B2 League Round 54 (Regular Season): Kagoshima lose to Fukui B.

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Fukui between second ranked Kagoshima (33-21) and fourth ranked Blowinds (29-25) on Sunday night. Kagoshima was defeated by Blowinds on the road 78-93. Fukui B. looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. It was a good game for American forward Perry Ellis (203-1993, college: Kansas) who led his team to a victory with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The other American import Ryan Kelly (211-1991, college: Duke, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 24 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) replied with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds for Kagoshima. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Newly promoted Fukui B. maintains fourth position with 29-25 record. Kagoshima at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the second place with 21 games lost. Fukui B. are looking forward to face Fukushima (#7) at home in the next round. Kagoshima will have a break next round.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Shizuoka (31-23) against sixth ranked Storks (22-32) on Sunday night. Host Shizuoka was defeated by Storks in a tough game in Shizuoka 78-86. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Shizuoka. Swingman Ryuya Kaneda (195-2000) scored 25 points to lead the charge for the winners and Chaundee Brown Jr chipped in 24 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn State) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kobe S. maintains sixth position with 22-32 record. Shizuoka at the other side keeps the third place with 23 games lost. Kobe S. will play against Yamagata (#6) at home in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Ehime and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game for Chiba (51-3) which hosted in Chiba second-best Grouses (35-19). First ranked Chiba managed to get a 6-point victory 101-95. Dererk Pardon notched a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort. Even 28 points and 6 rebounds by Aaron White did not help to save the game for Toyama G.. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Chiba have an impressive 12-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 51-3 record. Loser Grouses keeps the second place with 19 games lost. Chiba will meet Aomori W. (#5) on the road in the next round. Toyama G. will have a break next round.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 54: Shinshu beat Fukushima on the road 90-72. Kumamoto V. destroyed Bambitious on its own court 112-57. Aomori W. managed to outperform Yamagata in a road game 75-67.
The most impressive performance of 54th round was 24 points and 7 rebounds by James Bell of Yamagata.



Chiba - Toyama G. 101-95

An interesting game for Chiba (51-3) which hosted in Chiba second-best Grouses (35-19). First ranked Chiba managed to get a 6-point victory 101-95. Chiba outrebounded Toyama G. 35-21 including 21 on the defensive glass. Chiba looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. American center Dererk Pardon (203-1996, college: Northwestern) notched a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and the other American import Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) supported him with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Even 28 points and 6 rebounds by American forward Aaron White (206-1992, college: Iowa, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Toyama G.. American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) added 18 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Chiba have an impressive 12-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 51-3 record. Loser Grouses keeps the second place with 19 games lost. Chiba will meet Aomori W. (#5) on the road in the next round. Toyama G. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Toyama G.: A.White 28+6reb+2ast, E.Phelps 18+4reb+3ast, T.Kennedy 13+2ast, Y.Nozaki 12+1reb+1ast, M.Watt 8+2reb+2ast, N.Uto 4+1reb+3ast
Chiba: D.Pardon 19+12reb+3ast, T.Kida 18+1reb, B.Ashley 18+9reb+3ast, T.Porter 15+3reb+3ast, K.Kurokawa 7+2reb+3ast, K.Sugimoto 7+4reb+4ast

Fukui B. - Kagoshima 93-78

The most important game in the last round took place in Fukui between second ranked Kagoshima (33-21) and fourth ranked Blowinds (29-25) on Sunday night. Kagoshima was defeated by Blowinds on the road 78-93. Fukui B. looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. It was a good game for American forward Perry Ellis (203-1993, college: Kansas) who led his team to a victory with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The other American import Ryan Kelly (211-1991, college: Duke, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 24 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) replied with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds and American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Kagoshima. Four Kagoshima players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Newly promoted Fukui B. maintains fourth position with 29-25 record. Kagoshima at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the second place with 21 games lost. Fukui B. are looking forward to face Fukushima (#7) at home in the next round. Kagoshima will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kagoshima: M.Haarms 25+11reb, J.Ennis 18+2reb+2ast, A.Gaines Jr. 14+10reb+2ast, Y.Ametani 10+1reb+1ast, T.Komamizu 4+1ast, H.Fujita 3+1reb
Fukui B.: P.Ellis 25+6reb+5ast, R.Kelly 24+7reb+2ast, K.Kimura 14+1reb+4ast, J.Mitsuda 9+5reb+2ast, S.Tawatari 8+1reb+1ast, T.Hasegawa 6+3reb+3ast

