It's the championship game against Hara Commercial High, and Nate Torres has sunk a 25-footer at the end of the first half to give Johnan High a commanding lead. The second half, however, remains to be played ... Hara's defense has gotten them this far, so there's no reason to think that they wouldn't bring their 'A' game with them in this season finale. Can Johnan withstand the inevitable onslaught?

Nate
Nate is a perennial benchwarmer. Lacking in both cool and talent, he is the most unlikely basketball player you'll ever find. But one thing he's not is a quitter and slowly Nate teaches himself the ins and outs of basketball - with a little help from his friends. In the process, he slowly builds up his confidence and begins to realize his dream of success on the high school b-ball court.

Mizzy
Nate might throw like a girl, but Mizzy is just the girl to teach him to play like a man. This hoops queen helps Nate succeed, teaching him the down and dirty side to street ball. No rules, no fouls, and no crying ... she teaches him how to win.

Oz
He and Nate are the only two players in the history of street hoops to ever score on the powerhouse team, 3-Slam. When they get together with Mizzy, Team Scratch is born. Oz is a hoodlum from the streets. He hangs with a rough crowd, and he brings the same attitude and bruising brawn to the courts. Nate, his own teammate, is even scared of him.

Yuriko Nishiyama is a female manga artist who lives and works in Japan and who likes to write mostly for a male audience. After her debut in 1990, she went on to create many popular new manga stories, including "Ellie's Mysterious Time Travel," and "No Huddle". She continues creating new "Harlem Beat" stories that are enjoyed by a growing number of fans in Japan and around the world.