Chapter Twenty-Three: The Final Battle
Saturday's pre-game warm-up workout, LeBron. James took his girlfriend Savannah early with his eldest son, James II, and his youngest son, Blake. James came to the sidelines. Although Hougist often interacts with Zhan Huang on Twitter, this is the first time they have met, and Hoggist seems a little reserved.
James took the initiative to sign for everyone, patted Haugist on the shoulder and said: "Today I will bring the whole family to watch you perform, I hope you can play wonderful statistics and lead the team to win, don't live up to my son's expectations!" ”
"I'll try my best, the opponent is not weak!" Hoggist was helpless.
"Don't be nervous, we're here to cheer you up, not to put pressure on you." James tried to relieve the pressure on Hougist.
"Brother, sign me!" At this time, James II came to Hougist for an autograph with a pair of LeBron 8 Hougist 83 separate edition sneakers.
"Are you sure you want me to sign for you?" Horgist asked flatteredly.
"Of course, you're the best high school student in the United States, and I'm going to be like you in the future!" James II said seriously.
"Okay, then you have to do it!" Hogist signed both Chinese and English names on the upper.
"Sign both!" James II reminded.
Haugist returned the shoes to James II after signing and touched his little head. James II happily returned to his seat with his shoes in his hand and began to take pictures and tweet.
Zhan Huang and Hougist also returned to the audience after high-fives and hugging. Hoogist shook his head, trying to shake off the tension. Looking up at the sidelines, Qiu Jingli also gave him a trusting smile.
"What are you talking about with LeBron, you look so close!" The crowd asked with some jealousy.
"It's nothing, it's just to cheer us on, but his son asked me for an autograph."
"Wait, you make it clear, who's looking for whom?" Randolph suspected some of his own ears.
"I signed for him, and he asked me to sign it with my 83-cent commemorative LeBron8."
"Amazing, as long as someone asks for an autograph, it means that you have entered the ranks of real stars! Hey, why don't you sign me too? Not...... Sign it here! Randolph pouted at Haugist.
Hoogist kicked Randolph in the ass, "Go back to warm up, if you lose today's game, you will practice for 2 hours a day until you win the championship next time!" ”
The crowd dispersed, and Hoggist returned to the court to continue practicing his shots.
As time went on, the audience also arrived one after another, not only the old Helian, Candace, the Bi couple, but even the black uncle came to the scene with his son.
The game is finally about to begin, perhaps because it is the state league final, or maybe because James is there to watch the game, and the game is broadcast live on both local and local television stations. And the players of the Clark High School Tornado team also ran over to James to ask for autographs and photos.
Because it was the final finals of the autumn and winter season, and there was a live broadcast in the state, the Cimaron Memorial Middle School made the pre-game ceremony more grand than the opening game, and even brought a flamethrower to be placed at the door of the home team's players' tunnel.
First of all, the live DJ introduced the visiting player, the Tornado's starting point guard No. 6 Darren. Lisiad, shooting guard No. 32 Hollis. Thompson, small forward No. 0 Allan. Stone, power forward No. 11 Roger. Griffin, center No. 17 Jerome. Grant.
When the home team players were introduced, the flamethrowers on both sides of each person would shoot fireworks, startling Joseph, who was the first to come out, and his movements were very funny under the spotlight, causing laughter in the audience.
When German. When Williams came out on his fourth appearance, the audience was in an uproar, and the crowd even forgot to cheer on his players. The teachers and students of Cimaren were very curious about how such an important game today could let a water cooler manager play the starter.
The coach of the Tornadoes, Bobby. Simmons looked at the Spartans' tall center with a height of 6 feet 9 feet, and secretly said in his heart that it was not good, the opponent has a big killer like Hoggist on the outside, how can there be such a height on the inside, our two lineups are not easy to defend! But then I thought about it again, no, I haven't heard of Simalen having such a number one person before, it should be a 10,000-year substitute specifically for our team's two short insiders, although they are tall, the level should not be very powerful, otherwise I haven't seen Dick use it much.
