EAR Ch 25

Today’s game was a five-on-five full-court match. From Class 2, Ryu Jaemin, and from Class 4, Oh Seungpyo—the tallest two from each class stood facing each other across the half-line to jump for the tip-off competing for the first attack. The two were expressionless as if pretending to be unbothered.

As the referee threw the ball up into the air with a whoosh, both leaped simultaneously. Jaemin gave it his all as well, but he couldn’t overcome the height difference after all. Hitting Seungpyo’s hand, the ball flew away and safely became Class 4’s possession. It was Class 4’s first attack.

Jaemin immediately ran down under Class 2’s basket. The one task Jaemin was asked to do by his friends today was to take the center position and guard under the basket. It was an important role: when on offense, taking a position under the opposing team’s basket to receive passes and shoot, and when on defense, blocking the opposing team’s shots or rebounding under his own team’s basket.

His classmates emphasized that the rest of them would take care of things themselves, so he should just guard under the basket no matter what. Saying that guarding just under the basket wasn’t easy either. But still, since Jaemin was extraordinarily good considering it was his first time playing basketball, it would be possible.

Jaemin took his position under the basket, stood, and looked at Oh Seungpyo. The kids unanimously said that a tall person needed to play center for it to be advantageous. According to that theory, Oh Seungpyo should also guard under the basket like him, but Seungpyo didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.

‘Oh Seungpyo rarely plays under the basket because he says it’s boring. He’s just a free role. He does whatever he wants.’

During the last practice, a kid had explained it like that. Today too, Oh Seungpyo’s playstyle seemed slated to remain unchanged.

Class 4 passed the ball around without any hitch as soon as they started. Whether because they had practiced quite a lot, the passes were as natural as flowing water.

On the other hand, Class 2, which started with one person fixed under the basket from the beginning, had that much difficulty in defense. It was especially so against a player like Seungpyo who roamed the court freely. From the early stage, the kids turned their gazes here and there and shifted their positions to defend against Seungpyo and block openings as much as possible.

It would be most advantageous for Jaemin, who was similar in height, to mark Seungpyo man-to-man, but the Class 2 kids had no intention of demanding too many roles from a beginner. Since they had explicitly asked Ryu Jaemin to guard under the basket, they intended to cover the other parts somehow with the remaining members.

“Ah!”

However, getting breached took only a moment. While the Class 4 kids exchanged passes, Oh Seungpyo, who had been continuously changing positions here and there empty-handed, found a hole in the court and took position during a very brief moment when the Class 2 kids let their guard down. Even though they said they were marking him stubbornly, the Class 2 kids couldn’t block Seungpyo, who suddenly dug into the gap.

Receiving the pass right away, Seungpyo tried a quick shot, and the ball flew so smoothly it was almost anticlimactic, passing through the net. Voices from both classes rose respectively.

“Ah, Oh Seungpyo is fucking good!”

“Annoying, seriously.”

Even while grumbling, the Class 2 kids reorganized their stance. Having conceded a goal, it was Class 2’s turn to attack this time. Jaemin crossed the court quickly and held his ground under the opposing team’s basket this time.

While running to change position, Jaemin glanced at Oh Seungpyo out of the corner of his eye. All the other Class 4 kids were gathering on this side of the court to defend, but Oh Seungpyo stood near the half-line without moving. Standing under the basket, Jaemin looked at Seungpyo’s large back view.

Class 2’s guard took charge of carrying the ball and started running. Except for the one person in charge of carrying, the rest of the Class 2 kids all moved to the opposite court, standing in positions in every corner to hold off the defense and prepare to receive the ball. As players from both teams gathered in one place, one half of the court became crowded.

The kid who was running while dribbling was helplessly blocked by the defense of Seungpyo, who was standing in the middle of the court. Seungpyo, who had long arms and legs, was advantageous not only on offense but also on defense.

When focusing on defense, it is common to step back as much as possible instead of stepping forward. Seungpyo’s play, holding his ground in the center of the court, was in itself a provocation toward the guard. As if trying to respond to that provocation, Class 2’s guard dribbled here and there trying to break through Seungpyo, but unable to bypass Seungpyo, who blocked his front firmly as if having read the direction, he ultimately had the ball stolen.

Before the kids could even let out a sigh, Oh Seungpyo charged forward. The Class 2 kids ran toward their own basket with all their might again, but it was insufficient to catch up with Seungpyo’s speed. Seungpyo, who ran leisurely across the empty court, scored once more. It was simple to a hateful degree.

“Woah!”

“See, I told you they’re not even a match.”

As a match even more overwhelming than expected unfolded, the watching students cheered in excitement. Even if super rookie Ryu Jaemin was said to play basketball a bit, there still seemed to be no possibility of beating Class 4, where traditional ace Oh Seungpyo was. Unless it were professional players or an athletic team, in basketball at the level general high schoolers played, the capacity of a single ace leading the team was the most important thing rather than strategy or teamwork.

Jaemin bit his lip slightly. Before discussing whether he could win or not, Jaemin couldn’t even properly clash with Seungpyo. No, to put it more cold-heartedly, he hadn’t even touched the ball yet. Clenching and unclenching his fists several times nervously, Jaemin’s expression sharpened.

It was Class 2’s attack again. The strategy was the same this time too. The guard carries the ball, and the remaining players receive passes to score. Since Class 2’s strategy didn’t change, Class 4’s defense was also the same. The guard was blocked by Oh Seungpyo once more, and while engaging in a pride battle with Seungpyo, he had the ball stolen in the exact same way this time too, easily conceding a goal. Conceding points in succession, the Class 2 kids lost patience and vied to raise their voices.

“Fuck, you keep getting it stolen by Oh Seungpyo! Stop trying to break through and pass it!”

“Got it, got it!”

When raw criticisms rained down from his allies, Class 2’s guard soon became humble. In the attack opportunity given once again, this time instead of trying to break through the defense alone, he immediately passed the ball to a friend who was waiting for it.

It was an opportunity grabbed with difficulty after only getting beaten as soon as it started. Exhibiting tremendous focus, the Class 2 kids continued a precise pass play they had never shown before. Ooh, exclamations from the crowd enveloped the court. Jaemin reached out his arm. Finally, the ball arrived in his hands.

Usually, when grabbing an opportunity to attempt a shot under the basket, many players are conscious of the defense trying to block them. Engaging in a battle of nerve while dribbling and shooting up when seeing a gap, or else passing to a player nearby to disrupt the defense once more. Class 4’s center also glared his eyes as soon as Jaemin caught the ball, trying to keep Jaemin in check.

However, Jaemin, who had just learned basketball, had no leeway to worry about other things or care about the defense. Only the fact that he had grabbed the opportunity he had been waiting for was important. Jaemin turned his body toward the basket, and without a moment’s hesitation, leaped up and threw the ball as he had learned.

A shot honest like a textbook, without any artifice or trickery, rather flustered the defense. The honestly shot ball flew honestly, and—

“Goal—!”

Along with a loud cheer, it passed through the basket honestly.

“Ryu Jaemin gets Class 2’s first goal!”

“Wow, fuck, isn’t that crazy?”

At the increasingly thrilling match aspect, spectators were swinging their fists or clapping their hands, immersing themselves in the game. Jaemin, who had finally fulfilled his role, also smiled brightly, unable to hide his joy.

“Nice job, Ryu Jaemin!”