There were 9.7 seconds left until the historic victory, but…
In the women’s third round of the 2025 6th National U15 Basketball Championship Keio Jr. Winter Cup 2025-26, ONE (Shizuoka) challenged Kyoto Seika Gakuen (Kyoto), who were aiming for their third consecutive championship title, but lost 73-77 in a close battle that went into overtime.
ONE was leading by two points with 9.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. After their own timeout, they chose to inbound from the front court, and if they had been able to keep the ball, they could have won the game.
However, Kyoto Seika Gakuen’s energetic defense prevented them from allowing any passes. I managed to avoid a violation and pass the ball, but the receivers got mixed up with each other and caused a turnover. Kyoto Seika Gakuen started a fast break and #15 Anibog Jennifer Chinaza made a buzzer-beating layup, sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, Kyoto Seika Gakuen took the lead with #12 Aiki Sugimoto’s 3-point shot and took control from beginning to end, not allowing a comeback until the very end. For ONE, it was a loss that they can’t regret.
“We could have changed history in just a little while…”
Coach Nami Ishikawa is devastated by the defeat.
However, the ace, #9 Kazu Kamiya, who was marked in the international student center, set up a drive from the outside, created gaps with kickouts and makeshift plays, and scored one after another. The team was able to break down the opponent’s defense with a flowing offense and take a 43-30 lead in the first half, proving that the plan against Kyoto Seika Gakuen was executed perfectly. Coach Ishikawa also praised the players, saying, “In the first half, we had a great flow with some shots.It was a really good game of basketball.”
At the same time, he said, “In the second half, when our shots started falling and we were wondering what to do with our offense, we stopped moving.” Accumulated fatigue gradually dulled our bodies and minds, and the 13-point lead at halftime quickly disappeared.
Even so, ONE’s strength lies in its ability to gear up again and reverse the race once again. Kamiya says the reason for this is communication. “One of our team’s issues was that when shots didn’t go in, everyone kept quiet, so we kept saying, “Let’s not let that happen.” I think it was good that we were able to keep telling each other, “Shoots will go in.”
There was a player who made a big step forward with his words. #15 This is Keiko Sato.
Coach Ishikawa says, “Our team is originally a double ace team with Kamiya and Sato,” but in the first and second rounds, he was unable to make any of his signature shots, perhaps due to nervousness. On the eve of the third round, he lost confidence and cried at the hotel, saying, “My shot won’t go in anymore…” Still, Kamiya encouraged Sato by telling her, “I’ll get the rebound, so hit it,” and as a result, she rallied in the third round. He showed great success, scoring a team-high 25 points, including six 3-point shots. In particular, the two 3-point shots made with 2:29 and 37.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter were both valuable shots that extended the lead to two possessions.
Coach Ishikawa expressed his frustration at the team’s loss, saying, “This was also their ability.”
However, the “fact” that they pushed the queen to the brink does not change. “It’s an asset. With the team we spent a year building, there were parts that were effective against Kyoto Seika Gakuen, and parts that were lacking. It’s frustrating, but I think they played ONE basketball,” Coach Ishikawa answered calmly. Kamiya looked forward, saying, “I think we showed that even if we are small, if we have determination and shooting ability, we have a chance to win.”
Unfortunately, the Queen’s stronghold could not be destroyed. However, their fighting style must have given courage to many players. It can be said that it was a proud defeat.
