B2 League Round 1 (Regular Season): Kumamoto V. lose to Chiba

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Volters in Kumamoto on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Chiba 96-78. Chiba outrebounded Kumamoto V. 51-24 including a 27-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. Chiba looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American center Dererk Pardon (203-1996, college: Northwestern) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winners. His fellow American import Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) chipped in 19 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Shota Yamamoto (188-1999) produced 28 points and 4 assists for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Chiba will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Volters will play again at home against Chiba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was between Shizuoka and Wyverns where Shizuoka beat Wyverns on the road 83-78. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn State) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points and 16 rebounds. Keisuke Masuda contributed with 15 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American TJ Holyfield (203-1995, college: Texas Tech) answered with 18 points and 6 rebounds for Wyverns. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shizuoka will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Yamagata will play again at home against Shizuoka and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game was played in Nara where Aomori W. beat host Bambitious 91-84 on Saturday evening. Max Hisatake stepped up with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Watts' coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side Shaquille Hines responded with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Aomori W. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Bambitious will play against Aomori W. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Other games of round 1 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Ehime lost to Fukushima in a road game 70-85. Fukui B. beat Shinshu at home 80-73. Fukuoka R. lost to Kagoshima on the opponent's court 75-76. Toyama G. managed to outperform Kobe S. in a home game 86-85.
The best stats of 1st round was 21 points and 14 rebounds by Morris Udeze of Kobe S..



Kumamoto V. - Chiba 78-96

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Volters in Kumamoto on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Chiba 96-78. Chiba outrebounded Kumamoto V. 51-24 including a 27-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. Chiba looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American center Dererk Pardon (203-1996, college: Northwestern) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winners. His fellow American import Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) chipped in a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds. Four Chiba players scored in double figures. Guard Shota Yamamoto (188-1999) produced 28 points and 4 assists and American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas) added 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Chiba will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Volters will play again at home against Chiba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Chiba: B.Ashley 19+14reb+1ast, T.Porter 18+10reb+2ast, D.Pardon 17+15reb+3ast, R.Maeda 13+2reb+3ast, T.Kida 9+2reb+3ast, Y.Osaki 6
Kumamoto V.: S.Yamamoto 28+4reb+4ast, T.Lamb 15+1reb+3ast, M.Lightfoot 14+8reb+1ast, Y.Noguchi 8+2reb+1ast, R.Motomura 7+1ast, K.Sawabe 3

Fukushima - Ehime OV 85-70

Firebonds used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Matsuyama 85-70 on Saturday night. Fukushima looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American-Hungarian forward Mikael Hopkins (206-1993, college: Georgetown) stepped up and scored 29 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and Lithuanian forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati) chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds. Firebonds' coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side American center Kenny Lawson (207-1988, college: Creighton) responded with 19 points and 5 rebounds and Yoshihiko Toshino (188-1992) scored 20 points. Firebonds will meet at home Ehime in the next round. Orange Vikings will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: M.Hopkins 29+7reb+2ast, T.Tada 20+2reb+2ast, R.Ivanauskas 16+10reb+3ast, R.Tawatari 7+1reb+6ast, T.Iju 6+1reb, S.Hayashi 4+1reb+3ast
Ehime OV: Y.Toshino 20+4reb+1ast, K.Lawson 19+5reb+1ast, J.Stark 10+4reb+8ast, R.Aoki 8+1reb+1ast, R.Otomo 5, N.Spikes 4+8reb+5ast

Yamagata - Shizuoka 78-83

Another exciting game was between Shizuoka and Wyverns where Shizuoka beat Wyverns on the road 83-78. Shizuoka outrebounded Wyverns 51-38 including a 35-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. Wyverns were plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn State) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points and 16 rebounds. Swingman Keisuke Masuda (194-1998) contributed with 15 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American TJ Holyfield (203-1995, college: Texas Tech) answered with 18 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) added 13 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Wyverns. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shizuoka will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Yamagata will play again at home against Shizuoka and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: F.Delany 17+4reb+1ast, K.Masuda 15+6reb+2ast, N.Hashimoto 14+5reb+1ast, Y.Okada 13+2reb+2ast, J.Harrar 11+16reb+2ast, T.Takumi 5+2reb+3ast
Yamagata: T.Holyfield 18+6reb+1ast, K.Okajima 15+1reb+3ast, S.Murakami 14+1ast, J.Bell 13+8reb+3ast, R.Adams 6+6reb+2ast, R.Saito 5+3reb+1ast

