Shohoku are using Mitsui as there center of attack. Though Ichinokura is marking Mitsui tightly, Mitsui manages to shoot 3 times 3 pointers in. Anzai notes that the present Mitsui has surpassed the past self. An excellent pass to Akagi opens up the chance for his infamous 'Gorilla Dunk'. Kawata doesn't like the attitude that Akagi carries, and repays the dunk with a jump shoot. Kawata has in the past took on position of small forward and since his increase in height during secondary school, he has now become a center for Sannoh. Ryota has the ball and Fukatsu tries to steal, but nimble Ryota swings away and runs in for an up lay shot. At the moment Eiji jumps up and swats the ball away, the ball rebounds off Hanamichi's face and scores into the basket. Everyone is shocked and Ryota and Hanamichi both play trick on Eiji saying it was all planned. Hanamichi is subbed off because of a nose bleed, but no sooner it stops and he is subbed back on. Rukawa now faces Eiji, with a glance of the eyes Eiji fools Rukawa and scores with an up lay shot. Rukawa repays the debt with his own show of skill. Fukatsu and Kawata rallies Eiji to get serious or get subbed off. Eiji babbles to Rukawa about not making any more mistakes again, and ends up missing a pass. Fukatsu subs off Eiji with Minoru Matsumoto, and Rukawa too is subbed off by Anzai sensei with Kogure. Marking Hanamichi, Mashiro Nobe is subbed off too, because he injured his hand trying to defend against Rukawa. Replacing him is Kawata's younger brother Mikio Kawata, 210 cm 130kg. Hanamichi finds to his horror he cannot stop Mikio from advancing under the basket and scoring. However Shohoku still are leading by 5 points and Sannoh's coach Doumoto calls for a time out. Anzai sensei decide to Hanamichi as the center of attack, Mitsui will be closely marked so he can no longer score. Everyone is shocked, but Hanamichi is overjoyed at his starring role. Doumoto on the other hand decided to use Mikio as their offensive point. As the match resumes, Hanamichi decides to show Mikio who is the strongest and ends up getting penalized. Still Mikio manages to always push back Hanamichi and score, if he doesn't his brother Masafumi will come up and dunk it in. Thus bringing the score to only a 1 point gap, 19 to 18 Shohoku still leading. Akagi realizes Hanamichi's intent and tells him to sink his stance and center his weigh more. In the past Hanamichi has proven that he can take on Uozumi, which proves strength wise he is capable of stopping Mikio. It works and Hanamichi stops Mikio's advance. Also Hanamichi realizes that Mikio is only capable of scoring near to the basket. With Mikio failing to score Hanamichi reverses the attack, and scores. If it were down to speed and skill Hanamichi is a much more capable player than Mikio. By halftime Shohoku are still leading 36 to 34. Sannoh are back on court, and Anzai sensei tells his team that the true match is about to begin. In just less than a minute, Sannoh's Eiji scores a 3 pointer reversing the lead to Sannoh 37 to 36.