As Miuradai leads 22 to 8, Shohoku finally sends its best players out to court.

At the game against Miuradai, the key players--Hanamichi, Rukawa, Ryota, and Mitsu--are left on the bench.

Mitsui, who changes his ways, rejoins the basketball team.

Mitsui's downfall...

After Kogure's confession, Hanamichi and the others learn of Mitsui's glorious past as a star basketball player entering high school.

Youhei and Sakuragi's Gang come to the rescue to defeat Mitsui and his gang.

Rukawa can no longer put up with Mitsui who is doing whatever he pleases.

As Hanamichi and Ryota become friends, Mitsui brings the thug, Tetsuo, to the gym during practice.

The battle between Hanamichi and Ryota continues...although Hanamichi starts it by playing dirty, and the fight is nothing more than a childish fight.

The guy who Ohkusu and Youhei glare at is a second year guard of the basketball team, Ryota Miyagi.

Hanamichi is still shocked after their loss to Ryonan but gains encouragement through Haruko's words.

In deperation to hold off the raging Ryonan, Shohoku uses Hanamichi and Rukawa to double team on Sendo.

With Akagi's return, Rukawa resting on the bench, and Hanamichi remembering the fundamentals of rebounds. Shohoku regains momentum.

Rukawa, who dominated in rebounds, brings Shohoku up to 70 to 67.

Hanamichi enters the game with 9 minutes left in the 2nd half. With the loss of Akagi, Coach Taoka believes the game is over.

The first half of the game ends with a score of 50 to 42 and Ryonan continues to overwhelm Shohoku.

The match begins and Shouhoku quickly lets the other opponent score.

Sparks quickly begin to fly between Akagi and Uozumi - the showdown has already begun.

A person appears in the gym where Hanamichi is practicing alone.

During an early morning special training session, Hanamichi earnestly listens to Haruko's lessons.

Hanamichi feels himself increasingly attracted to basketball, and he begins to take the sport more seriously.

At the judo dojo, Hanamichi meets with Aota and is enticed into joining the judo club after being offered a photograph of Haruko.

One rainy day Akagi learns from the captain of the Judo club, Aota, that the Judo club is plotting to recruit Hanamichi.

The pick-up game match between the freshmen and upperclassmen continues to heat up.

Hanamichi absorbs the lessons like a sponge and continues to become a respectable member of the basketball team.

Though one week has passed since the rookie, Hanamichi, is accepted into the team, he finds himself practicing dribbling in the corner of the court.

Riding high on his victory over Akagi, Hanamichi breaks into the team locker room and wears Akagi's uniform.

Gori and Hanamichi's confrontation continues, and the condition for the 1 on 1 game is set.

Rukawa, the object of Haruko's affection, runs into Hanamichi on the school roof.

Hanamichi Sakuragi, an entering Shohoku high school freshman holds a record for being rejected by 50 girls during middle school.