Thursday, September 19, 1996.

Although they have already represented Gezhouba No. 6 Middle School in the Central China region of the National League, the Rangers do not dare to relax at all. Because according to Wang Baojiang, a total of 72 high school teams from the four provinces in central China, that is, the prefecture-level cities of Hubei, Hunan, Henan, and Jiangxi, participated in the competition. Due to the fact that the number of participating teams is larger than in previous years, this stage of the competition will take the form of a knockout round, which is a winner-winner.

Since each city has two teams, then the first place in each city is divided into Group A, and the second place is divided into Group B. This is a 'draw' with the nature of seeds, where the first place in each city plays the second place in the first round of eliminations against the second place in other cities.

In other words, if the Rangers lose to Yichang No. 1 Middle School in tomorrow's game, although it will not affect the results, it also means that they will have to compete against a relatively strong team in the first round.

"I hope you'd better take the city No. 1 Middle School tomorrow." Wang Baojiang's expression is not very relaxed now. When he reported to the leaders yesterday, although the school leaders were happy, they immediately put forward higher requirements. If Ge Liu can break through the first round this time, or even go further, not only will it be Ge Liu's honor, but Gezhouba's side will also be quite glorious. After all, this is a dream that has not been realized for many years in the city's No. 1 Middle School.

"Of course!" Liu Junfeng couldn't hide his 'excited' emotions, "Tomorrow we will fight to see who is the boss of Yichang!" ”

"Don't be too arrogant, boy," Yang Cong said coldly, "Renjia City No. 1 Middle School has occupied the position of the leading boss for so many years, and it is not by luck. In the first two years, when they were the strongest, they all met Xiangfan No. 4 Middle School in the 'draw', so they were defeated, and if they met other teams, they might not be able to break through the first round. ”

"Xiangfan No. 4 Middle School......" Wang Zhiwen muttered, "It's really famous!" ”

"Yes," Wang Baojiang said 'colorfully', "Xiangfan No. 4 Middle School, no matter which team it is put in, it is almost impossible to pass the level." Their strength is close to that of the professional team, and how many talents are sent to CUBA and CBA every year is not what we can imagine. Therefore, we have to fight for the first place with the first middle school in the city, and try not to meet them as much as possible. ”

"City No. 1 Middle School will definitely do its best to fight with us," Cheng Fei said, "They don't want to run into Xiangfan No. 4 Middle School for three consecutive years." ”

"So, we can't relax," Wang Baojiang sighed, "I know that the boys have worked hard for so long, and they have actually completed the task, but tomorrow is a very important battle, I hope you can do your best, take out the 'spirit' spirit that has been fought all the way, and compete with the city No. 1 Middle School!" Aim for first place! ”

"Yes!" The Rangers replied in unison.

"There is also bad news," Wang Baojiang said with a serious face, "Coach Zhang Pingya has already gone to Wuhan today because of Director Zhang's illness, and I am afraid I won't be able to come back in the afternoon." I've been thinking that if Coach Zhang was there, we would have a 70% chance of winning, but now I'm afraid it's only 40%. ”

Cheng Fei said with a smile: "Teacher Wang, please rest assured, the coach can't do everything, no matter how good the chef is, he can't cook many good dishes without good ingredients." It's all about us. ”

Wang Baojiang 'revealed' a smile: "Cheng Fei said it well. Tomorrow, in order to ensure victory, I will no longer train the troops, I will make my own opinion, or list this lineup, Wang Zhiwen, Cheng Fei, Yang Cong, Zhang Yulai, Deng Liang. Through this period of running-in, you have also accumulated a lot of competition experience, and I believe that you can come up with the best level and draw a successful end to the competition in Yichang! ”

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the Rangers gathered in the gymnasium to begin training. The amount of training before the game is generally not large, but whether it is Zhang Laotou or Wang Baojiang, they attach great importance to pre-game training, which can maintain the competitive state of the players and do not advocate too much rest. Since Wang Baojiang was not present, the rangers trained on their own.

Cheng Fei sat on the sidelines, holding the list of players from City No. 1 Middle School, and looked at them one by one.