Fukushima - Shinshu BW 72-90

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Brave Warriors (34-20) beat 7th ranked Firebonds (13-41) in Fukushima 90-72 on Sunday. American forward Perrin Buford (198-1994, college: MTSU, agency: Pensack Sports) notched a double-double by scoring 37 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and the former international guard Aki Chambers (191-1990, college: UC Merced) supported him with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Even a double-double of 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists by Nigerian-American power forward Morris Udeze (206-1999, college: N.Mexico, agency: Pensack Sports) did not help to save the game for Fukushima. American-Hungarian forward Mikael Hopkins (206-1993, college: Georgetown) added 13 points and 9 rebounds. Firebonds' coach rotated ten players seeing no chance for a win. Shinshu maintains third position with 34-20 record having just three points less than leader Chiba. Loser Firebonds keeps the seventh place with 41 games lost. Shinshu will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Fukushima will play against Fukui B. (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: M.Udeze 21+12reb+5ast, T.Iju 15+1reb+2ast, M.Hopkins 13+9reb+2ast, S.Sato 7+1reb+2ast, S.Hayashi 6+1reb+3ast, K.Kasai 5+2reb+2ast
Shinshu BW: P.Buford 37+10reb+7ast, A.Chambers 15+5reb, K.Ishikawa 10+3reb+6ast, H.Watanabe 8+1ast, T.Kano 6+3reb, T.Kodama 6+3reb+3ast

Kumamoto V. - Bambitious N. 112-57

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when one of their biggest challengers Bambitious (24-30) was smashed by fifth ranked Volters (24-30) in Kumamoto 112-57 on Sunday. Kumamoto V. dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Bambitious N.' 28. They outrebounded Bambitious 39-22 including a 26-13 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kumamoto V. shot the lights out from three sinking 17 long-distance shots on high 60.7 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Bambitious' players. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) notched a double-double by scoring 21 points and 15 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and guard Chikara Tanaka (188-2002, college: Bethel, IN, agency: Schafer Sports) supported him with 18 points. Four Volters players scored in double figures. Even 14 points and 5 rebounds by American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) did not help to save the game for Bambitious. Guard Eiji Hayashi (188-1997) added 13 points (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kumamoto V. moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Bambitious. Kumamoto V. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Bambitious will play against the league's leader Fukuoka R. (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Bambitious N.: S.Hines 14+5reb+3ast, E.Hayashi 13+1reb+1ast, S.Ishii 10+1reb+1ast, E.Nakatani 8+4reb, S.Mayama 6+1reb, T.Abe 4+2reb
Kumamoto V.: M.Lightfoot 21+15reb+3ast, C.Tanaka 18+1reb+3ast, T.Lamb 12+1reb+2ast, A.Yamada 12+1ast, K.Hosaka 10+3reb+3ast, G.Echenique 10+7reb+2ast

Shizuoka - Kobe S. 78-86

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Shizuoka (31-23) against sixth ranked Storks (22-32) on Sunday night. Host Shizuoka was defeated by Storks in a tough game in Shizuoka 78-86. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Shizuoka. Kobe S. shot the lights out from three nailing 12 long-distance shots on high 52.2 percentage. Swingman Ryuya Kaneda (195-2000) scored 25 points to lead the charge for the winners and American guard Chaundee Brown Jr (195-1998, college: Michigan) chipped in 24 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn State) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and New Zealand-Irish Finn Delany (200-1995, college: SW Baptist) scored 17 points. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kobe S. maintains sixth position with 22-32 record. Shizuoka at the other side keeps the third place with 23 games lost. Kobe S. will play against Yamagata (#6) at home in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Ehime and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: J.Harrar 20+10reb+2ast, F.Delany 17+3reb+2ast, Y.Okada 12+2reb+7ast, M.Taylor-Barone 9+2reb+2ast, K.Masuda 7+3reb, R.Hashimoto 3+6ast
Kobe S.: R.Kaneda 25+3reb+1ast, C.Brown Jr. 24+4reb+1ast, I.Butts 10+9reb+2ast, R.Nomizo 6+1reb+1ast, N.Dohara 6+1reb+4ast, R.Fujiwara 5+1reb+3ast

Yamagata - Aomori W. 67-75

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when sixth ranked Watts (20-34) won against 5th ranked Wyverns (20-34) in Yamagata 75-67 on Sunday. Czech Patrik Auda (206-1989, college: Seton Hall, agency: Octagon Europe) notched a double-double by scoring 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and point guard Yuichi Ikeda (183-1997) supported him with 17 points and 8 assists. Four Watts players scored in double figures. Even 24 points and 7 rebounds by American James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Yamagata. Guard Taisei Shirato (183-1995) added 12 points and 7 rebounds. Wyverns' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Aomori W. moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Yamagata. Aomori W. will meet at home league's leader Chiba in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Yamagata will play against Kobe S. (#6) in Hyogo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: J.Bell 24+7reb+3ast, T.Shirato 12+7reb+2ast, T.Holyfield 9+11reb, R.Abe 8+7reb+1ast, L.Demetrio 7+8reb+2ast, K.Okajima 3+2reb+2ast
Aomori W.: P.Auda 17+12reb+2ast, Y.Ikeda 17+4reb+8ast, R.Kelly 14+8reb+4ast, M.Hall 12+7reb+2ast, S.Tokairin 8+5reb, W.Igari 5+2reb