B2 League Round 13 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise of round 13 was guest Saga B.'s (10-5) easy road victory over Nagasaki (#3) 79-56 on Sunday evening. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Saga B. held Nagasaki to an opponent 24.2 percent shooting from the field compared to 49.2 percent accuracy of the winners. 24 personal fouls committed by Nagasaki helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international forward Takanobu Nishikawa (195-1992) fired 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Cuban guard Reynaldo Garcia (187-1990) chipped in 16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. American forward Jeffrey Gibbs (188-1980, college: Otterbein) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Saga B. have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Ehime OV. Nagasaki lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Kumamoto V.. Saga B. is looking forward to face league's leader Ehime OV in Matsuyama in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Nagasaki will play at home against Fukushima and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Another exciting game was played in Hyogo between fifth ranked Fukuoka R. and 3rd placed Nishinomiya S. where Fukuoka R. (8-7) beat Nishinomiya S. (7-8) on the road 81-74. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of forward Jordan Glynn (200-1989, college: SF Austin) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds. Drew Gordon contributed with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Forward Trey Porter (208-1996, college: Nevada) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds for Nishinomiya S.Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukuoka R. have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 8-7 record. Nishinomiya S. lost third consecutive game. They keep the third position with eight games lost. They share it with Yamagata. Fukuoka R. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nishinomiya S. will play on the road against Kagawa FA in Takamatsu and hopes to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Yamagata between Yamagata and Aomori W.. Fourth ranked Yamagata (7-8) got a very close home victory over 5th ranked Aomori W. (6-9). Yamagata managed to escape with a 2-point win 80-78 on Sunday evening. James Bell stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. At the losing side Max Hisatake responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Yamagata have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Nishinomiya S. Aomori W. lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with nine games lost. Yamagata will meet at home Tokyo Z (#7) in the next round. Aomori W. will play against the league's leader Koshigaya A. and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 13 Fukushima defeated Kumamoto V. in a road game 92-81. Tokyo Z was smashed by Chiba at home 61-99.
The best stats of 13th round was 15 points and 15 rebounds by Joshua Crawford of Tokyo Z.

Yamagata - Aomori W. 80-78

A very close game took place in Yamagata between Yamagata and Aomori W.. Fourth ranked Yamagata (7-8) got a very close home victory over 5th ranked Aomori W. (6-9). Yamagata managed to escape with a 2-point win 80-78 on Sunday evening. Yamagata looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and his fellow American import center Thomas Welsh (213-1996, college: UCLA, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 14 points and 11 rebounds. At the losing side American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 12 rebounds and point guard Yuichi Ikeda (183-1997) scored 19 points and 7 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Yamagata have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Nishinomiya S. Aomori W. lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with nine games lost. Yamagata will meet at home Tokyo Z (#7) in the next round. Aomori W. will play against the league's leader Koshigaya A. and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: M.Hisatake 25+12reb+3ast, I.Yuichi 19+4reb+7ast, A.Uchida 9+1reb+2ast, A.Davis 9+2reb, E.Montgomery 8+6reb+2ast, K.Aita 6+3reb+5ast
Yamagata: J.Bell 16+10reb+6ast, T.Welsh 14+11reb+3ast, D.Suzuki 12+4reb, S.Murakami 9+3ast, R.Yanagawa 8+2reb+3ast, T.Tahara 8+2reb+1ast

Nagasaki - Saga B. 56-79

The biggest surprise of round 13 was guest Saga B.'s (10-5) easy road victory over Nagasaki (#3) 79-56 on Sunday evening. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Saga B. held Nagasaki to an opponent 24.2 percent shooting from the field compared to 49.2 percent accuracy of the winners. 24 personal fouls committed by Nagasaki helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international forward Takanobu Nishikawa (195-1992) fired 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Cuban guard Reynaldo Garcia (187-1990) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Four Saga B. players scored in double figures. American forward Jeffrey Gibbs (188-1980, college: Otterbein) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) added 9 points and 11 rebounds respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Saga B. have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Ehime OV. Nagasaki lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Kumamoto V.. Saga B. is looking forward to face league's leader Ehime OV in Matsuyama in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Nagasaki will play at home against Fukushima and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Nagasaki: J.Gibbs 16+12reb+2ast, E.Yamamoto 9+1reb, M.Bonds 9+11reb+3ast, M.Karimata 9+3ast, E.Takuma 5+4reb+2ast, K.Matsumoto 4+2reb+1ast
Saga B.: T.Nishikawa 27+6reb+1ast, R.Garcia 16+11reb+7ast, M.McIntosh 14+3reb+2ast, C.Fieler 14+11reb+3ast, Y.Mitsuhara 4+1reb+2ast, S.Taiki 4+2ast

