Chapter 21 Ridley High School Basketball Arena

On the 21st, at Ridley High School's basketball arena.

Lower Merion faced their third opponent in the division playoffs: the defending champion, Ridley High School, who had dominated Pennsylvania for the past six years.

Although Lower Merion had defeated Ridley High School in a friendly match, Ridley was, after all, an established Pennsylvania powerhouse, and since Lower Merion was playing on the road this time, many Philadelphia media outlets were still more optimistic about Ridley High School avenging their previous defeat before the game started.

Speaking of which...

Perhaps this was the will of 7.

Because in Su Feng's previous life, Ridley High School also failed to defend their title this year.

In the midst of fate, there is the will of 7.

However, since the opponent was the defending champion, Su Feng was very much looking forward to this game before it started.

Every day, the first thing I do when I wake up is cheer for my opponent.

…

Ridley High School's basketball arena. After the starting lineups of both teams stepped onto the court, Kobe, the most airborne ironclad train in Philadelphia, walked to the center circle, ready to jump for Lower Merion.

Lower Merion still sent out Lassman, Stewart, Su Feng, Kobe, and Swartz as their starters today.

On the Ridley side, the only change from the friendly match was the replacement of their starting shooting guard.

Today, Ridley's starting five were: Larson, Tinsley, Williamson, Kenny, and Goodman.

During warm-up, Su Feng noticed this black kid named Kenny. He wasn't tall, estimated to be under 180 centimeters, but his wingspan was excellent. He could run and jump, but his skills were very rough.

On the court, during the jump ball, Kobe failed to defeat Larson, who was taller than him. Ridley High School went into a set offense, with Goodman organizing the first attack.

The last time the two teams played each other, Williamson was completely locked down by Su Feng, so Su Feng was still assigned to defend Williamson today.

Clearly, Ridley High School's coach, Fernandez, had learned from the previous crushing defeat. Therefore, today, he switched the team's main offensive point to the German point guard, Goodman.

Outside, Goodman and Larson ran a pick-and-roll. After Larson cut to the basket, he attracted Kobe's help defense. Goodman faced Swartz and attempted a contested fadeaway jumper, but the basketball bounced off the rim.

Su Feng grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Kobe.

It was Lower Merion's turn to attack. Just as Su Feng was running towards the frontcourt, he suddenly noticed that the black point guard named Kenny was rushing straight at him.

On the sidelines, Ridley High School's coach, Fernandez, immediately revealed a "How's that? You're suffering now, aren't you?" expression. Clearly, this Kenny was specifically assigned to deal with Su Feng today.

Because the last time the two teams played each other, Su Feng's terrifying long-range attacks had once destroyed Ridley High School's perimeter defense.

Kenny wasn't tall, but his wingspan exceeded 195 centimeters, and he was fast. He wouldn't be at a disadvantage against Su Feng.

On the court, looking at Kenny's incredibly focused eyes and positive defensive attitude, Su Feng almost ran to the sidelines to give Fernandez a big hug.

A relative! This is!

"Can't be too excited, stay calm!"

Su Feng feigned composure, then actively ran to the low post, reaching out to his teammates for the ball.

Kobe, who had the ball, observed the height difference between Su Feng and Kenny, and decisively passed the ball to Su Feng.

It had to be said that this shooting guard named Kenny was indeed an excellent defender.

Although Su Feng had never heard of him in his previous life, Su Feng figured that this kid's height probably limited his development.

Su Feng's strength was average, so his post moves generally relied on a quick turnaround fadeaway. Just as Su Feng turned around to prepare for a fadeaway jumper, Kenny lightly pushed him.

It was difficult for the referee to judge whether this action was a foul, and it wouldn't cause any harm to Su Feng, but it would greatly reduce his stability in the air during the turnaround.

One had to know that with a turnaround fadeaway, the slightest change in your movement could lead to a completely different result.

Clang!

Su Feng's fadeaway became a brick.

Clang!

On the court, after Su Feng's fadeaway shot missed, Kobe followed up from the middle, leaping high and throwing down a putback dunk over Larson!

Nice!

2-0. In Su Feng's view, this was the most perfect ending.

He not only gained iron points, but also successfully assisted Kobe in scoring two points and getting a rebound through a rebound assist.

Actually, Kobe was too familiar with Su Feng. So, after seeing Su Feng's fadeaway motion deformed, Kobe began preparing to rush for the offensive rebound.

Don't doubt Kobe's dominance in Pennsylvania during his high school days, because in Su Feng's previous life, during Kobe's senior year, in addition to averaging 30.8 points, he also averaged 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals, and 3.8 blocks.

To put it bluntly, Kobe, whether inside or outside, was a complete killing machine in high school.

Kobe's putback dunk drew gasps of amazement. As a basketball powerhouse, the students of Ridley High School were naturally well-informed, but...

It was true that steel Garurumon like Kobe were not common.

Turning around, Ridley High School attacked. This time, Goodman drove past Swartz for a layup, 2-2.

