Zhang Zhenpeng feinted several times but couldn't fully shake off Wang Xian. In the end, he had no choice but to push through with his back to the basket.
He Ximeng released Huangfu Yanlin and came from the flank to help Wang Xian double-team. Zhang Zhenpeng passed the ball to Huangfu Yanlin, intending for him to hold the ball, draw He Ximeng out, and then attack.
Unexpectedly, Huangfu Yanlin was impatient. He ignored Zhang Zhenpeng's call for the ball and shot directly at He Ximeng, who was defending. This two-point shot from the left high post also missed.
When Zhang Zhenpeng tried to go for the rebound, He Ximeng blocked him. Qin Rui overpowered Zhu Ningzhen and secured the rebound.
"Pass more, don't rush your shots!" Zhang Zhenpeng advised Huangfu Yanlin. Huangfu Yanlin shrugged, seemingly agreeing.
After all, when you miss, anything you say is right!
The ball returned to He Ximeng. The rookie team was determined to shrink their defense, guarding the paint tightly and not giving He Ximeng a clear path to the basket.
This is the drawback of poor outside shooting! Once the outside shooters pose no threat, the opponent can infinitely pack the paint, making it even harder to drive to the basket... It's a vicious cycle.
The only way to break this deadlock was to create an opening in the mid-to-long range.
Wang Xian had missed his shot earlier, and this time, He Ximeng passed the ball to Ming Hanfei. Ming Hanfei was a master of chaotic play, often described as a "streaky" player. When he was in form, no one could stop him; when he wasn't, he was a reliable bricklayer.
On this play, He Ximeng intended for Ming Hanfei to find his rhythm from the outside. However, Ming Hanfei drove straight into the rookie team's paint and, facing a four-man double-team, jumped up forcefully... He Ximeng, watching from the outside, was stunned.
At that moment, He Ximeng was filled with regret, but it was too late.
Zhang Zhenpeng and Zhu Ningzhen teamed up to block Ming Hanfei's shot. Crucially, they also lost possession, and the ball went to the rookie team.
"Sorry, Captain, I was a bit impulsive just now..." Ming Hanfei apologized to He Ximeng as he jogged back on defense.
He Ximeng could only wave his hand. "Just learn from it. They're collapsing too hard now. We need to attack from the outside..."
"No problem! Next play, give it to me again..."
"I..."
He Ximeng was speechless and quickly changed the subject. "Let's defend this possession first..."
Learning from the previous play, Zhang Zhenpeng decided this time to drive to the basket himself! He stuck close to Qin Rui, and when He Ximeng came to double-team, he used a feint and a spin to get past Qin Rui. Then, he drove directly at He Ximeng, forcing a three-point shot toward the basket... Although He Ximeng had significantly improved in height and jumping ability, Zhang Zhenpeng was not intimidated. He stood at 1.95 meters tall and had excellent jumping ability. This time, Zhang Zhenpeng successfully powered through He Ximeng!
He Ximeng had to choose between a foul or watching Zhang Zhenpeng shoot over him.
In a regular game, He Ximeng would definitely have fouled, but in a practice match, he decided against it.
He Ximeng pulled his hands back, and Zhang Zhenpeng scored!
The rookie team finally got on the board, tying the score at 1-2.
Feeling good after scoring, Zhang Zhenpeng tried to drive again. However, Qin Rui, having just made a mistake, was clearly prepared. The moment Zhang Zhenpeng attempted to spin, Qin Rui deliberately gave way, "pulling the stool" from under him. Zhang Zhenpeng stumbled, losing control of the ball. He Ximeng seized the opportunity and stole it!
After the steal, He Ximeng immediately passed the ball to Wang Xian, who was outside the three-point line, while signaling for the ball himself!
Wang Xian understood, received the pass, and immediately passed it back to He Ximeng. He Ximeng wanted to launch a fast break while the rookie team's defense was disorganized.
Zhang Zhenpeng adopted a defensive stance, urging his teammates to help.
However, He Ximeng, with the ball in hand, drove directly at Zhang Zhenpeng, executing a Ginobili-esque snake dribble. He blew past both Zhang Zhenpeng and Zhu Ningzhen, then finished with a floater into the basket.
"Beautiful!"
This play immediately drew cheers from his teammates on the sidelines.
"Ximon's strength has improved a lot recently..." Cui Pangzi, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but exclaim.
That snake dribble required incredible core strength to allow for the agility and changes in direction during the run.
He Ximeng's imitation, compared to the original move by the "Demon Blade," still had a significant gap. His footwork wasn't steady enough, and his rhythm wasn't smooth... but it was more than enough to handle these high school students.
"Could it be that my arrival... has stimulated Ximon's hidden potential?" Zhang Tian'ai mused, echoing Cui Pangzi's words.
Cui Pangzi looked at the goddess in his heart, who was clearly smitten, and sighed. "I think your brother is more likely to have stimulated him... After all, good players perform at their best when facing good opponents."
"My brother's credit is my credit, isn't it?"
Cui Pangzi was utterly speechless. Women's logic, indeed, was incomprehensible.