B1 League Round 61 (Regular Season): San-en NP is defeated by Sea Horses M.

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked San-en NP (46-14) in Kariya on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked SeaHorses (36-24) 79-72. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. American power forward Davante Gardner (203-1991, college: Marquette) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and South Korean forward Dae-Sung Lee (192-1990, college: BYU-Hawaii) chipped in 17 points. At the losing side American forward Yante Maten (201-1996, college: Georgia) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. San-en NP's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sea Horses M. maintains second place with 36-24 record having ten points less than leader Tochigi Brex, which they share with Hiroshima D. San-en NP at the other side still keeps top position with 14 games lost.
Eighth-ranked Kyoto H. (17-43) gave a tough game to sixth ranked Nagasaki (27-33). The visitors from Nagasaki managed to secure only three-point victory 105-102. However their fans expected easier game. American forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) nailed a double-double by scoring 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Yudai Baba accounted for 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Nagasaki's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. American center Charles Jackson (208-1993, college: Tenn Tech) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 25 rebounds for Kyoto H. in the defeat. Nagasaki have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains sixth place with 27-33 record, which they share with Sendai 89ers. Kyoto H. at the other side dropped to the seventh position with 43 games lost. They share it with Hokkaido L..
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Jets (35-25) against fifth ranked Happinets (30-30) on Sunday night. Visiting Jets were defeated by Happinets in a tough game in Akita 88-93. Raita Akaho fired 12 points and 5 assists for the winners. John Mooney produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Akita NH maintains fifth place with 30-30 record. Loser Jets keep the third position with 25 games lost. They share it with Sunrockers Sh..

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 61: Sendai 89ers destroyed Gunma CT on the opponent's court 98-79. Hiroshima D. lost to defending champion Ryukyu in a home game 80-89. Tochigi Brex rolled over Ibaraki R. on the road 88-64. Kyoto H. was defeated by Nagasaki on its own court 65-82. Shimane SM was beaten by Osaka E. in a road game 74-67. Saga B. lost to Nagoya DD at home 77-81. Shinshu was outscored by Sunrockers Sh. on the opponent's court 59-82. Toyama G. was rolled over FE Nagoya in a home game 59-80. Kawasaki was defeated by Yokohama BC on the road 87-79. Saga B. was beaten by Nagoya DD on its own court 68-80.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 15 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists by Scott Eatherton of Nagoya DD.



Akita NH - Chiba Jets 93-88

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Jets (35-25) against fifth ranked Happinets (30-30) on Sunday night. Visiting Jets were defeated by Happinets in a tough game in Akita 88-93. The former international forward Raita Akaho (196-1998) fired 12 points and 5 assists for the winners. The former international point guard Ko Kumagai (173-1996) chipped in 12 points and 4 assists. American forward John Mooney (206-1998, college: Notre Dame, agency: Pensack Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and Australian forward Xavier Cooks (203-1995, college: Winthrop) added 14 points and 10 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Chiba Jets players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Akita NH maintains fifth place with 30-30 record. Loser Jets keep the third position with 25 games lost. They share it with Sunrockers Sh..
Top scorers:
Chiba Jets: J.Mooney 19+10reb+1ast, Y.Togashi 18+5ast, X.Cooks 14+10reb+2ast, O.Asato 12+5reb+4ast, C.Smith 10+2reb+2ast, U.Sori 6+3reb+2ast
Akita NH: H.Noboru 14+1reb, S.Taguchi 13+4reb, A.Raita 12+4reb+5ast, K.Ko 12+3reb+4ast, T.Nakayama 9+5reb+2ast, A.Chol 8+5reb

