Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

There was a shift in the momentum as the second half kicked off, and the commentators, Hailey and Kevin, couldn't help but express their excitement.

"Wow, did you see that? Kai Guo is reading the Guardians like an open book!" Hailey shouted.

"It's incredible," Kevin added, leaning forward in his seat. "The Shizi Dogs are moving like they've cracked the Guardians' code. Every play, every move—they're one step ahead."

On the court, the Guardians were doing everything in their power to bring the momentum back to them. Fang was trying to stay composed, but his frustration was growing with each possession. The game was slipping away, and he couldn't figure out why.

"It's happening!" Miss Cherry exclaimed from the front row. "I knew my boys would manage to pull through." Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

The Jilin locals were now more excited, wanting to see their home team compete with an elite team from a big city.

Calvin shook his head as he continued to watch the game. "What the heck," he muttered. "It's as if the first and second quarters didn't even exist. The Guardians are only leading by two points!"

Zheng nodded in agreement, his brows furrowed. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. He just couldn't pinpoint whether the ominous feeling was for the Guardians or the Dogs.

The ball was inbounded to Henry, who wasted no time getting the Guardians into their next play. He dribbled up the court with Jet on him, the Shizi Dogs' defense poised like a wall in front of him. The Guardians spread out into their usual formation, designed to stretch the defense and give Fang an open look.

"Here they go again, setting up that familiar spread," Hailey narrated. "But will it work this time?"

Henry faked left, looking for an opening, but Jet wasn't buying it. The Shizi Dogs weren't over-committing.

"Kai's right there, waiting for him!" Kevin exclaimed. "He's not letting Fang breathe."

Fang could feel the defense closing in, but he trusted the play. This was the setup

Rui told him to do. He glanced at the shot clock—time was running out. With no other option, he tried to make his move.

But Kai was ready. He read the crossover before Fang even made it, cutting off the drive and forcing him to pass back to Henry. The rhythm of the play was broken, and with the shot clock winding down, Henry was forced to take a contested three. The ball bounced off the rim.

"Missed! Another defensive stand by the Shizi Dogs!" Hailey's voice was filled with awe. "It's like they're reading their minds!"

Kai grabbed the rebound and immediately launched a pass down the court to Andy, who was already in position. Andy didn't hesitate, pulling up from beyond the arc and sinking the shot.

"Three points for Andy!" Kevin shouted. "The Dogs are clawing their way back into this!"

54-53.

For the first time in the game, the Shizi Dogs had surpassed the Guardians.

Fang clenched his fists as the ball was inbounded again. How were they reading every move?

Henry dribbled up the court once more, determined to make this possession count.

He called for a screen from Tingtai, hoping to free himself from Jet's relentless defense.

Jade, his friend, clenched his fists from the bench. They had watched Kai Guo's plays plenty of times, intrigued that someone from their year had become the talk of the town despite not being in a top-performing school. However, never in ten years did he expect for them to be having such a hard time against them!

Henry passes to Fang, but as soon as the ball touches Fang's hands, Kai is there, closing in fast. Fang had a split second to decide: shoot or pass. He faked the shot, trying to get Kai in the air, but Kai didn't bite. Instead, he positioned himself perfectly, cutting off Fang's drive once again.

Fang hesitated, and that hesitation was all Kai needed. He lunged forward, stripping the ball from Fang's hands.

"Oh! What a steal by Kai Guo!" Hailey nearly jumped from her seat. "He's in Fang's head right now!"

Kai didn't waste any time, sprinting down the court on a fast break. The crowd was on their feet as he soared toward the basket, slamming the ball through the hoop.

"Kai Guo with the dunk! The Shizi Dogs are unstoppable right now!" Kevin couldn't hide his amazement.

56-53.

Fang stared at the scoreboard, his frustration increasing with every second. How was this happening?

As the Guardians tried to set up their next play, the same pattern repeated itself. Tingtai tried to find an opening, but Jet was on him like glue. Fang moved off the ball, hoping to shake Kai, but Kai was always there, waiting, watching.

"Tingtai's trying to make something happen," Hailey commented, "but the Shizi Dogs aren't giving them anything."

Tingtai passed the ball to Henry, who looked for Fang again, but Fang was covered. Desperate, Henry took the shot himself, but it was a bad look. The ball bounced off the rim again, and this time, it was Renren who grabbed the rebound.

"Another miss by the Guardians!" Kevin said, shaking his head. "They're falling apart out there."

Kai brought the ball up the court, eyes locked on Fang. He could see the frustration in Fang's movements, the way he was starting to rush his decisions. Kai smirked to himself.

The Shizi Dogs ran their offense with precision, swinging the ball around the perimeter until it found its way back to Kai. He drove toward the basket, drawing the defense in, then kicked the ball out to Jet, who was wide open in the corner. Jet took the shot, and the ball sailed through the hoop with ease.

59-53.

"Jet for three!"@@novelbin@@

Jet jumped up for joy since he usually wasn't one to score three points.

Fang gritted his teeth as the Shizi Dogs celebrated the shot. How were they reading every move?

"Fang looks frustrated out there," Kevin noted. "You can see it in his face."

"Can you blame him?" Hailey replied. "The Shizi Dogs are reading every play like they've got the playbook right in front of them."

Rui glanced over at Kai, his eyebrows furrowing. The difference between them was like night and day. Kai wasn't rattled. He wasn't overthinking. He was just playing, and everything was falling into place for him.

'Why?' Rui thought. 'Why are they reading every move?'

As the next play began, the same pattern unfolded. The Guardians tried to execute Rui's strategy, but the Shizi Dogs were always one step ahead, anticipating their every move. Fang could feel the game slipping away and, with it, his chance at proving himself.

"No," he muttered.

"I need to win this."

"I need to—they need to come watch me."