Challenge to the King

Synopsis

'We're winning this, no matter what!' (Akagi). The final league comes down to four schools — Shohoku, Kainan, Ryonan, and Takezato — competing for only two spots in the nationals. Shohoku's first opponent is Kainan, and Hanamichi and the rest of the team are fired up. On the Kainan side, only captain Maki tightens his focus; the team as a whole carries an air of complacency. Under the watchful eyes of Yayoi — Hikoichi's older sister and reporter for 'Weekly Basketball' — the two squads send sparks flying at center court the moment they walk onto the floor. Once the game tips off, even fiercer, more powerful plays unfold one after another. It is a relentless stream of superplays that hardly seem possible at the high school level.