B2 League Round 34 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Ninth defeat of league's leader Koshigaya A. (27-9) against fourth ranked Fukushima (17-19) 83-75 was the most important game of the last round. Strangely Koshigaya A. outrebounded Fukushima 41-28 including 32 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Josh Harrellson (208-1989, college: Kentucky) who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Finnish-American power forward Erik Murphy (208-1990, college: Florida) contributed with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks for the winners. American forward Justin Harper (208-1989, college: Richmond) replied with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds for Koshigaya A.Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukushima maintains fourth position with 17-19 record. Koshigaya A. lost third consecutive game. They still keep top place with nine games lost. They share the position with Chiba. They were replaced at the leadership position by Chiba. Koshigaya A. will have a break next week, which should allow them to rest and make it back to the top of the standings. Fukushima will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked Koshigaya A. in Tokyo.
An interesting game for Chiba (27-9) which played road game in Nagasaki against their close opponent Nagasaki (24-12). Second ranked Chiba managed to get a 12-point victory 96-84. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Nagasaki. American players dominated the game. Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) had a double-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Leo Lyons chipped in 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) responded with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Chiba keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Koshigaya A. Nagasaki at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the second place with 12 games lost. Chiba will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nagasaki will play again at home against the league's leader Chiba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
B2 League top team - Saga B. (29-7) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they beat fifth ranked Fukuoka R. (14-22) 80-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Fukuoka R.. Takanobu Nishikawa notched 23 points to lead the effort. Even 12 points and 9 rebounds by Jordan Glynn did not help to save the game for Fukuoka R.. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Saga B. have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 29-7 record. Loser Fukuoka R. keeps the fifth place with 22 games lost. They share the position with Yamagata. Saga B. will again meet at home Fukuoka R. (#5) in the next round. Fukuoka R. will have a break next round.

Other games in round 34 were not that significant. Yamagata was beaten by Aomori W. on the road 79-70. Ehime OV lost to Bambitious N. on its own court 57-69. Nishinomiya S. unfortunately lost to Kumamoto V. in a road game 78-85.
The most impressive performance of 34th round was 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists by Jamel McLean of Kumamoto V..

Aomori W. - Yamagata 79-70

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Aomori W. (18-18) beat at home 6th ranked Yamagata (14-22) 79-70 on Saturday. Aomori W. looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St.) notched a double-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and guard Mone Hall (190-1999) supported him with 6 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Aomori W.'s coach used an eleven-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Even 20 points and 7 assists by point guard Shunto Murakami (183-1996) did not help to save the game for Yamagata. American center Thomas Welsh (213-1996, college: UCLA, agency: Pensack Sports) added 12 points and 11 rebounds for lost side. Aomori W. maintains third position with 18-18 record having eleven points less than leader Chiba. Yamagata lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth place with 22 games lost. They share the position with Fukuoka R.. Aomori W. will again meet at home Yamagata (#6) in the next round. Yamagata will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: A.Davis 19+12reb+5ast, K.Aita 13+2reb, M.Hisatake 11+4reb, K.Tsuneta 9+1reb+5ast, E.Montgomery 8+6reb+1ast, I.Yuichi 7+4reb+6ast
Yamagata: S.Murakami 20+4reb+7ast, J.Carter 15+5reb+1ast, T.Welsh 12+11reb+1ast, J.Bell 6+8reb+3ast, D.Suzuki 5+1ast, J.Maniwa 5+1reb+4ast

Fukushima - Koshigaya A. 83-75

Ninth defeat of league's leader Koshigaya A. (27-9) against fourth ranked Fukushima (17-19) 83-75 was the most important game of the last round. Strangely Koshigaya A. outrebounded Fukushima 41-28 including 32 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Josh Harrellson (208-1989, college: Kentucky) who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Finnish-American power forward Erik Murphy (208-1990, college: Florida) contributed with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks for the winners. American forward Justin Harper (208-1989, college: Richmond) replied with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds and his fellow American import center Isaac Butts (208-1989, college: App State) added 10 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Koshigaya A.Five Fukushima and four Koshigaya A. players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukushima maintains fourth position with 17-19 record. Koshigaya A. lost third consecutive game. They still keep top place with nine games lost. They share the position with Chiba. They were replaced at the leadership position by Chiba. Koshigaya A. will have a break next week, which should allow them to rest and make it back to the top of the standings. Fukushima will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked Koshigaya A. in Tokyo.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: J.Harrellson 23+9reb+7ast, E.Murphy 14+9reb+4ast, N.Hashimoto 13+1reb+2ast, T.Hasegawa 10+1reb+4ast, G.Cheon 10+3reb+3ast, S.Murakami 9+1reb+2ast
Koshigaya A.: J.Harper 19+14reb+3ast, T.Hasegawa 12+1reb+2ast, M.Shun 11+3reb+2ast, I.Butts 10+12reb+5ast, K.Hayate 9+2reb+4ast, K.Makoto 6+1reb+4ast