Gunma CT - Sendai 89ers 79-98

There was a minor upset in Gunma where 4th placed Thunders (31-29) were crushed by sixth ranked 89ers (27-33) 98-79 on Sunday. Sendai 89ers dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Thunders's 30. Sendai 89ers outrebounded Gunma CT 41-28 including a 31-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Sendai 89ers looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American Nathan Boothe (208-1994, college: Toledo) fired 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Guard Ryo Abe (184-1995) chipped in 19 points and 5 assists. Four 89ers players scored in double figures. American guard Trey McKinney-Jones (198-1990, college: Miami, FL) produced 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (made all of his eight free throws) and Ghanian-American Ben Bentil (206-1995, college: Providence) added 21 points respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sendai 89ers maintains sixth place with 27-33 record, which they share with Nagasaki. Loser Thunders keeps the fourth position with 29 games lost.
Top scorers:
Gunma CT: B.Bentil 21+2reb+1ast, T.McKinney-Jones 16+5reb+5ast, K.Flippin 7+4reb+3ast, A.Hachimura 7, N.Tsuji 6+3reb+3ast, K.Tarczewski 6+6reb+3ast
Sendai 89ers: R.Abe 19+2reb+5ast, N.Boothe 19+5reb+5ast, J.Yang 17+5reb, R.Thomas 15+6reb+4ast, Y.Aoki 9+3reb+7ast, W.Shota 6+1ast

Hiroshima D. - Ryukyu GK 80-89

Rather predictable result in Hiroshima where first ranked Golden Kings (41-19) defeated 3rd placed Dragonflies (36-24) 89-80 on Sunday. Ryukyu made 20-of-26 free shots (76.9 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American power forward Jack Cooley (206-1991, college: Notre Dame, agency: Pensack Sports) fired 22 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. His fellow American import power forward Allen Durham (198-1988, college: Grace Christian) chipped in 15 points and 8 rebounds. Durham is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Guard Takuto Nakamura (184-2001) produced 20 points and 4 assists and American forward Dwayne Evans (201-1992, college: St.Louis, agency: Pensack Sports) added 14 points and 7 assists respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending champion maintains first place with 41-19 record. Loser Dragonflies dropped to the second position with 24 games lost. They share it with Sea Horses M..
Top scorers:
Hiroshima D.: N.Takuto 20+1reb+4ast, K.Blackshear Jr. 15+5reb+2ast, D.Evans 14+3reb+7ast, N.Mayo 10+8reb+2ast, R.Yamazaki 8, I.Murphy 8+7reb+2ast
Ryukyu GK: J.Cooley 22+7reb+3ast, A.Durham 15+8reb+1ast, S.Onodera 15+2reb+2ast, K.Imamura 10+1reb+2ast, R.Kishimoto 9+2reb+9ast, V.Law 8+3reb+1ast

Ibaraki R. - Tochigi Brex 64-88

Not a big story in a game in Mito where 8th ranked Robots (12-48) were rolled over by first ranked Tochigi Brex (51-9) 88-64 on Sunday. Tochigi Brex looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American center Grant Jerrett (208-1993, college: Arizona) fired 13 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. The former international guard Yusuke Endo (186-1989) chipped in 14 points. American Luke Maye (203-1997, college: UNC) produced 17 points and 8 rebounds and the other American import forward Chehales Tapscott (195-1990, college: Portland St.) added 6 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists 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. Tochigi Brex have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 51-9 record. Loser Robots keeps the eighth position with 48 games lost.
Top scorers:
Ibaraki R.: L.Maye 17+8reb+1ast, N.Kohei 13+1reb+3ast, Y.Hayato 7+4reb+3ast, O.Keitaro 7+1ast, T.Keita 6+1reb+3ast, C.Tapscott 6+5reb+6ast
Tochigi Brex: Y.Endo 14+3reb+1ast, G.Jerrett 13+8reb+1ast, H.Watanabe 12+4ast, M.Hiejima 11+3ast, S.Ikaruga 9+3reb+3ast, O.Atsuya 7+1reb+2ast

