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?

Shohoku advances to the final four in their prefecture, but the team they will face next, Shoyo, boasts one of the tallest squads around. Hoping to capitalize on his uncanny rebounding skills, Coach Anzai places Sakuragi in the starting five, but the Shohoku boys struggle against their opponents' marked height advantage. Miyagi's speed and Rukawa's finesse help their team chip away at Shoyo's lead, but with Akagi being outplayed at center, a Shohoku victory is looking less likely by the minute.