Chapter 117: Emptiness

The match begins!

Qiangge secures the opening possession. Yuhang sprints straight toward the basket, and Qiangge delivers a powerful bounce pass, allowing Yuhang to finish with an easy layup.

It was a lapse in judgment by Longhua. They hadn't expected Jinhua to be so decisive; had Qiangge lost the tip-off, the Longhua point guard would have had a clear path to the rim.

The subsequent possession fully revealed the tactical nature of Longhua. With their point guard holding the ball on the perimeter, the other three players spaced the floor, and Fan Zenghui cut from the baseline to the high post to receive the pass.

Lin Wei was not at a height disadvantage against Fan Zenghui, but Fan’s physical prowess was explosive. Holding the ball, he leaned into Lin Wei with his shoulder, crushing his way toward the basket. Lin Wei was forced backward repeatedly, the strength gap too immense. Fan Zenghui powered through for a layup.

This was the style of a true big man, yet Fan Zenghui’s capabilities were not limited to just that. After Jinhua failed to score on their next trip, Fan received the ball again. He scanned for Qiangge, who was already hovering near the basket on the opposite side. Fan knew that if he attempted the same move as before, Qiangge would undoubtedly be waiting under the rim.

With a quick jab step, Fan Zenghui pulled up for a jump shot.

The commentator sighed, "Fan Zenghui handles this repertoire with the same ease as Carmelo Anthony in the NBA."

Having conceded four consecutive points to Fan Zenghui, all from individual plays, Lin Wei’s expression soured. Meanwhile, Jinhua began to grasp the true terror of Fan Zenghui: he was a threat both inside and out.

Today, Longhua’s defense against Jinhua’s passing lanes was suffocating; Jinhua committed two turnovers in just half a quarter. These errors proved costly, even resulting in a fast-break three-pointer for Fan Zenghui.

14-4!

That was the score halfway through the first quarter. Aside from the opening bucket and a turnaround jumper by Ming Han over Luo Datai, Jinhua had been held scoreless.

"Everyone says Longhua is strong, but few analyze why," the commentator observed. "In my view, all their offensive tactics are built upon a formidable defensive foundation."

Many in the crowd had an epiphany. Every play Jinhua attempted was effectively stifled by Longhua High. For instance, whenever Ming Han tried to facilitate from the high post, Longhua’s defenders would bypass the screeners and stand directly in his driving lane. The message was clear: they would concede the long-range shot but nothing else. Because of this strategy, Ming Han’s high-post play was rendered useless.

Fan Zenghui, meanwhile, did as he pleased throughout the first quarter. Ming Han, Lin Wei, and Lin Shan all took turns guarding him, yet none could contain him.

Thirteen points in a single quarter! The entire Jinhua team had only managed ten, trailing by fourteen.

"This game is over before it even started," many lamented.

Da Xu was on the verge of tears. "This doesn't make sense! How can Jinhua be losing like this? My meal money!"

As the first quarter ended, the Jinhua players looked utterly dejected. They had hoped that since they could beat No. 1 High, they would at least be competitive against Longhua. They hadn't expected the gap to be this wide.

"The Black Man" (Coach) clapped to encourage them. "The game has just begun! Don't lose heart yet. We are surely not as bad as the stats suggest."

Lin Shan sighed, "Coach, don't try to comfort us. We can feel the gap on the court. Every tactic we run is disrupted, while they just kill us with individual plays."

It was true. For most of the first quarter, Longhua’s tactic was simply to clear the floor and let Fan Zenghui go to work.

"So, a one-man team really can demolish an entire squad," Lin Wei said, his confidence shattered. "I thought lone heroes like Kobe only existed in the NBA!"

Lin Wei’s individual skill was top-tier, especially his first step, but against Fan Zenghui, he struggled to get open and couldn't stop his man on the other end, leaving him demoralized. The coach watched the boys sink into despair, deeply concerned. Losing wasn't the tragedy; losing their spirit was.

"Alright! Let's stop talking about how to defend Fan Zenghui," the coach said. Everyone knew that was the main problem, so they were shocked to hear him give up on it.

"Our strategy for the second quarter is to force Fan Zenghui to give up the ball—by any means necessary."

This tactic was common against teams centered around a single star. Lock down the best player and make the others beat you; their efficiency would surely be lower.

Ming Han looked skeptical. "Coach, Longhua isn't just a one-man show. Every one of them is capable." It was true; aside from their center, all five Longhua players were skilled scorers.

The coach replied calmly, "It doesn't matter. Outside of Fan Zenghui, none of them have an advantage over any of you."

The logic seemed shaky, but Ming Han realized what the coach was doing: he was building their confidence.

"You are no worse than anyone else. A person's true opponent is always themselves." It was a hollow platitude, yet it held truth. "Treat Fan Zenghui as an outsider. Can you beat the other four?"

"Yes!" the team shouted with renewed spirit.

As they stepped back onto the court, the gloom had vanished from the Jinhua players. Fan Zenghui noticed the change in their demeanor and muttered, "Jinhua’s coach truly lives up to his reputation."

Luo Datai laughed from the sidelines. "Those hot-headed kids probably don't know how legendary their coach was back in the day."

"Right! That’s a man who almost made it to the national team," another player added. "I just wonder, does a life as an ordinary teacher really make him happy?"

Longhua’s coach had occasionally mentioned these things to Fan Zenghui, adding, "I was a huge fan of his back then. I worshipped the guy."

In the second quarter, Jinhua followed the strategy. Whenever Fan Zenghui touched the ball, he was immediately double-teamed. Qiangge stood his ground in the paint to cover for the defensive lapses.

It wasn't a perfect strategy, but because Fan Zenghui stopped scoring, Longhua’s offensive momentum stalled. Seizing the opportunity, Jinhua scored two consecutive baskets.

This was the weakness of role-playing teams: if the primary engine stopped firing, they lacked the ability to generate explosive offense on their own.

Longhua’s coach watched the scene, baffled. "We still have a double-digit lead. You keep leaving one of our players wide open—you’re never going to close the gap that way!"