This summer’s Inter-High quasi-V Teikyo Nagaoka defeated Kobayashi 87-68, deciding to enter the top four for the first time in three years.

I made a rhythm from the sticky defense of the characteristic, and when the “engine” of the leg strength warmed up, I pushed it to the third quarter (Q) at once. C Kone Bowgozy Dit Hamed (2nd year) struggled with 30 points and 30 rebounds. With a reversal from the 1st Q18-19, this tournament’s minimum goal. On the 28th, he will advance to the semi-finals for the first time.

The devoted defense drew the flow of the game. He stopped the opponent’s speedy running and took the initiative in the match. At the start, most of the long shots on the outside angle were “unexploded ordnance”, but inside there was a “guardian deity under the goal” connection. In the 2nd Q, which was reached from 18-19, the team was inspired by 9 points in a row. The international student ace decided and the team got into gear. At the end of the 3rd quarter, it was pushed out at once with 70-48.

Home art and sticky defense were the key points of victory. The lifeline of a team that has no well-known players since junior high school is a muddy defense. The average height of Japanese players, excluding the 205 cm Mari international student Kone, is 177.3 cm. Compensating for the disadvantageous condition of no size was the unstoppable legs and the strong body. Shibata says, “If you don’t have the physical strength, it’s just a small team.” With 30 points and 30 rebounds, Kone said, “Everyone spoke out and everyone defended and did their best.”

I cultivated stamina that can run for 40 minutes through regular training. It was also rough to spend an hour strengthening the leg strength that creates a persistent defense. There was also a menu with one member in front and one more on his back to dash. “I’ve been trying to do what I can, rather than what I can’t do,” said Shibata. That was the traditional defense.

The location of the school, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, is promoting “town development by basketball” when Niigata of the B League is based. Nagaoka National College of Technology won the national technical college tournament (Miyagi) in November. “We also want to do our best and make a mark in the city of basketball,” said Shibata. With two more wins, he will continue to win the national championship at Nagaoka National College of Technology.[Mikio Wakui]

◆ TV Broadcast The men’s final will be broadcast live on TV Asahi terrestrial broadcasting from 1:00 pm on December 29, and the women’s final will be broadcast live on BS Asahi from noon on December 28.