Roger. Griffin and Jerome. Grant and the two looked at Coach Simmons, and Coach Simmons signaled the two to be calm and gather everyone: "The opponent's high school forward is very likely to be just a decoration, let's play first, we must raise the speed first, and see if this center can keep up." No, I'll adjust my tactics. ”
At this time, it was time for Hoggist to come out and when the horn sounded, "Finally, from Las Vegas, 6 feet tall, shooting guard, No. 0, Mr. 83 - Mr. Hoggist. Hurley! All the teachers, students and parents in the audience stood up and applauded Hogist. It can be said that Hoggist led the players of the team to bring the team to the final with a winning record. So in the Cimaren Memorial Middle School and even in Lower Vegas, Hougist has become a household name and the glory of the entire district.
“MVP! MVP! MVP! ”
Amid the cheers of the MVP, Haugist calmly walked out of the tunnel and greeted everyone with a smile and waving his arms. "Actually, I've recently grown to 6 feet 1 inch!" Hogist muttered quietly.
After the two sides played, everyone stood on the field, and the referee came to the center circle to throw the ball. Jerome. Grant and Devon. Williams stood together, more than a head shorter, the referee threw the ball high, Devin easily gave it to Randolph, Randolph passed it to Joseph, Joseph dribbled the ball over the half court, and distributed the ball to the wing Hougist, Hougist faced Thompson's defense, and did not rush to attack, but waited for Devin to be in the position on the inside, Devin's three-day special training was not in vain, and it was easy to get to the position under the basket, Hougist hoisted the ball high into the interior line as he did in training, Devin easily received the ball with one hand, and directly turned around and hooked the board to hit two points. Grant, who was defending him, was unable to jump even when he was leaned on by Devin under the basket, and his hands were raised to interfere with the shot, but even Devin's wrist couldn't reach it.
Coach Dick stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, and his heart was reassured, it seems that Hoggist's special training for Devon is very effective!
The Tornado quickly drove the ball out, five people on the court advanced rapidly, Devin tried his best to catch up with Grant, the Tornado team was on the ball in time, Grant quickly went down to the paint area and the ball came in, Randolph could only let go of Griffin to make up for Grant, Grant did not play strongly, and directly passed the ball from Randolph's armpit to the unmarked Griffin, Griffin easily hit the empty basket and hit two points, and Devin had just run back to the three-second zone at this time.
Coach Simmons stood on the other side of the court, also relieved. It seems that this Devon's speed is not good, although my small lineup can't prevent his inside attack, but he can't catch up with our speed, just play like this, and let him run and vomit blood in one section!
Hoggist patted Devon's ass and encouraged: "The other party can come back at your normal speed, we try to force them to play positions, and if you can't beat them, you can let them go one or two fast attacks, you must save your physical strength and ensure the success rate of the offensive end!" ”
Devin nodded, sent the ball to Joseph, Joseph still slowly dribbled the ball over the half court, and gave the ball to Hougist on the wing, Hougist was still waiting for Devin to be in the inside position, this time Grant went directly around the front defense, wanting to interfere with Devin receiving the ball, Hougist saw Grant go around to the card position in front of Devin, and Devin went to the basket behind him in an empty space, glanced at Devin, raised his chin, and then threw the ball directly to the basket.
Devin understood, turned around and dropped Grant, who was still desperately stuck in position, stepped to the basket, jumped up and easily caught the ball thrown by Haugist, and dunked the ball into the basket with both hands.
There was a cheer from the sidelines, and a wonderful open dunk boosted morale at any time. The teachers and students of Cimaren did not expect that this 10,000-year-old substitute water dispenser administrator would become a strange soldier.
The Tornado team was scored continuously under the basket, but he was not in a hurry or discouraged, and he still kicked off quickly and was ready to run, but Joseph did not retreat but blocked the forward path of the Tornado point guard Lisiard in advance, and began to lead the opponent before halftime, Lichiad wanted to divide the ball forward, but the players on the outside had been blocked. And Grant and Griffin have run to the low post, and only Randolph is in the first defense. Lichiad jumped up and played a long ball inside, but it was Grant who caught the ball and tricked Randolph into giving it to Griffin, who scored easily.
