May 7, 1995, Sunday. The third-place playoff of the Guangzhou Junior High School Boys' Basketball League was being held in the Basketball Gym of Tianhe Sports Center, with Xiaoda Middle School facing Guangzhou No. 54 Middle School. At the end of the third quarter, the score was tied at 76-all.
During the break, Coach Yang looked at his players and said sternly, "Why are you playing so poorly this year? You couldn't defend your championship title. Are you going to give up the third place too? Don't just focus on defense! Attack! Be aggressive!"
Then, he turned to Gao Xinglang and scolded, "Gao Xinglang, aren't you the 'Little Basketball Prince'? Why are you playing so badly today? Show me some leadership, okay?"
"Coach, the players from 54 Middle are tough to handle," Gao Xinglang lamented. "They don't seem that skilled individually, but their defense is somehow difficult to crack. And they always seem to be targeting me, Yu Xiaoming, and Lu Zhenming."
"That shows their teamwork is better than ours," Coach Yang analyzed. "Alright, in the fourth quarter, Gao Xinglang, Yu Xiaoming, and Lu Zhenming, the three of you should work together and attack aggressively. And the rest of you should set hard screens for them!"
At this time, the referee blew the whistle, and the fourth quarter began. Members of the Xiaoda team returned to the court.
"Go, Team Xiaoda! Go, Team Xiaoda!" Gao Xinglang heard the cheers from the audience and looked over to see Li Peiling and the other girls from his class waving pom-poms and cheering for the team, just like they had done in the first three quarters. He also spotted Guan Xuchen, who had somehow got a pom-pom and was waving with the girls. His movements were a bit clumsy, though, and he couldn't quite keep up with the rhythm. Gao Xinglang couldn't help but smile at Guan Xuchen. From a distance, Guan Xuchen caught sight of this and smiled back, waving his pom-pom with even more vigor and joining the girls from his class in a loud cheer, "Gao Xinglang, way to go; Gao Xinglang, go go go!"
Gao Xinglang was very happy and gave him a thumbs-up. But what he didn't notice was that the chant had been initiated by Li Peiling, who also gave him a thumbs-up with a smile.
In the fourth quarter, Yu Xiaoming quickly snatched the ball from a player of Team 54 Middle, but he was immediately surrounded by opposing players. With the basketball in hand, Yu Xiaoming executed a few feints, pretending to pass it to Gao Xinglang, who was closest to him. But then he abruptly spun around and passed the ball to Lu Zhenming, who was slightly farther away.
Lu Zhenming got the ball, and under the cover of his teammates, he dribbled the ball and sprinted towards the opponent's hoop at full speed. Most of the 54 Middle players were closing in on him, forming a human wall around him. Suddenly, Lu Zhenming dribbled backward and tossed the ball behind him.
Gao Xinglang was now standing just behind Lu Zhenming, and only one player from Team 54 Middle was guarding him. Gao Xinglang leaped with vigor into the air, shouldered aside the opposing player trying to intercept the ball, and secured it. Taking two quick dribbles, he jumped just beyond the three-point line and launched the ball towards the hoop.
Nothing but net! A three-pointer!
The players from Team Xiaoda rushed over to Gao Xinglang, offering high-fives and hugs in celebration. Guan Xuchen, Li Peiling, and the rest of the crowd waved their pom-poms and shouted, "Gao Xinglang, way to go; Gao Xinglang, go go go!"
Gao Xinglang smiled and made the V sign to the audience.
Unfortunately, his joy was short-lived. As the game resumed, the captain of Team 54 Middle swiftly scored a three-pointer. The score was tied again.
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