The moment Reese got the ball, DK fans erupted in cheers. He cut into the basket with a leap so high it made people want to scream. Nie Chuan’s face lit up with joy; it seemed Reese’s injury hadn’t affected his form. In fact, it made him even more explosive.
However, CBU’s center had strong adaptability under the basket. He jumped powerfully, his shout loud even amidst the fans’ cheers. Even if he couldn’t block Reese’s shot, he put immense pressure on it.
But Reese calmly pulled the ball back, his body forming a bow-like shape. Nie Chuan remembered learning his layup skills from Reese!
At that moment, Reese switched the ball to his left hand, seemingly about to dunk again. A figure cut into the basket like a blade, jumping with explosive power equal to Reese’s, fiercely blocking Reese’s left-handed dunk.
The court was filled with gasps!
Even Nie Chuan was stunned.
It was Owen Weshaw.
Wright followed closely, taking the blocked ball away.
In the stands, Larvin laughed, “Looks like Reese won’t be able to make CBU suffer in the last five minutes like last year.”
Nie Chuan chased after Wright, whose heart felt like a tightly stretched string. He knew Nie Chuan’s speed was incredible, able to match Raven’s, one of the fastest in the league.
But as Wright ran, feeling Nie Chuan closing in, the pressure was indescribable. This guy had transformed since their practice match, and Wright couldn’t shake him off.
Nie Chuan lowered himself, ready to steal the ball.
Wright, a seasoned veteran, sidestepped nervously, avoiding Nie Chuan’s reach, and passed the ball to small forward Christen just before losing his balance.
Like Nie Chuan, Christen was in his first NCAA year, but he was already well-known in high school basketball.
His dribbling was agile, using two consecutive fakes to get past Carlo and head straight for the basket, leaping high. His jump seemed like he had springs in his feet, making Nie Chuan look up.
Reese had already returned to the basket. Even if he jumped later than Christen, his jumping ability blocked Christen’s dunk, not to mention Heishan jumping simultaneously, forming an impenetrable wall. Christen had no chance of a successful dunk.
But as Heishan’s height decreased, Christen pulled the ball back, switched hands, and aimed for DK’s basket.
Reese, with his incredible hang time, turned to block Christen’s shot with his fingers. Christen was surprised; he knew Reese’s aerial control was legendary, but experiencing it firsthand was terrifying.
In the most dangerous moment, Christen passed the ball, and Owen was already there to receive it.
Facing Ewin and Carlo’s double block, Owen used a wide Euro step, first cradling the ball around Ewin and then lifting his elbow to avoid Carlo, jumping for a layup!
Just when everyone thought the ball would go in, a figure jumped from Owen’s left. The height surprised Owen, and the fierce momentum made him think it was Reese, but when he met the eyes, he realized it was Nie Chuan!
Owen had to switch the ball to his other hand, using momentum to pass under the basket, avoiding Nie Chuan, then hooked the ball back, smoothly scoring.
The play was brilliant and clever, and the audience erupted in cheers.
Ben exhaled, tugging at his collar, “Wow, Owen Weshaw is amazing!”
“Is he?” Sethston smiled, “If I were Owen, I’d be breaking into a cold sweat.”
“Why?”
“Do you remember where Nie Chuan was before he jumped?” Sethston asked.
“Seemed like he was guarding Wright…”
“To circle from Wright’s position to Owen’s side, controlling momentum, turning quickly, and jumping high enough to block Owen Weshaw—if you weren’t sweating, you have no sense of danger.” Sethston watched Nie Chuan steal the ball from Wright, “I think I’m starting to like this black-haired kid.”
Nie Chuan, having just stolen the ball from Wright, turned to face CBU’s small forward Christen.
This guy’s skills were formidable. Nie Chuan’s two consecutive fakes didn’t fool him. As Nie Chuan sensed someone approaching from behind, he kept his eyes on Christen but passed the ball behind him.