The Spartans continued to attack, unhurried, still Haugist was waiting for Devin on the flank, and this time Grant did not dare to go around the front, so he had to obediently defend Devin in the back. Hougist gave the ball to Devon, Devin repeated his old trick and leaned on Grant's hook hand, but the ball brushed out of the basket, Devin wanted to force a dunk with one hand above Grant's head, but it was too reluctant, and the ball bounced out on the hoop, Devin had to jump up again and point the ball to the basket, the ball hit the back edge and bounced out, Devin racked the ball to the rebound again, made up three times and finally hit the board.
Grant was originally very good at bouncing, but he was leaned on by Devin at the beginning and missed the opportunity, and when Devin made up the basket later, he couldn't pick it up at all, so he could only watch Devin take what he wanted on his head.
"It's okay, it's okay, play faster, consume the opponent's physical strength, and drag down the opponent's center!" Coach Simmons clapped his hands on the sidelines to motivate everyone.
Tornado tee shot quickly to the frontcourt, this time Devin has returned to the basket and fallen into the defensive lineup, so Grant came up to the top of the arc to block and dismantle Lisiaad, Devin did not follow the defense, but continued to guard the basket, Lichiad borrowed Grant to cover to break through to the low post, Joseph bypassed behind Grant and continued to chase Lichiad, at this time Grant stepped outside the three-point line, and Lisiad directly did not look at the pass and threw the ball behind him, Grant received the ball unguarded and shot three points directly, and the ball hit steadily. It seems that the inside line is blocked and dismantled outside, which is a tactic practiced by the Tornadoes.
"It's okay, Devin, you don't have to come out to change the defense, next time the opponent's two inside lines, no matter who pulls the outside line, Randolph will follow you, Devin, you will stay under the basket, whoever is in your defense will do it." Hougist continued to encourage Devon, it is not easy for a player like Devin to build confidence, and being beaten by the opponent must stabilize his emotions in time and not let his confidence be damaged.
"What if the other party's two inside lines go to the outside line?" Randolph asked.
"If they're not going to ask for rebounds and we let them shoot, I don't believe they can shoot the ball!" Hoggist said indifferently.
The Spartans offense continued to play baskets, and this time Devin was caught by Thompson after getting the ball, but Grant couldn't touch the ball, and Thompson couldn't reach a shooting guard, but Devin took the opportunity to return the ball to Hoggist, who hit an open three-pointer and returned the color. The score was 9:7, and the Spartans led by 2 points.
The Tornado wanted to use speed to drag down Devin, so although the interior defense was very disadvantaged, they still insisted on not changing the formation; The Spartans have obvious advantages on the inside, although the defense is porous, but the offense can basically score in every round, so they also insist on playing high forward. In this way, you went back and forth for half a quarter, and the Spartans fell behind by 1 point at 18:19, but this attack Devin caused Grant's third foul, and Grant had to go off the court early, and it seemed that he couldn't play in the first half.
Devin stood at the free throw line, but missed two free throws, presumably to the limit of his physical strength, and Coach Dick replaced Devin with Harris in exchange for the regular lineup of the Spartans. And the Tornadoes replaced Grant with David at 6'8". Finch, now the advantage on the inside is on the Tornadoes' side again.
The Tornadoes attacked, and sure enough, they started to let Finch play inside, but Finch didn't have the good habits that Hougist had taught Devin. Finch was not in a deep position, and when he got the ball, he began to hit Randolph with his back, and Horgist saw the opportunity to quickly help the defense and went back to cut Finch's ball easily, and this time it was the Spartans' turn to play the whirlwind.
Hoggist recuperated for half a quarter, and now he broke the ball and happily dribbled directly to the opponent's basket, forced a layup against Griffin, and threw the ball in the air, which also caused Griffin's foul.