Kumamoto V. - Fukushima 81-92

There was a minor upset when 4th placed Kumamoto V. (9-6) was defeated at home by sixth ranked Fukushima (5-10) 92-81 on Sunday. Fukushima made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 56.5 percentage. Fukushima looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Venezuelan center Gregory Echenique (206-1990, college: Creighton, agency: Pensack Sports) stepped up and scored 23 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and American forward Josh Harrellson (208-1989, college: Kentucky) chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds. Five Fukushima players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Terrance Woodbury (201-1987, college: Georgia) responded with 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 5 assists and guard Hiroaki Isono (186-1998) scored 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Kumamoto V.'s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Fukushima maintains sixth place with 5-10 record, which they share with Kagawa FA. Kumamoto V. at the other side dropped to the third position with six games lost. They share it with Nagasaki. Fukushima will meet higher ranked Nagasaki (#3) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kumamoto V. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: T.Woodbury 36+6reb+5ast, I.Hiroaki 11+7reb+4ast, C.Sow 8+3reb, Y.Shota 7+1reb, B.Lawson 7+6reb+2ast, H.Taniguchi 5+2reb+1ast
Fukushima: G.Echenique 23+5reb+3ast, N.Hashimoto 13+1reb, J.Harrellson 13+11reb+1ast, E.Murphy 13+7reb+3ast, S.Kanno 12+1reb+3ast, S.Murakami 12+1reb+3ast

Nishinomiya S. - Fukuoka R. 74-81

Another exciting game was played in Hyogo between fifth ranked Fukuoka R. and 3rd placed Nishinomiya S. where Fukuoka R. (8-7) beat Nishinomiya S. (7-8) on the road 81-74. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of forward Jordan Glynn (200-1989, college: SF Austin) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds. Center Drew Gordon (206-1990, college: N.Mexico) contributed with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Four Fukuoka R. players scored in double figures. Forward Trey Porter (208-1996, college: Nevada) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds and forward DeQuan Jones (203-1990, college: Miami, FL) added 15 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Nishinomiya S.Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukuoka R. have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 8-7 record. Nishinomiya S. lost third consecutive game. They keep the third position with eight games lost. They share it with Yamagata. Fukuoka R. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nishinomiya S. will play on the road against Kagawa FA in Takamatsu and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Nishinomiya S.: T.Porter 16+13reb+1ast, D.Jones 15+10reb+3ast, R.Nakanishi 14+9reb, K.Sena 9+1ast, Z.Dimec 8+6reb+2ast, K.Matsuzaki 3+2ast
Fukuoka R.: J.Glynn 25+11reb, Y.Otsuka 16+4reb+6ast, D.Gordon 16+12reb+1ast, Y.Nagayoshi 10+1reb, T.Abe 6+2reb+2ast, G.Slaughter 5+1reb

Tokyo Z - Chiba 61-99

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Chiba (11-4) smashed on the road 7th ranked Tokyo Z (3-12) 99-61 on Sunday. Chiba dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Tokyo Z's 26 and made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Chiba looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The game was also dominated by American players. Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners and forward Leo Lyons (206-1987, college: Missouri) chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. At the losing side center Joshua Crawford (211-1988, college: Indiana St.) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds and power forward Reginald Buckner (206-1991, college: Ole Miss) scored 9 points and 5 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Chiba have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Chiba maintains second place with 11-4 record having just two points less than leader Ehime OV. Tokyo Z lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with 12 games lost. Chiba will meet Bambitious N. (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Tokyo Z will play against Yamagata and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tokyo Z: J.Crawford 15+15reb+2ast, J.Kano 11+1reb, K.Tsubasa 11+2reb+3ast, K.Kimura 10+1reb+4ast, R.Buckner 9+5reb+2ast, M.Joho 3+1reb+2ast
Chiba: L.Lyons 18+8reb+2ast, B.Ashley 16+12reb+3ast, E.Ravenel 16+4reb+4ast, Y.Okada 15+1ast, D.Kobayashi 8+2ast, K.Sugimoto 8+1reb+5ast



Tags : TAKANOBU NISHIKAWA, SAGA BALLOONERS, JAPANESE BASKETBALL