Christen was surprised, seeing Reese catch the ball and burst past his left side with absolute speed.
“Oh my, that’s so risky! How did Nie Chuan know it was Reese behind him?” Ben couldn’t understand.
“Because he knows Reese’s running sound,” Sethston replied, “I can also recognize your footsteps on the three-point line.”
“Huh? I can’t tell,” Ben regretted saying that as Sethston’s gaze turned cold.
Reese charged into the basket, jumping from a distance that made the crowd gasp. Could he really dunk from there?
CBU’s power forward Thomas was already on his way.
As Reese jumped, holding the ball on his left side, he moved it to his right hip, pausing time for a moment, and Thomas missed him.
But Owen had already jumped under the basket, ready to block Reese’s shot.
Reese switched from a dunk to a layup, sending the ball past Owen’s arm into the basket.
The fans screamed, almost overwhelmed.
Commentator Robert was stunned, “…In the NBA, I’ve rarely seen such long hang time… Reese Reddington might be in his prime.”
In the stands, Sethston frowned.
“He’s stronger than last year.”
As Reese landed, Nie Chuan caught the bouncing ball. Point guard Wright and small forward Christen moved to intercept, but Nie Chuan quickly stepped back, preparing to shoot with a perfect form.
A shot!
Nie Chuan rarely shot, but in the match against Raven Harvey, he’d shown his shooting ability.
Wright and Christen jumped together, but Nie Chuan hadn’t jumped at all, passing the ball to Ewin instead.
Ewin stepped back to the three-point line.
CBU’s power forward Thomas rushed over, jumping with an intent to block Ewin.
But Ewin didn’t shoot; he leaned back, executing a beautiful fadeaway, scoring another three for DK!
DK was now leading CBU by 5 points.
Ben scratched his head in the stands, “What do we do? Even Ewin’s become formidable! DK is super tough!”
But DK’s lead didn’t last long.
CBU got the ball, and Wright brought it past half-court, with Owen and Christen following. This made it hard for Nie Chuan, who excelled at stealing, to find an opportunity. Wright passed to Owen, who smiled at Ewin, using two quick shoulder fakes to get past him. As Ewin regretted, Owen faced Reese.
Owen’s rapid dribbling and direction changes didn’t shake Reese. Reese’s defensive skills surprised commentator Espenson.
“I thought Reese Reddington was a blade without a sheath, but I didn’t expect him to be a shield too.”
Owen didn’t continue to tangle with Reese. He stopped abruptly, passing to power forward Thomas, who had come to assist.
Thomas charged the basket, and Owen quickly turned, bypassing Reese. They both rushed towards Thomas.
Under Heishan’s defensive pressure, Thomas returned the ball to Owen.
Owen caught it, jumping almost simultaneously with Reese.
The audience held their breath, even the commentators stopped talking, afraid to miss the moment.
Owen, forming a dunking posture with both hands, transitioned the ball from Reese’s left block to the right, arching his back, protecting the ball, then reversed it into the basket.
“Beautiful!” Engel couldn’t help but shout.
Watching this, Nie Chuan realized Owen’s hang time was no less impressive than Reese’s. The change in direction was beyond reach.
The game continued, with CBU’s small forward Christen receiving Wright’s pass, charging the basket. Heishan was ready, and Christen jumped to shoot, avoiding Heishan, but Reese blocked from the side, disrupting Christen’s shot, which missed. As it bounced, Heishan and CBU’s center Pound jumped together.
Heishan and Pound both tapped the ball, and it bounced again. CBU’s power forward Thomas suddenly rushed in, grabbing it, while Carlo came to support Heishan, creating chaos under the basket.
At that moment, Thomas passed to Owen, with Reese and Nie Chuan defending from both sides. Owen suddenly accelerated into the basket, drifting past Heishan and Carlo with a feint, making a perfect upward floater, the ball smoothly landing in the basket.
The timing and execution were something only someone experienced and quick-reacting could achieve.