Zhang Xiaodi, 1.80 meters tall, scoring guard, ace player. The body is strong, the movements are flexible, the technique is comprehensive, the breakthrough ability is strong, and the mid-range shooting ability is quite 'outstanding'. If there is any weakness in him, it is that he is not good at three-point shooting. According to the young reporter Wang Le, this person is not inferior to Xu Jian.

Yang Ji, 1.80 meters tall, small forward. The scoring ability is not outstanding, but it is said that he and Zhang Xiaodi are known as the "twin stars" of the city No. 1 Middle School, relying on strong defense. His defensive ability is comparable to Zhang Xiaodi's scoring ability, and he is the most reliable "steel defense line" in the city's No. 1 Middle School.

…… Cheng Fei's gaze fell on the name of the last player. Lu Guang, who is 1.76 meters tall, has no information. Cheng Fei folded the piece of paper, stood up, and walked towards the brothers who were training.

"Tomorrow's game, I have an idea." Cheng Fei said.

As soon as he spoke, the Rangers stopped training and listened earnestly. Cheng Fei's ideas have been verified by many competitions, and in the end they all proved to be very reasonable, even Wang Baojiang, who is a physical education teacher, is always willing to listen to his opinions.

"Zhang Xiaodi is the strongest offensive among them, but his defensive ability is average, so I am responsible for gnawing this point, it would be best if I could get more points from him," Cheng Fei said, his eyes turned to Yang Cong, "Yang Cong is the strongest offensive among us, so I hope you can face Yang Ji and knock out this point, and their defense line will collapse!" ”

Yang Cong's heart was hot. Yang Ji is the opposite of Zhang Xiaodi, with first-class defensive ability, but lacks offensive ability, Cheng Fei's meaning is obviously to gnaw the most difficult bone for Yang Cong to gnaw, and let him let go of the attack, without having to spend too much effort on the defensive end. It's a real trust. Brotherly trust.

"Tomorrow's game, the key is between me and Yang Cong," Cheng Fei continued, "especially Yang Cong, tomorrow's tactics will also revolve around him, and strive to open up Yang Ji's point, so that their defensive experts are useless on the field." I will do my best to limit Zhang Xiaodi's play. ”

"Hmm!" Yang Cong nodded heavily, "Don't worry, I won't let that Yang Ji be proud." ”

"Let's practice our positioning, and pay attention to covering Yang Cong." Cheng Fei said.

Without a single teacher present, the Rangers took the initiative to start practicing the basic tactical running positions taught by Zhang Pingya yesterday. In fact, the so-called basic tactics are just a framework, from which Cheng Fei quickly learned a variety of disguised tactical routines, leading the main scoring point to the most suitable place for Yang Cong.

"Here, when I run over, you have to think that I am covering Yang Cong," Cheng Fei said as he gestured, "You have to immediately pull to the top arc to attract the other party's attention and create space for Yang Cong." ”

Yang Cong practiced very seriously, his hand felt very good, whether it was a forced layup, an open shot or a step-back shot, even under the close "care" of Li Lin, a defensive expert in the team, the shooting rate reached almost ninety. After the low 'fan' in the last game, Yang Cong obviously regained his fighting spirit.

"Holy!" Liu Junfeng shouted, "I'm here to prevent Yang Cong!" ”

Yang Cong sneered, hooked his hand at Liu Junfeng, and motioned for him to come and challenge.

Liu Junfeng moved his muscles and bones to meet him. Yang Cong first dribbled under his crotch, and then quickly dodged to the side, and while attracting Liu Junfeng to come over to defend, he turned around again and stepped back to shoot!

The basketball "smack" into the net! The corners of Yang Cong's mouth flashed with a smug smile.

"Good shot!" Cheng Fei clapped their hands and laughed. Yang Cong and Liu Junfeng are a pair of living treasures, they always fight endlessly, and no one obeys anyone, such a 'fierce' battle obviously greatly improves their offensive and defensive capabilities against each other. But from a competition point of view, Yang Cong is clearly more suitable for team combat.

