Chapter 119: The Boy's Transformation

After witnessing that scene, everyone’s mood grew heavy.

As the referee’s whistle blew, the game resumed.

“To complete this match perfectly is the responsibility of both our teams.”

Longhua switched a guard. Compared to Luo Datai, he was stronger with the ball but significantly weaker on defense.

Because of his friend’s injury, Fan Zenghui bore greater responsibility. His touch gradually warmed up again, once more displaying the invincible form he showed in the first quarter.

On the other side, Ming Han, who had been tightly guarded by Luo Datai, suddenly felt the defensive pressure ease when faced with a new defender. He scored repeatedly on offense, helping Jinhua cling to the score.

In this quarter, Fan Zenghui scored 14 points, while Ming Han added 10.

Unlike before, three of Ming Han’s baskets came from drives into the paint. The ongoing rivalry with Luo Datai had greatly improved his ability to hold his ground, so he was now willing to attack the paint.

The final quarter!

Jinhua was trailing by seven points.

The coach, Hei Ren, clapped his hands, encouraging everyone.

This was the battle for a spot in the finals—no one wanted to lose.

Many spectators had already risen to their feet, watching the duel at center court with excitement.

Longhua struck first, scoring in two consecutive offensive waves.

Jinhua refused to fall behind; during the three minutes Fan Zenghui rested, they scored repeatedly on fast breaks.

Jinhua had been relentlessly attacking all game, exhausting both teams’ stamina. It was impossible for five players to run the full length of the game.

Jinhua’s substitutes hadn’t had many chances to play during this Challenge Cup, but when facing the county’s best team, they showed no fear, directly shattering the opposing defense.

Most of them were leaders in their own class teams—perhaps not as strong as starters but equally formidable.

After Wu Jianhao made a beautiful mid-range jumper, Longhua’s coach immediately called a timeout.

“Can’t play without the starters?”

The Longhua substitutes felt wronged. For this Challenge Cup, the coach had trained the five starters to be like an impregnable fortress. But for the substitutes, training time and team chemistry were short, so naturally, their play was chaotic.

This was also Hei Ren’s wisdom—he always believed that as long as someone was part of the basketball team, there would be moments to contribute, so everyone should be treated equally.

He once earnestly told his players, “Look at those benchwarmers in the NBA—they wave their towels with such artistry and uniqueness, full of spirit. Everyone has their chance to shine.”

Ming Han agreed with Hei Ren’s philosophy but found the towel-waving example somewhat hard to accept. Could waving a towel really be so impressive?

With six minutes remaining, Fan Zenghui’s stamina was not well restored. He had barely rested in the first three quarters! Yet there was no choice—the two teams were about to fight the final decisive battle.

Who would have expected Jinhua to play such an exhausting barrage?

“Zenghui, hold on!” Longhua’s coach was helpless. The score was nearly deadlocked, and if Jinhua surged again, the game would likely be sealed.

Fan Zenghui stood, ready. “No problem. I promised that kid I’d make Jinhua cry.”

Jinhua’s performance today was truly outstanding. Both starters and substitutes pushed hard, nearly driving Longhua to the brink.

Some fans who had predicted the score online now sat in the stands, their faces flushed. “Wow, Longhua’s not in good form today!”

Others glanced disdainfully at them. Anyone with a bit of basketball sense could tell Longhua was playing with great effort.

Once Fan Zenghui returned to the court, he stabilized the situation. Hei Ren also gradually brought in the starters for the final showdown.

In the last half quarter, every possession was closely watched. Fan Zenghui shockingly made only one shot out of four attempts in four minutes.

Jinhua’s fast-break points weren’t many either. The two sides remained deadlocked with thirty seconds left.

Longhua led by one point.

Fan Zenghui was not a ball-handler; he preferred to hold his position and receive the ball for one-on-one plays.

Ming Han glanced at the stats board. “Oh! That big guy already has 35 points?”

Each following basket could decide the outcome.

Lin Shan lowered his stance, blocking every possible breakthrough route for Fan Zenghui.

Fan Zenghui took a probing step, dribbled forward low, then swiftly pulled back and spun for a jump shot—swish!

Up by three!

Eighteen seconds remained.

Many sighed; victory seemed nearly impossible for Jinhua.

Hei Ren called a timeout to set the final strategy.

Qiang Ge inbounded the ball!

Yu Hang continuously ran around screens. Ming Han, as the last line of defense, blocked Fan Zenghui’s pursuit.

Yu Hang caught the ball beyond the three-point line and shot immediately—

“Bang!”

Iron.

Had the game been lost?

Lin Wei and Lin Shan boxed out, leaping high—

The crowd swarmed under the basket, fighting for the rebound.

Every passing second worked more against Jinhua.

Finally, Qiang Ge tapped the ball, guiding it to a favorable spot for him to grab.

With less than five seconds left, Qiang Ge controlled the rebound and bounced the ball to Ming Han beyond the arc.

Ming Han didn’t shoot immediately. The pass was rushed; he didn’t catch it cleanly.

He dribbled low once, then pulled up for a jump shot.

The ball was still in midair as time expired.

“Is it a tie or a loss?”

“Swish!”

It went in!

Tied—into overtime?

“Foot on the line, two points. Longhua High School wins!”

Ming Han froze.

He felt good about the shot and believed he had once again saved his team.

But the referee’s call sealed the game’s fate.

Longhua High School’s students erupted in cheers. They had narrowly escaped defeat.

Jinhua’s players, though disappointed, still stood and applauded Ming Han and their teammates.

They had reached the semifinals—though tinged with regret, it was Jinhua’s best record yet.

Moreover, the team that stopped Jinhua was the strongest in recent years. Even they had almost been pushed to the brink by Jinhua.

Everyone agreed that Jinhua had lost with honor. Few had predicted such a result.

Ming Han still stood dazed beyond the three-point line, eyes fixed on the basket.

“Was it a failure?”

No one blamed him. He made the last shot. They simply lost to luck.

Yu Hang glanced at the stats board; Ming Han’s numbers stood out: 25 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists.

From this game, Ming Han was clearly Jinhua’s best player.

A year ago, when Yu Hang first coached Ming Han, he never imagined the boy would improve so rapidly—nearly catching up to or even surpassing him.

Every teammate came over, gently embracing Ming Han.

Qiang Ge even ruffled his hair. “Bro, you kept every promise you made to me.”

At the district tournament, Ming Han had suddenly burst forth, singlehandedly overwhelming Class Seven. Qiang Ge joked then, “If you don’t perform like this in the Challenge Cup, you’re done for.”

In the three matches of the Challenge Cup so far, Qiang Ge had witnessed the boy’s performance.

He would stand tall when the team was in crisis, patting his chest, saying, “I’ll lead you all to victory.”

He would put up the most well-rounded stats against the county’s strongest team.

So Ming Han answered Qiang Ge with his actions.