Kyoto H. - Nagasaki 65-82

Everything went according to plan when sixth ranked Nagasaki (27-33) beat on the road 8th ranked Kyoto H. (17-43) 82-65 on Sunday. Nagasaki looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) fired a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. International Yudai Baba (196-1995) chipped in 14 points. Mali power forward Cheick Diallo (206-1996, college: Kansas) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and American center Charles Jackson (208-1993, college: Tenn Tech) added 13 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Nagasaki have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains sixth place with 27-33 record, which they share with Sendai 89ers. Loser Kyoto H. dropped to the seventh position with 43 games lost. They share it with Hokkaido L..
Top scorers:
Kyoto H.: C.Diallo 17+11reb, M.Wright 15+4reb+4ast, C.Jackson 13+9reb+3ast, K.Jones 9+13reb+2ast, S.Maeta 4+1reb, O.Yuta 3+3reb+4ast
Nagasaki: M.Bonds 15+11reb+3ast, Y.Baba 14+3reb+3ast, K.Koya 10+3ast, C.Min-Kug 9+1reb+1ast, J.Evans 7+6reb+2ast, J.Brantley 6+7reb+3ast

Osaka E. - Shimane SM 74-67

There was a minor upset when 4th placed Magic (32-28) was defeated on the road by seventh ranked Osaka E. (25-35) 74-67 on Sunday. Italian-American forward Angelo Caloiaro (203-1989, college: USF, agency: Pensack Sports) fired a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American forward Shawn Long (208-1993, college: Louisiana, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 22 points and 6 rebounds. Australian Nick Kay (206-1992, college: MSU Denver) produced a triple-double by scoring 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists and point guard Shota Tsuyama (180-1996) added 12 points respectively for lost side. Magic's coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Osaka E. maintains seventh place with 25-35 record. Shimane SM lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with 28 games lost.
Top scorers:
Shimane SM: N.Kay 19+19reb+10ast, S.Ando 13+1ast, T.Shota 12+1reb+3ast, H.Martin 9+6reb, H.Kitagawa 7+2reb+1ast, K.Wiley 3+1reb+1ast
Osaka E.: S.Long 22+6reb+3ast, H.Lee 20+4reb+3ast, A.Caloiaro 18+11reb+4ast, I.Fumiya 5+2reb+5ast, I.Hummer 4+3reb, J.Takeuchi 3+2reb+1ast

Saga B. - Nagoya DD 77-81

No shocking result in a game in Saga where second ranked Dolphins (41-21) won against 5th ranked Ballooners (29-31) 81-77 on Sunday. Nagoya DD looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American power forward Scott Eatherton (208-1991, college: Northeastern) fired a double-double by scoring 11 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. The former international point guard Takumi Saito (172-1995) chipped in 18 points and 7 assists. Four Dolphins players scored in double figures. American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) produced 18 points and 8 rebounds and the former international forward Josh Harrellson (208-1989, college: Kentucky) added 9 points and 12 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Dolphins have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Nagoya DD maintains second place with 41-21 record having three points less than leader Tochigi Brex. Newly promoted Saga B. keeps the fifth position with 31 games lost.
Top scorers:
Saga B.: Y.Childs 18+8reb+2ast, S.Taiki 14+3reb+4ast, C.Fieler 13+1reb+8ast, I.Ryota 9+2ast, J.Harrellson 9+12reb+3ast, A.Alexander 7+1reb
Nagoya DD: T.Saito 18+3reb+7ast, P.Ray 13+3reb+3ast, J.Smith 12+7reb, S.Eatherton 11+13reb+5ast, Y.Suda 10+1reb+1ast, T.Nakahigashi 6+1reb+2ast