Yang Cong's hand felt so hot, which strengthened Cheng Fei's determination to attack Yang Cong in this direction. All he had to do was try his best to prevent Zhang Xiaodi from scoring easily, and at the same time draw away the pressure that the opponent exerted on Yang Cong on the defensive end with a cold gun.

"***, come again!" Liu Junfeng stroked his 'pants' and 'legs', and shouted unconvinced, "I still can't believe that I can't stop you!" ”

"If you can't prevent it, just admit it!" Chen Jie coaxed beside him.

Yang Cong smiled and pointed in the direction of the basket, and after dribbling the ball under his crotch twice, he suddenly accelerated, breaking through Liu Junfeng's left side like lightning. It's so fast that it's hard for anyone to stop!

But Liu Junfeng, who was familiar with Yang Cong's offensive method, made a correct judgment in an instant, and moved sideways in two big strides, which was able to block Yang Cong's side.

Just like this, it can't stop Yang Cong, who has already exerted his strength! I saw his little 'legs' kick the ground suddenly, and a stronger explosive force than before burst out in an instant, this time he completely shook off Liu Junfeng, who wanted to stop him, and his whole body squeezed past Liu Junfeng, rising from the bottom line!

Yang Cong in the air was like a longbow that 'shot' the sun, his eyebrows revealed an unstoppable violent aura, and his right arm holding the ball poured down to the basket!

Cheng Fei's face, which was originally full of smiles, suddenly changed its 'color'.

Yang Cong's dunk position has shifted a little, and it is this slight deviation that caused the familiar "click" sound to not appear, and everyone heard the sound of the 'flesh' body impacting, followed by Yang Cong's scream.

In mid-air, Yang Cong completely lost his balance and fell down, falling heavily to the ground!

"Yang Cong!" Cheng Fei exclaimed and ran over, "What's the matter!" ”

Yang Cong stretched out his right arm, his wrist was bruised, blood was dripping, his face turned yellow in pain, and his facial features were distorted. Obviously, the dunk just now was off the way, causing the wrist to hit the iron hoop......

The rangers all ran over, and Wang Zhiwen yelled at Liu Junfeng, who was stunned on the side: "What did you do? ”

Liu Junfeng spread his hands innocently: "Me? Didn't I do anything? ”

Yang Cong endured the pain and said, "The last shot you ...... *** just now is definitely a foul, ***'' 'milk', and when I jumped up, you squeezed me ......***...... Say it's a foul? ”

Liu Junfeng's face was red and white for a while, and he was speechless.

"How are you feeling?" Cheng Fei asked anxiously.

"It's okay to fall." Yang Cong stood up with everyone's support, then moved his wrist, and immediately screamed in pain, "Damn!" My wrist hurts! ”

"Let's go! Hurry to the infirmary! Wang Zhiwen said. Everyone packed up their things and rushed to the school's infirmary with Yang Cong. Along the way, Cheng Fei had a calm face, and he had an ominous premonition in his heart.

After cleaning, it can be seen that Yang Cong's wrist is obviously bruised, and the scratch is only the epidermis, but it affects the rotation of the wrist. Now, as long as he moves his wrist, he is in pain, so he can only apply 'medicated' ointment and wrap it in bandages with the help of the school doctor.

"Excuse me, is this serious?" Cheng Fei asked cautiously.

"It's fine!" The school doctor washed his hands and said expressionlessly, "What's so serious about this, just remove stasis and reduce swelling." ”

"Tomorrow will be fine, right?" Liu Junfeng hurriedly asked.

The school doctor looked up at him and said, "Tomorrow? Do you have a cold and fever? Take at least one week off. By the way, don't 'mess' around for a week, and make sure that the injured part rests ......"

A group of people walked out of the infirmary dejectedly, Yang Cong seemed preoccupied, Cheng Fei also bit his lower lip, and Wang Zhiwen kept counting Liu Junfeng: "Look at the good things you have done!" If you do this to others, forget it, treat your own brothers, play this kind of heavy hand, and there will be a final tomorrow! ”

Liu Junfeng grabbed his hair and shouted, "I really didn't think about anything? Oops, how could I be so unlucky! ”

"Don't tell Mr. Wang about my injury." Yang Cong said calmly.

