Winning isn't everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Hanamichi finally gets some game time as a substitute for the slightly injured captain Akagi and quickly goes about making a spectacle of himself. Not only does he manage to strip the ball from Ryonan's veteran center, but he also succeeds in making several key passes that result in some much-needed baskets. With Shohoku closing in on their opponents' lead, is Hanamichi on the verge of proving that he has what it takes to become the next captain?