59 to 42. Horizon Leading.
Dirga glanced toward the Hyōgo bench. He could see it now—clear as day. Frustration etched into their faces. Shoulders slumped. Eyes down. Confidence cracked, maybe even shattered.
They couldn't win on the perimeter.
They couldn't win in the paint.
Not with Taiga hustling like a madman, and Rikuya owning the post.
Their frontcourt had become a wall.
And Hyōgo kept running straight into it.
Coach Tsugawa gathered the team, voice calm but charged with purpose.
"Alright," he said, "we're going back to our usual formation."
He turned to Dirga.
"Dirga, take the point. Rei slides to shooting guard. Aizawa, you're back in at small forward. Taiga stays at power forward, Rikuya holds the center."
He then turned to Hiroki, offering a proud nod and a smile.
"Hiroki, you've done great today. Rest up—you've earned it. Let's keep that rhythm going into the next game."
Then Coach Tsugawa clapped his hands once, sharp and loud.
"Let's break them—and go home."
