's lineup back to the starting configuration.
The substitute five-forward lineup was only suitable for containing offensive lineups centered around Zhu Fangyu and Wang Shipeng. If used against Du Feng and Su Wei, the inside game would be too weak and easily broken through.
He Ximeng was unwilling to give up the hard-won lead so easily.
However, what He Ximeng hadn't anticipated was that Panyu Middle School's offensive focus in the second quarter would undergo a significant shift.
In the first quarter, Du Feng in the paint was the main scorer for Panyu Middle School.
Starting from the second quarter, Du Feng's strong attacks in the paint became feints.
After drawing double-teams and help defense from Zhuji Middle School, Du Feng quickly passed the ball to create opportunities for Zhu and Wang on the perimeter!
Ultimately, Panyu Middle School still firmly adhered to one philosophy: to open up their perimeter game!
The coordination between the inside and outside players left Zhuji Middle School unable to defend effectively.
It had to be admitted that Panyu Middle School's overall strategy was flawless!
Zhuji Middle School's starting lineup, unlike the five-forward lineup, couldn't sustain endless rotations at such a rapid pace!
Zhu Fangyu finally made his first three-pointer at the top of the arc after receiving a precise pass from Du Feng!
Immediately after, Zhuji Middle School responded with a two-pointer. Du Feng connected with Zhu Fangyu again. Zhu Fangyu, not being greedy, faced Zhuji Middle School's quick switch-offense and chose to pass to Wang Shipeng, who had an open look on the wing!
Wang Shipeng caught the ball and shot from the left forty-five-degree angle, also sinking a three-pointer!
Panyu Middle School hit two consecutive three-pointers, going on a 6-2 run against Zhuji Middle School, successfully narrowing the deficit to 3 points!
On the next possession, if Zhuji Middle School failed to score, Panyu Middle School might very well hit another three-pointer... In that case, Panyu Middle School would gain significant momentum...
"Panyu Middle School's strongest offensive weapon has finally come to life!"
"Zhuji Middle School is in danger!"
"If Panyu Middle School manages to build momentum with this run, it'll be a complete blowout..."
"It all depends on whether Zhuji Middle School can withstand the pressure and stop their opponent's surge..."
"Let's see what Zhuji Middle School decides, who will break this deadlock..."
He Ximeng understood the gravity of the situation. A team like Panyu Middle School, with a balanced inside-outside game, absolutely could not be allowed to establish an inside-outside synergy! Especially on the perimeter, with Zhu Fangyu and Wang Shipeng, two top-tier shooters, if they found their rhythm, the consequences would be disastrous...
At the critical moment, He Ximeng did not hesitate!
After dribbling to the three-point line, He Ximeng called for a high pick from Yan Hui, feigning a strong drive to the basket. In reality, after breaking the screen, he drove forward, successfully luring Chen Jianghua into a backdoor recovery defense... He Ximeng instantly pulled the ball back, stepped back to the three-point line, and shot in one fluid motion...
Chen Jianghua couldn't interfere in time and could only watch as He Ximeng sank this three-pointer, which traced a beautiful arc and hit the bottom of the net precisely!
He Ximeng extended the leading advantage back to a safe 5-point margin!
When Panyu Middle School tried to continue relying on three-pointers, He Ximeng immediately directed his teammates to expand their defensive coverage. Zhu Fangyu and Wang Shipeng then shifted their focus to attacking the basket, using pump fakes and driving instead.
In the paint exchanges, with Yan Hui and Zhang Zhenpeng on Zhuji Middle School's side, the gap between the two teams was not significant.
By the end of halftime, Zhuji Middle School had successfully maintained their 5-point lead.
In the third quarter, Zhu Fangyu suddenly exploded, hitting two three-pointers right off the bat, helping Panyu Middle School instantly take back the lead!
Panyu Middle School's morale surged, while Zhuji Middle School saw their teammates commit simple passing errors.
Fortunately, He Ximeng reacted quickly, recovering Chen Jianghua's steal, and then directly dribbled for a fast break. He decisively pulled up from beyond the three-point line, hitting an answer ball to Zhu Fangyu's three-pointer and successfully regaining the lead.
Zhu Fangyu continued to force three-point shots, but this time the ball bounced off the rim. After Yan Hui grabbed the rebound, He Ximeng still dribbled for a fast break. This time, He Ximeng didn't shoot a three-pointer but drove straight to the paint, intending to secure a two-point shot. However, Chen Jianghua pursued him closely. The moment He Ximeng gathered the ball and jumped, he swiped at the ball, attempting to steal it...
As a result, He Ximeng slightly shifted his dribbling hand, turning Chen Jianghua's attempted steal into a clear foul!
Even more critically, after his right hand was hit, He Ximeng smoothly switched the basketball to his left hand and, while descending, completed a left-handed scoop layup...
The ball bounced on the rim a couple of times before sliding into the net.
A 2+1... Chen Jianghua was on the verge of tears.
This shot had a considerable element of luck.
But this shot also demonstrated He Ximeng's core strength and his ability to attack with either hand!
In fact, He Ximeng hadn't shown much of his left-hand shooting ability in this national tournament.
As an excellent point guard, the first requirement is balance in both hands. This way, he wouldn't be easily targeted by opponents during drives or passes.
Of course, on the high school basketball court, He Ximeng hadn't yet encountered a player with that level of defensive skill.
Most of the time, He Ximeng could handle everything using his usual right hand for dribbling. This was even more true for shooting.
But just because He Ximeng habitually shot and laid up with his right hand didn't mean he couldn't use his left. Especially for layups, he was equally adept with both hands.
He Ximeng, stepping to the free-throw line, calmly sank the shot. With three points added, the lead widened to 4 points!
Following that, Wang Shipeng took over from Zhu Fangyu, also hitting a shot from beyond the three-point line! Panyu Middle School's offensive firepower continued.
"Holy crap! A three-point battle!"
"Awesome! Zhuji Middle School has forced out the strongest Panyu Middle School!"
"This game is exciting! Let's see if Zhuji Middle School's number 4 can hit another answer ball..."
...
The audience exclaimed incessantly, and cheers erupted from Panyu Middle School's bench, with white towels waving continuously!
Panyu Middle School concentrated all their players on Zhu Fangyu and Wang Shipeng, attempting to achieve a decisive victory in one go, seizing this moment of hot shooting to turn the tide and then seal the win with a decisive run!
However, Panyu Middle School's continuous three-pointers also fully ignited He Ximeng's desire for three-point shots!