"How's that going to work?" Wang Zhiwen responded, "You can't play tomorrow, we have to readjust the lineup." ”

"I'll play tomorrow!" Yang Cong said categorically, he looked at Cheng Fei, "Although I can't shoot, the rest of my body is good, I can defend!" ”

The group was silent.

Before the most important final, the loss of a siege general was a disaster from heaven. Cheng Fei's brain kept turning: let Yang Cong still play the starter, but defend Zhang Xiaodi wholeheartedly, and contain Yang Ji on the offensive end? But with the loss of players who can score 40 points per game, how can this leak be compensated?

"I think, we can't hide it from Wang Baojiang," Cheng Fei said in a low voice, "That's it, let's observe it tomorrow morning, depending on Yang Cong's injury." Even if it's defensive, it's hard to keep it from having to ...... wrists."

The Rangers' excitement and excitement had vanished without a trace.

*****************

Friday, 20 September 1996.

When Cheng Fei got up in the morning, he heard Liu Junfeng running to Yang Cong's bed, and asked anxiously: "Damn, how are you?" Anyway, huh? Can you still fight? ”

"No kidding!" Wang Zhiwen, who slept on Yang Cong's top bunk, said while getting dressed, "No matter how you recover, you can't get to the way you were before the injury." As he spoke, he jumped down and checked Yang Cong's wrist.

Cheng Fei also walked over. Yang Cong slowly supported himself with his left hand, sat up from the 'bed', and moved his right wrist slightly. There may be the effect of 'medicated' water, and the bruises on it are black and black, and it seems that the swelling has not subsided. Cheng Fei's heart "chuckled", it seemed that he had to face the reality of changing formations.

Yang Cong 'rubbed' and 'rubbed' his wrists, and the corners of his mouth suddenly 'twitched' inadvertently. He smiled lightly: "It's a lot better!" Basically, it doesn't hurt, and the shot may not be accurate, but it's okay to defend on the court! ”

"Isn't it?" Wang Zhiwen asked a little disbelievingly.

"Of course!" Yang Cong smiled, jumped down from the 'bed', found a bracer that he usually doesn't use, and put it on his wrist, "Add a layer of protection, it's even more fine!" ”

"That's good!" Liu Junfeng breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm really unlucky, if you can't play, I will definitely be scolded to death!" ”

"You're going to be scolded to death!" Wang Zhiwen said angrily, "Let me tell you, Liu Junfeng, if you don't show some 'spirit' spirit in today's game, I can't spare you!" Treat your enemies a hundredfold as you would with your own brothers! ”

"Look at Lao Tzu!" Liu Junfeng smiled and showed his thin arms.

When everyone went to wash their mouths and faces, Cheng Fei came over and said in a deep voice: "Don't pretend, it's not good to insist on playing, if you 'make' the wrist injury serious, how will we fight in the future?" It's just a week, and if you don't play well this one, you won't be able to play well......"

Yang Cong smiled: "I can't hide it from you, please can't you?" You all go to the No. 1 Middle School in the market, and leave me alone to watch the excitement below? How can I stand it? Besides, I don't know how to shoot, and when I defend, I will definitely pay attention to protecting my wrist, and I will never fight hard, I promise that I can always do it, right? ”

Cheng Fei glared at him and didn't speak for a long time.

"This is a man's battle," Yang Congzheng said, "Didn't Old Man Zhang always say?" The stadium is the battlefield, I was a little injured, but not to the point where I need to rest, as the saying goes, a minor injury is not in the line of fire, not to mention that I can still make a contribution. Don't you believe in my defensive abilities? This time I didn't have an offensive mission, and I just went all out to deal with them! ”

Cheng Fei was silent for a moment, nodded, and said, "I'll still inform Teacher Wang, lest he blame us then." Then you have to do what you say, don't force yourself. ”

Yang Cong sighed and said with a smile: "Don't worry! ”

They smiled at each other, their hands clasped together.

"We change our tactics, and Zhang Xiaodi will 'hand' it over to you!" Cheng Fei said lightly.

"Let that Zhang Xiaodi taste my iron wall, and let their defense experts see your ability!" Yang Cong's eyes flashed, "It's time." ”