Sea Horses M. - San-en NP 79-72

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked San-en NP (46-14) in Kariya on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked SeaHorses (36-24) 79-72. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. American power forward Davante Gardner (203-1991, college: Marquette) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and South Korean forward Dae-Sung Lee (192-1990, college: BYU-Hawaii) chipped in 17 points. At the losing side American forward Yante Maten (201-1996, college: Georgia) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks and point guard Sota Oura (182-1997) scored 14 points and 8 assists. San-en NP's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Sea Horses M. maintains second place with 36-24 record having ten points less than leader Tochigi Brex, which they share with Hiroshima D. San-en NP at the other side still keeps top position with 14 games lost.
Top scorers:
San-en NP: Y.Maten 23+13reb, O.Sota 14+3reb+8ast, F.Ravena 13+7reb+3ast, D.Dudzinski 8+8reb+3ast, K.Kanamaru 6+3reb+2ast, S.Ryusei 5+1reb+2ast
Sea Horses M.: D.Gardner 23+10reb, D.Lee 17+3reb+2ast, J.Layman 17+5reb, Z.Auguste 8+10reb+1ast, N.Satoshi 7+1reb+6ast, Y.Nishida 4+3reb+4ast

Sunrockers Sh. - Shinshu BW 82-59

Very expected game in Tokyo where 7th ranked Brave Warriors (10-50) were crushed by third ranked SunRockers (35-25) 82-59 on Sunday. International forward Josh Hawkinson (208-1995, college: WSU) fired 22 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American-Kazakhstan point guard Anthony Clemmons (187-1994, college: Iowa) chipped in 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Four SunRockers players scored in double figures. American forward Justyn Mutts (201-1999, college: Virginia Tech, agency: Pensack Sports) produced 24 points and 9 rebounds and the other American import center Wayne Marshall (211-1986, college: Temple) added 9 points and 5 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. SunRockers have a solid series of three victories in a row. Sunrockers Sh. maintains third place with 35-25 record having eleven points less than leader Tochigi Brex, which they share with Chiba Jets. Loser Brave Warriors keeps the seventh position with 50 games lost.
Top scorers:
Shinshu BW: J.Mutts 24+9reb+2ast, K.Ishikawa 9+4ast, W.Marshall 9+5reb+2ast, A.Brandt 7+4reb+2ast, S.Takumi 3+1reb, L.Kurihara 3+2ast
Sunrockers Sh.: J.Hawkinson 22+8reb+1ast, L.Vendrame 14+2reb+4ast, R.Kelly 14+4reb+4ast, A.Clemmons 14+5reb+4ast, J.Gibbs 8+6reb, K.Tsuya 5+1reb+2ast

Toyama G. - FE Nagoya 59-80

Rather predictable result in Toyama where fifth ranked Fighting Eagles (33-25) smashed 8th ranked Grouses (4-56) 80-59 on Sunday. American forward Jeremy Jones (201-1996, college: Gonzaga) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals for the winners. His fellow American import forward Aaron Henry (198-1999, college: Michigan St., agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 21 points. British forward Myles Hesson (198-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) produced 20 points and 5 rebounds and American power forward Johnathan Williams III (206-1995, college: Gonzaga, agency: Slash Sports) added 2 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists 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. FE Nagoya moved-up to fourth place. Toyama G. lost 32th consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with 56 games lost.
Top scorers:
Toyama G.: M.Hesson 20+5reb+1ast, N.Yoshiyuki 14+1reb, Y.Java 8, Q.Miller-Scott 5+6reb+3ast, T.Ito 5+2ast, T.Mito 3+1reb
FE Nagoya: A.Henry 21+3reb+3ast, J.Jones 19+13reb+7ast, L.Evans 17+8reb, S.Ryo 9+3reb+1ast, T.Sugimoto 6, T.Sasayama 3+3reb+6ast

