Slam Dunk Theater: Episode 24

Episode 24

The Shohoku team are watching the video tape of a match between Sannoh and Kainan, with less than 5 minutes to go, Kainan are behind by 10 points 79 to 89. Everyone except for Hanamichi are daunted by how strong a basketball team Sannoh are. Anzai sensei breaks the bad news to everyone, of last year's Sannoh basketball team, there are still 3 Sannoh players that are present this year. Ryota is intimated by his opponent, Kazunori Fukatsu. By the time the match ended, Kainan were defeated 83 to 113. The shock of Kainan (Number 1 in their district) losing so badly. Hanamichi and Rukawa are more interested in Eiji Sawakita. Last year he was only a 1st year and he is also known as Japan's number 1 basketball player. At night time, Hanamichi still not asleep goes outside to get some fresh air. He sees Rukawa talking to Minami from Toyotama. Minami has come to see Rukawa and give him some ointment for his injured eye. Minami says that if Rukawa beats Eiji he has the claim to be Number 1 in Japan. Ryota on the other hand is walking with Ayako. The reason why Ryota lacks confidence is the players he marks are all taller than him, Ayako assures Ryota of any doubt about his own ability. Hanamichi jumps in and surprises both of them. All three walk back to the youth hostel and find Mitsui with Akagi and Kogure. Akagi says it has been a dream of his to fight against Strongest basketball team Sannoh (although in his dreams he never won). Next morning before the rest of the team are awake, Hanamichi goes off by himself to do some training. Scene switches to Sannoh on the previous night having a practice match against ex Sannoh players. This years Sannoh team won the match 46 to 24. Last years Sannoh team, has been rated Sannoh's strongest line-up in 10 years. However Aida's sister sees this claim falling on the shoulders of this year's team. Aida's sister meets up with the players who ask what kind of team are Shohoku like? Aida's sister replies that Shohoku aren't the same team as the team you practiced with. The players agree and decide to examine the Shohoku tape in more detail. Doumoto tells Aida's sister that the reason why they are strong is that they never underestimate the opponent. Watching the video tape, the Sannoh team search for weaknesses in the players. During the examination, Eiji's comments get to Masashi Kawata (Maru gori = round gorilla) and he ends up wrestling with Eiji. When they came to examine Hanamichi, his bad shooting and lack of concentration makes Sannoh wonder about his presence in the basketball team (just for the sake of it, they will give him some attention). Back to Hanamichi practicing in the morning, he is practicing his jump shoot. To some degree he has gained some certainty about the shot getting in or not. At the competition, Kainan are winning their first match, 48 to 20. 5 minutes to go in the first half. Meanwhile else where is commencing a match, Meihou against Jousei. Mikoshiba (Jousei captain) is horrified at the strength of Morishige (Meihou). Despite the fact that Jousei is ranked 8th in the nation, they are still losing badly to Meihou. When the first half of the Kainan match finished, Shohoku and Sannoh take the opportunity to practice. The audience cheers Sannoh and no support is given to Shohoku (main reason is that everyone wants Sannoh to win). With the pressure of the audience against them and Sannoh doing some really fanciful moves, Shohoku are performing badly. Scene switches to Meihou vs Jousei, Meihou won 102 to 56. The press are awestruck by Morishige Hiroshi, 50 points scored, 22 rebounds, 10 saves in just the match. As the Kainan match is about to resume the 2nd half, Hanamichi decides to show off. He runs with the ball and leaps from the penalty line. He flies to the basket, 10 feet along and 10 feet high and strikes the rim of the basket. His show off attempt fails. However Sannoh, note that he has incredible leaping ability. In order to calm the players down, Anzai sensei tells them that Sannoh have taken extra precautions against them. Ryota is being small is an advantage. Mitsui is marked by Satoshi Ichinokura (a well known defense player). The Shohoku players get back into the match, with full confidence, Kainan won their match 104 to 49. Another warm up begins, Hanamichi once again does the penalty line slam dunk and this time succeeds (however Hanamichi used the Sannoh basket). Sannoh doesn't like the attitude and decide to repay the favor. Eiji is about to do a slam dunk into the Shohoku basket, but Rukawa and Akagi both take a shot and distracted him. The slam dunk failed. As the match begins, Ryota and Hanamichi cooperating together, enables Hanamichi to do an incredible 'one hand Mid Air Dunk'. However Sannoh's captain Fukatsu isn't daunted and evens the score. Mitsui is helped by Akagi and gets in a 3 pointer. Score 5 to 2. But Sannoh quickly attack and bring the score 5 to 4. Mitsui is overflowing with confidence.


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