Meanwhile, He Ximeng's entry also bolstered Zhuji Middle School's defense. He Ximeng could always anticipate Yu Zhibo's offensive routes and call for timely rotations from his teammates…
By halftime, Zhuji Middle School had regained a 6-point lead.
In the third quarter, Zhang Zhenpeng went to the bench for a rest, and He Ximeng partnered with Yan Hui. He Ximeng frequently called Yan Hui to the high post for screens, then used mismatches to draw Xiao Yu's help defense. If Xiao Yu helped, He Ximeng would pass to Yan Hui cutting from the middle for the finish. If Xiao Yu didn't help, He Ximeng would drive to the basket himself.
The strategy was simple, but because of the individual capabilities of both He Ximeng and Yan Hui, they wreaked havoc on Ningbo No. 4 Middle School, forcing them to collapse their defense and contain Zhuji Middle School's high-low action.
Seeing Ningbo No. 4 Middle School collapse, He Ximeng began passing the ball outside the three-point line!
Tang Chenfeng performed exceptionally well in this quarter, hitting 3 out of 4 three-pointers, which became the last straw for Ningbo No. 4 Middle School.
In the final quarter, Ningbo No. 4 Middle School crumbled. He Ximeng substituted himself out, along with Yan Hui, leaving only the energized Zhang Zhenpeng to go head-to-head with the desperate Yu Zhibo…
Ultimately, in the first semifinal, 80:68, Zhuji Middle School defeated Ningbo No. 4 Middle School with a significant advantage, securing the first ticket to the Eastern Division finals!
After the game, He Ximeng and Yan Hui proactively approached Yu Zhibo and Xiao Yu for a hug and handshake.
Yu Zhibo was still unconvinced, as Zhuji Middle School and Ningbo No. 4 Middle School had always been evenly matched in the past two years, with their strengths being very close.
But that's how it is in sports; a win is a win, and a loss is a loss. Moreover, Zhuji Middle School hadn't even played their full strength today, holding back some of their capabilities.
In comparison, Xiao Yu was more composed than Yu Zhibo.
"Remember to break out of the Eastern Division and reach the national finals stage…" Xiao Yu instructed Yan Hui, "After all, when it comes to centers in the Zhejiang Division, I only respect you…"
"Don't worry! We're different this year!" Yan Hui stated firmly, "You guys just wait and watch us on TV…"
"Exactly! Zhuji Middle School has me, this powerful reinforcement, this year. It's hard to lose… You old guys just wait for news of our victory…" Zhang Zhenpeng appeared from somewhere, boasting shamelessly.
Yu Zhibo was already unhappy about the loss, and upon hearing Zhang Zhenpeng call them old men, he couldn't help but laugh, "Where did you guys recruit this kid? His basketball skills are mediocre, but his trash-talking skills are world-class…"
"Old Yu, who are you calling mediocre at basketball?"
"I'm talking about you, rookie…"
"You don't seem convinced? Come on! Don't leave at noon, let's have a one-on-one showdown again…"
"Bring it on, who's afraid of who…"
Seeing Zhang Zhenpeng and Yu Zhibo bickering on the court, He Ximeng and Xiao Yu exchanged awkward smiles. He Ximeng signaled Yan Hui to pull Zhang Zhenpeng away, and Xiao Yu dragged Yu Zhibo away. They each took one of the immature youngsters back to their respective team benches…
The second semifinal match was between last year's champions, Huipu Middle School, and Hangzhou No. 4 Middle School, who fiercely battled for the remaining ticket to advance.
Liu Yudong scored a tournament-high 51 points, but Hangzhou No. 4 Middle School ultimately lost to Huipu Middle School by three points, 79:82, and were eliminated from the next stage of the competition.
Thus, the two qualifying spots for the Zhejiang Division were decided!
Zhuji Middle School and Huipu Middle School will represent the Zhejiang Division in the Eastern Division finals of the national competition, which will be held in Shanghai a month later!
However, before the grassroots tournament officially concludes, the four semi-finalist teams still need to determine their final rankings!
The first match in the afternoon was between Hangzhou No. 4 Middle School and Ningbo No. 4 Middle School, to decide third and fourth place.
The second match in the afternoon was between Huipu Middle School and Zhuji Middle School, to decide the championship and runner-up.
The game between Ningbo No. 4 Middle School and Hangzhou No. 4 Middle School was more intense than expected.
Although Ningbo No. 4 Middle School had lost their chance to advance to the Eastern Division, Yu Zhibo and Xiao Yu still wanted to defeat Liu Yudong at least once before their high school careers ended.
On Liu Yudong's side, after losing to Huipu, he had only this final game left in his high school career and naturally did not want to end it with a loss.
As a result, the game eventually led to both head coaches tacitly handing over the court to the three players.
Yu Zhibo and Xiao Yu teamed up to face Liu Yudong!
In the end, Liu Yudong hit a buzzer-beater to defeat Ningbo No. 4 Middle School, defending his status as the top player in the division and concluding his high school career with a victory.
One party's fulfillment inevitably meant another's unfulfillment.
After the game, Yu Zhibo and Xiao Yu proactively approached Liu Yudong.
While Yu Zhibo was unconvinced about Zhuji Middle School, he was thoroughly impressed by Liu Yudong.
Having been opponents for three years and having been defeated by him for three years, it was hard for Yu Zhibo not to be convinced.
Liu Yudong, on the other hand, respected the persistent spirit of Yu Zhibo and Xiao Yu, especially Yu Zhibo, who had been trying to challenge Liu Yudong's position as the Zhejiang Division's top scorer for three years. Out of courtesy, Liu Yudong invited them to battle again on the professional league court in the future.
Unexpectedly, neither of them planned to pursue a professional basketball career.
"I plan to attend Zhejiang University and major in computer science… In the future, I'll most likely be a programmer… I might be the best programmer who plays basketball…" Unexpectedly, Yu Zhibo, who seemed a bit naive on the court, had excellent academic results.
"My grades aren't as good as Old Yu's. I plan to apply for Zhejiang University's athletic recruitment. If successful, I might enter the sports department and become a sports teacher after graduation. If not… I might go home and raise fish with my dad…"
"Raise fish? You call your family's ten thousand square meter yellow croaker farm a fish farm?" Yu Zhibo said indignantly, "Don't listen to Xiao Yu's nonsense. His family owns the largest yellow croaker breeding base in the Ningbo area. He's a bona fide second-generation rich kid…"
Not every basketball teenager can become a professional player. Only top high school players like Liu Yudong have the luxury of choice upon graduation.
Most basketball teenagers, even star players in the high school league, follow the conventional path of the college entrance exam or special recruitment, attend university, and eventually become teachers, programmers, or businessmen… But no matter what profession they pursue in the future, the bond they forged with basketball during their youth will likely run through their lives and accompany them forever…
Basketball is not a companion, but it is better than one.