Swartz's height and weight couldn't compare to Goodman's, and Swartz had been performing best among the support players recently, so Kobe just patted him on the shoulder and didn't say much.

Seeing that Kobe didn't give him the death stare, Swartz felt much more at ease and began to fulfill his support role.

In the frontcourt, Su Feng still chose to go to the low post. Swartz, ‘feeling like he was the Pennsylvania Nash,’ fed the ball to Su Feng at the first opportunity.

With the previous successful defense, Kenny intensified his defense this time, constantly elbowing Su Feng in the kidneys.

Kenny's high-intensity defense almost made Su Feng cry.

Uh...

Don't get me wrong, Su Feng almost shed tears of excitement and emotion.

This was basketball! What was the point of a defense that had no physical contact and would collapse with the slightest touch?

In basketball, only head-to-head confrontation was the true path.

Otherwise, how would Su Feng demonstrate his way of steel?

Clang!

Under Kenny's interference, Su Feng's second fadeaway shot missed.

And this time, it was Kobe again...

He soared, gently tapping the ball, like Hanamichi Sakuragi in a manga, tipping the rebound over Larson's head.

Then, Kobe jumped again, grabbed the rebound, and spun past the defense in the paint with a waltz-like move.

Finally, he flicked the ball in with his fingertips, 4-2!

Although statistically, this play had nothing to do with Su Feng, Kobe still pointed at Su Feng after scoring.

Su Feng knew that Kobe was praising him.

Alas, it had to be said that the statistics of this era were too superficial. They didn't even record key data like rebound assists.

(Bah, shameless.)

"Su, his wingspan is long, don't force it." While retreating on defense, Kobe hurriedly reminded Su Feng, seemingly worried that Su Feng had misunderstood his meaning.

Su Feng nodded, thinking, "You can't shear all the wool at once."

Moreover, as a team-oriented player who never hogged the ball, Su Feng was very clear about his responsibilities.

But...

It was strange.

No, his luck stat was maxed out!

Because Su Feng, who had been on fire recently, actually received sincere blessings from the rim.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Su Feng missed all of his next four shots.

It should be noted that in addition to Kenny's interference assist, there was also one shot that was an absolute open look.

As everyone knew, the deliberate airball system wouldn't recognize it, so Su Feng was completely focused when shooting, and there was absolutely no intention to do it on purpose.

However...

"I don't believe it! (Rim, add oil!)" On the court, in the second quarter, Lower Merion attacked. Receiving a pass from Kobe, Su Feng smoothly dribbled past his defender and jumped up directly under the basket, preparing to bank in a shot.

Clang!

Su Feng: "..."

Seven consecutive misses!

Watching the system constantly remind him of the iron points he was gaining, Su Feng, with a "painful" expression, felt that he was about to suppress the joy in his heart and might burst out laughing at any moment.

'No, no, I have to control my expression,' Su Feng thought 'painfully.'

On the sidelines, although Ridley High School was behind at this time, Ridley High School's coach, Fernandez, was extremely happy because Kenny had successfully "defended" Su Feng.

Heh, you're the kid who crushed us last game, right?

Watch me send someone to kill you tonight!

However, what Fernandez didn't know was that in Su Feng's little notebook, he had already been regarded as "one of his own" by Su Feng.

A good person!

"Su, don't put too much pressure on yourself, relax, don't be discouraged. We're already ahead by a lot. I'll pass you the ball more to help you find your touch." On the court, Kobe, worried that Su Feng's confidence would be affected by missing his first seven shots, hurriedly comforted Su Feng while retreating on defense.

Unlike Su Feng, Kobe's state tonight could only be described as explosive. Before halftime, Kobe had already achieved a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

In fact, if Kobe's state wasn't good this game, Su Feng wouldn't have been so stubborn.

After all, in Su Feng's view, winning should still be the top priority.

But...

Looking at Kobe's encouraging eyes, Su Feng felt that he couldn't let down Kobe's good intentions.

"Don't worry, Kobe, I'm a shooter. I have the awareness of a shooter. Even if I miss my first seven shots, I'll keep shooting!" Su Feng patted his chest and assured Kobe.

Kobe nodded, revealing a gratified smile.

On the court, Ridley High School had a turnover, and Lower Merion launched a counterattack.

Kobe passed the ball to Su Feng at the first opportunity, because in Kobe's view, since Su Feng was in poor form this game, as his good friend, he had an obligation to help Su Feng find his form.

However...

Clang!

Under Kenny's interference, Su Feng, who threw the ball as soon as he received it, once again felt the love from Dad Rim!

Zero for eight to start!

Su Feng, who was zero for eight, had unknowingly achieved the terrifying "Half-Step Beast King Realm" achievement!

"It's a pity, it would be great if I could practice the 'Beast King Realm' in this game."

Although the data would be very ugly then, the data from one or two high school games didn't matter. Su Feng had plenty of time to刷 the data back.

It was worth mentioning that on the court, while retreating on defense, Kobe took the initiative to give Su Feng a thumbs up: "Just like that, shoot decisively, I'll keep passing you the ball."

Su Feng nodded gratefully, "I won't give up!"

…