B3 League Round 4 (Regular Season): Saitama defeat Okayama

This is still too early stage of the Regular Season in B3 League and we should expect many changes in upcoming rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was the first loss of Try Hoop (3-1) in Okayama on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by seventh ranked Broncos (3-1) 81-70. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Try Hoop. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) who helped to win the game recording 9 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Ryota Kondo (190-1996) contributed with 18 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winners. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) replied with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds for Okayama. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Saitama moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Okayama. Saitama is looking forward to face Tokyo Utd (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Okayama will play against Shinagawa (#14) and is hoping to win this game.
Samuraiz's fans can celebrate the first win of their team after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Pats Five (1-3) 84-83. Worth to mention a great performance of New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) who helped to win the game recording 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Takayuki Omori who added 22 points during the contest. At the losing side American forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Samuraiz left bottom position moving up to ninth place, which they share with Yamaguchi. Kanazawa will play against Veertien Mie (#12) in Yokkaichi in the next round. Yamaguchi will play at home against Niigata A. to get more than just one victory in their record.
B3 League top team - Five Arrows (4-0) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed tenth ranked United (0-2) in Tokyo 93-74. The winners were led by Alex Davis who scored that evening 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Even 29 points and 6 rebounds by Hayden Koval did not help to save the game for Tokyo Utd. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Five Arrows have a solid four-game winning streak. Kagawa maintains first position with 4-0 record, which they share with Tokyo and Tokushima Gam. Tokyo Utd at the other side still closes the standings with two games lost. They share the position with Veertien Mie. Kagawa will meet league's second-placed Tokushima Gam. on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Tokyo Utd will play against Saitama (#4) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Other games in round 4 were not that significant. Tokyo beat Tachikawa on the road 90-73. Winless Niigata A. lost to undefeated Tokushima Gam. on its own court 74-84. Winless Shinagawa unfortunately lost to Gifu in a road game 79-82.



Tokyo Utd - Kagawa FA 74-93

B3 League top team - Five Arrows (4-0) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed tenth ranked United (0-2) in Tokyo 93-74. Kagawa looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The winners were led by American forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) who scored that evening 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and supported him with 9 points and 6 rebounds. Even 29 points and 6 rebounds by American center Hayden Koval (216-1997, college: Cincinnati, agency: Diamond Sports) did not help to save the game for Tokyo Utd. Hiroki Higashi added 9 points and 6 assists for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Five Arrows have a solid four-game winning streak. Kagawa maintains first position with 4-0 record, which they share with Tokyo and Tokushima Gam. Tokyo Utd at the other side still closes the standings with two games lost. They share the position with Veertien Mie. Kagawa will meet league's second-placed Tokushima Gam. on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Tokyo Utd will play against Saitama (#4) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Kagawa FA: A.Davis 14+8reb+6ast, T.Haymond 13+4reb+1ast, T.Katsumi 12+1ast, T.Ikumi 10+1ast, U.Yuya 10+2ast, K.Patrick 9+6reb+3ast
Tokyo Utd: H.Koval 29+6reb+1ast, K.Ren 9+2reb+2ast, H.Hiroki 9+1reb+6ast, F.Wesley 9+3reb, T.Shinnosuke 8+2reb+4ast, X.Ren 6

Tachikawa - Tokyo HT 73-90

No shocking result in a game when top-ranked Hachioji Trains (4-0) beat 8th ranked Dice (2-2) in Tachikawa 90-73 on Sunday. Tokyo shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. The winners were led by American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) who scored that evening 24 points and 7 rebounds and supported him with 14 points. Even 32 points by American swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) did not help to save the game for Tachikawa. Rokas Gustys added 4 points and 17 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Hachioji Trains have a solid three-game winning streak. Tokyo keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Kagawa and Tokushima Gam. Loser Dice keeps the eighth place with two games lost. Tokyo will meet Shanan Utd (#5) in the next round. Tachikawa will play against Gifu and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tokyo HT: T.Sullivan 24+7reb+3ast, O.Hiroya 14+3reb+2ast, K.Takaya 13+4reb+1ast, J.Janssen 9+3reb+2ast, T.Keitaro 7, I.Shuto 6+3ast
Tachikawa: L.Peak 32+3reb+1ast, M.Yuto 9+3reb, O.Shota 7+1reb, A.Fitzgerald 7+5reb+2ast, M.Ousu 5+1reb+4ast, S.Fumiya 4+2reb

