Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 325: Yin Yang Knights vs. Shizi Dogs (9)

The third quarter finished, and along with that, Coach Muchen also called for a time-out.

"That’s our last one," Lina worriedly whispered. Since this was the most intense game they had played so far, with the Knights taking the momentum most of the time, Lina and Coach Muchen had called for time-outs more than necessary.

Coach Muchen nodded, his face determined.

"That’s why we’re putting everything into this," he said.

The players went back to the bench, with Kun sitting down and wiping his temples. Although he hadn’t done much, not even managing to score at all, he still felt pretty tired.

He let out a deep breath, expecting his time on the court to be over.

However, as the team gathered for the final stretch, Yuze stood by him, a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Kun," Yuze said.

Kun lifted his head in anticipation.

"You’re staying in."

Kun’s eyes widened in surprise. "But... I thought—"

Yuze shook his head, cutting him off. "No. You’re staying. We still need you out there."

He looked into his best friend’s eyes, knowing that this was something he needed to overcome. As much as Yuze wanted to win against his father, he wanted to give Kun, the person who knew all his troubles and had been at his side for three years, the boost of confidence that he needed.

The rest of the team nodded in agreement.

"That’s a good idea," Renren said. "I still need to rest my wrist."

Even Coach Muchen, who had been weighing the pros and cons, finally relented with a nod.

The message was clear.

It was a chance for Kun to overcome his insecurities.

The Nationals were looming, and if Kun couldn’t find his footing now, it might never happen.

Kun looked at Yuze, seeing the determination in his eyes. It was a look that said their shared dream of being champions wasn’t lost, but right now, Kun’s growth was just as important.

With that, Kun finally nodded.

"I’m going in, too," Kai said, tapping Jinping’s shoulder.

Jinping nodded and sat on the bench, also feeling breathless.

"Alright—our last time-out," Coach Muchen started off. "This is our last chance to turn the game around."

"I believe in you, guys. I believe that everything is pretty equal now. Our strategies are pretty much the same. At this point, the better player will win."

The boys nodded, and with that, they went back to the court. Experience more content on novelbuddy

The crowd cheered when they saw that Kai was back in the game.

"Mommy, that’s my favorite player!" the small boy exclaimed as Kai was shown on the screen.

The young mom didn’t respond, her eyes glued on the television. Initially, she only wanted to accompany her son to watch the game, not really expecting to enjoy it.

However, at the moment, she was engrossed more than ever!

Kai reentered the game, wiping sweat from his brow. Despite the brief rest, he was still catching his breath.

"The final quarter of the finals has finally begun! We’ve come a long way, and in ten minutes, we’ll finally know who will reign on top," Mark said.

As the final quarter began, Kai focused on the task at hand. Max Zhou was formidable, but he wasn’t invincible. Kai needed to push harder, go beyond his own limits, and force Max to do the same.

Max received the ball, eyes sharp and focused. He dribbled, scanning for an opening, but Kai shadowed him, staying tight. Max made a sudden move, lunging forward, but Kai anticipated it. He leaped, hand outstretched, and blocked Max’s shot cleanly. The crowd erupted into cheers, the sound echoing through the gym.

Mark Li’s voice boomed over the speakers, capturing the excitement. "What a block by Kai! He’s not letting Max get an easy shot this last quarter!"

The ball rebounded into Kun’s hands, but he was quickly double-teamed. Kun passed to Yuze, who dribbled up the court with Andy running alongside. The Shizi Dogs set up their offense. Kai positioned himself at the top of the key, watching the defense shift. He motioned for the ball, and Yuze obliged.

Kai faced Max again, feeling the pressure but also a strange calm. He feinted left, then drove right, a burst of speed taking him past Max. He jumped, twisting mid-air to avoid a defender, and released the ball with a smooth, practiced flick. It sailed through the air, the crowd silent with suspense, and swished through the net.

75-72.

"And Kai scores! A beautiful shot!" Mark Li shouted. "The Shizi Dogs are coming alive in this final quarter!"

Kai could see it—the slight slowing down of Max’s movements.

Max was battling his own limits.

And Kai was determined to push him past them.

The Knights quickly inbounded the ball, moving with urgency. Max received a pass and tried to drive past Kai, but Kai stayed in front of him. Max pulled up for a mid-range jumper, but Kai was there, hands up. The shot missed, and Yuze grabbed the rebound.

The Shizi Dogs moved the ball up the court swiftly. Kun, still unsure but determined, found himself with the ball. He hesitated for a moment, then drove toward the basket. The defense closed in, and Kun passed to Jet, who was open at the three-point line. Jet caught the pass, squared up, and launched the shot. The ball arced perfectly and dropped through the net.

Jet’s eyes widened in surprise, obviously not expecting to make the shot. It seemed like the game was pushing everyone to their limits.

75-75.

"Jet for three! The gap is now down to zero," Mark said, nearly falling out of his chair.

The crowd was on their feet.

The Knights moved quickly, trying to regain their rhythm. But Kai was everywhere, pressuring the ball handler, contesting every shot. Max tried to break free, but Kai stayed with him, unyielding.

The Knights managed to get a shot off, but it missed. The rebound bounced high, and Kun, despite his earlier hesitation, leaped up and grabbed it. He quickly passed to Kai, who pushed the ball up the court.

The crowd was roaring at that point, urging Kai to shoot.

"Is it finally their time to surpass the Yin Yang Knights?" Mark asked.

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Coach Guanyu stood from his seat, shaking his head, and muttered under his breath.

"Don’t."

"Don’t let him do it," he muttered.

Despite the distractions, Kai didn’t slow down.

The only thing he could see was the goal.

With that, he threw the ball high in the air from the free-throw line, not allowing anyone to get close to him.

It seemed like everything slowed down, and the audience’s cheers slowly became clear.

Then, the scoreboard ticked—75-77.

Kai did it.

Max had finally maxed out.