Ehime OV - Bambitious N. 57-69

There was a minor upset when 4th ranked Ehime OV (16-20) lost to sixth ranked Bambitious N. (11-25) in Matsuyama 57-69 on Saturday. American-Portuguese Jeremiah Wilson (205-1988, college: Tarleton St.) notched a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead the effort and American guard Christian James (194-1996, college: Oklahoma) supported him with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Four Bambitious N. players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds by American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) did not help to save the game for Ehime OV. American-German power forward Ryan Kriener (208-1998, college: Iowa, agency: Pensack Sports) added 12 points and 11 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Bambitious N. maintains sixth position with 11-25 record. Loser Ehime OV keeps the fourth place with 20 games lost. They share the position with Nishinomiya S.. Bambitious N. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Ehime OV will play again against Bambitious N. (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bambitious N.: J.Wilson 15+13reb+1ast, C.James 14+7reb+1ast, N.Uto 11+3reb+4ast, C.Mbodj 10+10reb, F.Naoyuki 8+5reb+5ast, I.Shinpei 6
Ehime OV: E.Phelps 14+14reb+1ast, R.Kriener 12+11reb+1ast, S.Kouno 11+1reb+2ast, A.Fitzgerald 8+8reb, T.Furuno 5+2reb+3ast, A.Sakata 4+5reb+1ast

Saga B. - Fukuoka R. 80-62

B2 League top team - Saga B. (29-7) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they beat fifth ranked Fukuoka R. (14-22) 80-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Fukuoka R.. Saga B. dominated down low during the game scoring 44 of its points in the paint compared to Fukuoka R.'s 16. The former international forward Takanobu Nishikawa (195-1992) notched 23 points to lead the effort and American Chase Fieler (202-1992, college: FGCU) supported him with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Four Saga B. players scored in double figures. Even 12 points and 9 rebounds by American forward Jordan Glynn (200-1989, college: SF Austin) did not help to save the game for Fukuoka R.. His fellow American import point guard Marvelle Harris (196-1993, college: Fresno St., agency: Slash Sports) added 13 points and 7 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Saga B. have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 29-7 record. Loser Fukuoka R. keeps the fifth place with 22 games lost. They share the position with Yamagata. Saga B. will again meet at home Fukuoka R. (#5) in the next round. Fukuoka R. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Saga B.: T.Nishikawa 23+4reb+3ast, C.Fieler 15+10reb+4ast, R.Garcia 15, S.Taiki 15+4reb+2ast, I.Ryota 3+1reb+1ast, Y.Mitsuhara 3+7reb+3ast
Fukuoka R.: M.Harris 13+7reb+3ast, J.Glynn 12+9reb+2ast, T.Shirato 9+2reb+1ast, S.Shigetomi 8+2ast, I.Yuma 6+1reb, G.Slaughter 4+3reb+1ast

Nagasaki - Chiba 84-96

An interesting game for Chiba (27-9) which played road game in Nagasaki against their close opponent Nagasaki (24-12). Second ranked Chiba managed to get a 12-point victory 96-84. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Nagasaki. Chiba dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Nagasaki's 24 and made 23-of-30 charity shots (76.7 percent) during the game. Chiba forced 20 Nagasaki turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists. American players dominated the game. Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) had a double-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and forward Leo Lyons (206-1987, college: Missouri) chipped in 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) responded with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Jeffrey Gibbs (188-1980, college: Otterbein) scored 14 points and 8 rebounds (made all of his eight free throws). Four Chiba and five Nagasaki players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Chiba keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Koshigaya A. Nagasaki at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the second place with 12 games lost. Chiba will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nagasaki will play again at home against the league's leader Chiba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Chiba: B.Ashley 39+10reb+5ast, L.Lyons 15+10reb+4ast, T.Kida 13+1reb+1ast, Y.Otsuka 12+3reb+1ast, D.Kobayashi 4+2reb+3ast, K.Paras 4+1reb+1ast
Nagasaki: M.Bonds 21+5reb+4ast, J.Heading 17+3reb+3ast, J.Gibbs 14+8reb+2ast, M.Karimata 11+8ast, T.Kanji 10+3reb+2ast, D.Noguchi 4+2reb+1ast

Kumamoto V. - Nishinomiya S. 85-78

Rather predictable result when third ranked Kumamoto V. (21-15) won against at home 5th ranked Nishinomiya S. (16-20) 85-78 on Saturday. Kumamoto V. forced 21 Nishinomiya S. turnovers. American center Jamel McLean (202-1988, college: Xavier) notched a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and British forward Benjamin Lawson (216-1995, college: WKU) supported him with 7 points and 9 rebounds. Even 19 points and 6 rebounds by American forward Jordan Hamilton (201-1990, college: Texas) did not help to save the game for Nishinomiya S.. Point guard Yusuke Tsunai (184-1996) added 14 points and 4 assists for lost side. Four Nishinomiya S. players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Kumamoto V. maintains third position with 21-15 record having eight points less than leader Chiba. Loser Nishinomiya S. dropped to the fourth place with 20 games lost. They share the position with Ehime OV. Kumamoto V. will again meet at home Nishinomiya S. (#5) in the next round. Nishinomiya S. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: J.McLean 15+10reb+4ast, I.Hiroaki 12+4reb+3ast, R.Motomura 12+2reb+2ast, H.Taniguchi 9, Y.Shota 8+3reb+1ast, N.Ren 8+1reb+3ast
Nishinomiya S.: J.Hamilton 19+6reb+3ast, T.Yusuke 14+4ast, T.Porter 12+3reb, K.Sena 11+1reb+3ast, N.Dohara 9+2ast, R.Nakanishi 5+5reb+1ast



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