Yokohama BC - Kawasaki BT 87-79

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Yokohama where 5th ranked Brave Thunders (33-27) were defeated by sixth ranked B-Corsairs (24-36) 87-79 on Sunday. Strangely Kawasaki outrebounded Yokohama BC 42-29 including 16 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American forward Jarrod Uthoff (206-1993, college: Iowa) fired 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals for the winners. International guard Yuki Kawamura (172-2001) chipped in a double-double by scoring 11 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists. American power forward Jordan Heath (208-1991, college: Canisius) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds and Hungarian-American Rosco Allen (208-1993, college: Stanford, agency: Pensack Sports) added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Five Kawasaki players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Yokohama BC maintains sixth place with 24-36 record. Loser Brave Thunders keeps the fifth position with 27 games lost.
Top scorers:
Kawasaki BT: J.Heath 17+15reb+1ast, R.Allen 17+5reb+5ast, Y.Fujii 13+6reb+1ast, R.Shinoyama 12+3ast, N.Fazekas 10+8reb+5ast, T.Wimbush 5+6reb+2ast
Yokohama BC: J.Uthoff 21+9reb+5ast, Y.Sugiura 13+3reb, K.Yuki 11+5reb+11ast, D.Oliver 9+7reb+3ast, Y.Nishino 8, S.Koya 8+1ast

Kyoto H. - Nagasaki 102-105

Eighth-ranked Kyoto H. (17-43) gave a tough game to sixth ranked Nagasaki (27-33). The visitors from Nagasaki managed to secure only three-point victory 105-102. However their fans expected easier game. Nagasaki forced 21 Kyoto H. turnovers. Strangely Kyoto H. outrebounded Nagasaki 50-32 including a 36-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. Nagasaki players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. American forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) nailed a double-double by scoring 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and international Yudai Baba (196-1995) accounted for 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Nagasaki's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. American center Charles Jackson (208-1993, college: Tenn Tech) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 25 rebounds and Canadian-Filipino guard Matthew Wright (193-1991, college: St.Bonaventure) added 25 points and 5 assists respectively for Kyoto H. in the defeat. Four Nagasaki and five Kyoto H. players scored in double figures. Nagasaki have a solid series of three victories in a row. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains sixth place with 27-33 record, which they share with Sendai 89ers. Kyoto H. at the other side dropped to the seventh position with 43 games lost. They share it with Hokkaido L..
Top scorers:
Kyoto H.: M.Wright 25+3reb+5ast, C.Jackson 18+25reb, S.Maeta 16+3reb, K.Jones 14+7reb+1ast, O.Yuta 11+1reb+9ast, C.Diallo 8+7reb+1ast
Nagasaki: M.Bonds 27+10reb+4ast, Y.Baba 22+5reb+4ast, J.Brantley 22+5reb+2ast, K.Koya 15+4ast, M.Karimata 7+4reb+5ast, K.Matsumoto 4+1reb+3ast

Saga B. - Nagoya DD 68-80

Everything went according to plan in Saga where second ranked Dolphins (41-21) beat 5th ranked Ballooners (29-31) 80-68 on Monday. Nagoya DD outrebounded Saga B. 45-24 including a 35-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Nagoya DD looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American power forward Scott Eatherton (208-1991, college: Northeastern) fired a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winners. The former international point guard Takumi Saito (172-1995) chipped in 20 points. Five Dolphins players scored in double figures. Cuban guard Reynaldo Garcia (187-1990) produced 21 points and 4 assists (made all of his nine free throws !!!) and the former international forward Josh Harrellson (208-1989, college: Kentucky) added 8 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Dolphins have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Nagoya DD maintains second place with 41-21 record having three points less than leader Tochigi Brex. Newly promoted Saga B. keeps the fifth position with 31 games lost.
Top scorers:
Saga B.: R.Garcia 21+2reb+4ast, C.Fieler 10+1reb+6ast, J.Harrellson 8+9reb+5ast, S.Taiki 7+2reb, I.Ryota 6+1ast, Y.Childs 6+3reb+2ast
Nagoya DD: T.Saito 20+2reb+3ast, S.Eatherton 15+10reb+7ast, Y.Suda 12+5reb+4ast, T.Soares 12+6reb+2ast, J.Smith 10+7reb, T.Nakahigashi 6+7reb+2ast