Niigata A. - Tokushima Gam. 74-84

Very expected game when bottom-ranked Albirex (0-4) lost to top-ranked Gambarous (4-0) in Niigata 74-84 on Sunday. Tokushima Gam. looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Niigata A.'s players. The winners were led by American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who scored that evening 30 points and Canadian center Chris McLaughlin (208-1992, college: Victoria) supported him with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Even 19 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks (made all of his seven free throws) by American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) did not help to save the game for Niigata A.. added 16 points for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Gambarous have a solid four-game winning streak. Tokushima Gam. keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Kagawa and Tokyo. Loser Albirex still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Tokyo Z and Shinagawa. Tokushima Gam. will meet at home league's leader Kagawa in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Niigata A. will play against Yamaguchi (#9) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: T.Dawson 30+4reb, C.McLaughlin 16+12reb+4ast, R.Adams 9+5reb+1ast, N.Moriyama 7+5reb+2ast, I.Eitaro 6+1reb, T.Yusuke 4+4ast
Niigata A.: J.Mutombo 19+9reb, N.Mitsuki 16+3reb+3ast, E.Phelps 8+11reb, P.Isaiah 8+5reb+2ast, H.Aruma 7+3reb+3ast, H.Tomonobu 5

Kanazawa - Yamaguchi 84-83

Samuraiz's fans can celebrate the first win of their team after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Pats Five (1-3) 84-83. Kanazawa made 17-of-20 charity shots (85.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 Yamaguchi turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) who helped to win the game recording 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and who added 22 points during the contest. Four Samuraiz players scored in double figures. At the losing side American forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) and his fellow American import center Antavion Collum (206-2000, college: McNeese St.) scored 19 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Samuraiz left bottom position moving up to ninth place, which they share with Yamaguchi. Kanazawa will play against Veertien Mie (#12) in Yokkaichi in the next round. Yamaguchi will play at home against Niigata A. to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Kanazawa: O.Takayuki 22+2reb+2ast, T.Issei 17+1reb+1ast, H.Harris 12+8reb+6ast, C.Jediael 11+5reb+3ast, H.Koki 7+2reb+1ast, M.Gashu 6+4reb
Yamaguchi: A.Collum 19+4reb+3ast, B.Even 15+13reb+1ast, Y.Rikiya 14+2reb+1ast, H.Bostyn 8+6reb+1ast, I.Yuki 7+2reb, S.Arvinder 5+3reb

Gifu - Shinagawa 82-79

Very predictable result when sixth ranked Swoops (3-1) edged bottom-ranked Shinagawa (0-4) in Gifu 82-79 on Sunday. However just three-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The winners were led by American forward Blake Preston (206-2000, college: Northwestern) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds and point guard Reo Yamazaki (179-1999) supported him with 16 points. Four Swoops players scored in double figures. Even 26 points and 6 rebounds by American guard Jaycee Hillsman (200-1996, college: Illinois St.) did not help to save the game for Shinagawa. Lithuanian Grantas Vasiliauskas (204-1999) added 20 points and 8 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Gifu moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Shinagawa still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Niigata A. and Tokyo Z. Gifu will meet Tachikawa (#8) on the road in the next round. Shinagawa will play against Okayama (#7) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Gifu: R.Yamazaki 16+2reb+3ast, B.Preston 14+11reb+3ast, O.Souta 13+3reb+3ast, J.Giles 12+4reb+2ast, D.Fotu 8+9reb+2ast, T.Kodai 7+2ast
Shinagawa: J.Hillsman 26+6reb+2ast, G.Vasiliauskas 20+8reb+1ast, R.Tawatari 12+1reb+3ast, O.Tomoya 8+6reb+4ast, H.Seiya 6, N.Akihisa 3+1reb

Okayama - Saitama 70-81

The most surprising game was the first loss of Try Hoop (3-1) in Okayama on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by seventh ranked Broncos (3-1) 81-70. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Try Hoop. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) who helped to win the game recording 9 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Ryota Kondo (190-1996) contributed with 18 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winners. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) replied with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) added 13 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Okayama. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Saitama moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams including defeated Okayama. Saitama is looking forward to face Tokyo Utd (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Okayama will play against Shinagawa (#14) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Saitama: R.Kondo 18+2reb+1ast, M.Keijuro 16+2reb, T.Buttrick 9+11reb+1ast, T.Nesmith 8+7reb+1ast, D.Oliver 8+6reb+3ast, A.Tajima 7+3ast
Okayama: J.Scott 15+12reb, T.King 13+7reb, H.Akiyama 11+4reb+3ast, Y.Toshiki 9+2reb+6ast, T.Keisuke 6+2ast, M.Yusuke 6+1reb+1ast