Fukui B. - Shinshu BW 80-73

Blowinds used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Nagano 80-73 on Saturday night. Fukui B. made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. American Ryan Kelly (211-1991, college: Duke, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up and scored 22 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and guard Keigo Kimura (188-2000, college: St.Joseph, CT) chipped in 16 points. At the losing side American forward Perrin Buford (198-1994, college: MTSU, agency: Pensack Sports) responded with 16 points and 9 rebounds and the other American import guard Terrance Woodbury (203-1987, college: Georgia) scored 16 points (made all of his seven free throws). Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Blowinds will meet at home Shinshu in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Brave Warriors will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukui B.: R.Kelly 22+7reb+2ast, K.Kimura 16+1reb+1ast, J.Mitsuda 11+2reb, M.Hosoya 9+2reb+2ast, P.Ellis 8+4reb+4ast, Y.Nishino 5+4reb+1ast
Shinshu BW: P.Buford 16+9reb+3ast, T.Woodbury 16+3reb+2ast, K.Ishikawa 8+3reb+5ast, T.Kano 7+4reb, E.Kojima-Donley 7+3reb+1ast, H.Watanabe 6+8reb+1ast

Kagoshima - Fukuoka R. 76-75

Kagoshima used a home court advantage and edged the opponent from Fukuoka 76-75 on Saturday night. American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr. (195-1993, college: LCU) stepped up and scored 21 points for the winners and his fellow American import Kyle Richardson (200-1991, college: Portland St.) chipped in 9 points and 8 rebounds. At the losing side American center Joshua Smith (210-1992, college: Georgetown) responded with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists and Spanish Pablo Aguilar (204-1989, agency: Octagon Europe) scored 20 points and 8 rebounds. Four Fukuoka R. players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Kagoshima will meet at home Fukuoka R. in the next round. Rizing will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kagoshima: A.Gaines Jr. 21+4reb+2ast, Y.Morita 10+1reb+1ast, K.Richardson 9+8reb+1ast, Y.Ametani 9+2reb+2ast, B.Diouf 7+3reb, T.Kodama 7+3reb+6ast
Fukuoka R.: P.Aguilar 20+8reb+2ast, T.Nakamura 19+6reb+1ast, J.Smith 17+9reb+5ast, K.Aita 10+3reb, H.Taniguchi 3+4reb+3ast, T.Nishikawa 3+1reb+1ast

Bambitious N. - Aomori W. 84-91

An interesting game was played in Nara where Aomori W. beat host Bambitious 91-84 on Saturday evening. Watts looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds for the winners and point guard Yuichi Ikeda (183-1997) chipped in 21 points and 12 assists. Watts' coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) responded with 25 points and 9 rebounds and the other American import center Stephen Zimmerman (211-1996, college: UNLV, agency: Slash Sports) scored 16 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots). Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Aomori W. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Bambitious will play against Aomori W. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: M.Hisatake 28+11reb+2ast, Y.Ikeda 21+3reb+12ast, M.Hall 18+5reb+1ast, R.Kelly 17+12reb+2ast, K.Terashima 5, S.Tokairin 2+2reb+1ast
Bambitious N.: S.Hines 25+9reb+2ast, S.Zimmerman 16+7reb, C.Jackson 12+6reb+2ast, E.Hayashi 10+4reb, J.Honda 10+1reb+5ast, Y.Otsuka 8+2reb+5ast

Toyama G. - Kobe S. 86-85

Grouses used a home court advantage and edged the opponent from Hyogo 86-85 on Saturday night. American forward Aaron White (206-1992, college: Iowa, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals for the winners and American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) chipped in 20 points and 9 rebounds. Five Grouses players scored in double figures. At the losing side Nigerian-American power forward Morris Udeze (206-1999, college: N.Mexico, agency: Pensack Sports) responded with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds and American guard Chaundee Brown Jr. (195-1998, college: Michigan) scored 22 points. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Grouses will meet at home Kobe S. in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Storks will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Toyama G.: E.Phelps 20+9reb, A.White 14+11reb+5ast, N.Uto 14+4reb+8ast, M.Watt 14+5reb, T.Kennedy 12+4reb+2ast, K.Takahashi 7+1ast
Kobe S.: C.Brown Jr. 22+2reb, M.Udeze 21+14reb+3ast, N.Dohara 17+1reb+4ast, Y.Tsunai 8+5ast, R.Fujiwara 5+2reb+3ast, P.Kalonji 4+3reb