B2 League Round 4 (Regular Season): Ehime defeat Shizuoka in the closest game of the week

B2 League Regular Season is still in too early stage and there may be still significant changes in the standings. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 4 in the B2 League took place in Matsuyama. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 7th ranked Veltex (1-3) to second ranked Orange Vikings (3-1) 79-76 in the game for the second place. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 30 personal fouls committed by Shizuoka helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 8 rebounds and point guard Takumi Furuno (178-1993) who added 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists (made all of his eight free throws) during the contest. At the losing side Australian center Angus Brandt (208-1989, college: Oregon St.) responded with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Orange Vikings have a solid three-game winning streak. Ehime maintains second position with 3-1 record behind leader Kobe S., which they share with Fukushima. Shizuoka at the other side dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with 5 other teams. Ehime is looking forward to face Fukuoka R. (#4) on the road in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Bambitious and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Watts (2-2) against seventh ranked Wyverns (1-3) on Sunday night. Visiting Watts were crushed by Wyverns in Yamagata 90-61. The winners were led by American center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 17 rebounds and 6 assists and Shaquille Doorson supported him with 8 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Even a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds by American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Aomori W.. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Wyverns left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with 5 other teams. Aomori W. at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Fukui B.. Yamagata will play against Kumamoto V. (#6) at home in the next round. Aomori W. will play against Fukushima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Rebnise (1-2) against fifth ranked Excellence (2-1) on Monday night. Visiting Rebnise was defeated by Excellence in Yokohama 86-75. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Tray Boyd III fired 31 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Anthony Gaines Jr produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 16 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Yokohama moved-up to second place. Loser Rebnise dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. Yokohama will meet at home Iwate (#6) in the next round. Kagoshima will play against the league's leader Kobe S. and hope to win that game.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 4: Shinshu won against Kumamoto V. on the opponent's court 83-65. Fukuoka R. unfortunately lost to Fukushima in a home game 80-88. Kobe S. managed to beat Bambitious on the road 81-66.



Kumamoto V. - Shinshu BW 65-83

Very expected game in Kumamoto where 6th ranked Volters (1-3) were defeated by top-ranked Brave Warriors (4-0) 83-65 on Sunday. Shinshu forced 20 Kumamoto V. turnovers. American Mike Daum (206-1995, college: S.Dakota St.) fired 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. The other American import center Wayne Marshall (211-1986, college: Temple) chipped in 16 points. American center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) produced 20 points and guard Hiroaki Isono (186-1998) added 8 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Four Kumamoto V. players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Brave Warriors have a solid four-game winning streak. Shinshu maintains first position with 4-0 record, which they share with Kobe S. Loser Volters dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with 5 other teams. Shinshu will meet Fukui B. (#5) on the road in the next round. Kumamoto V. will play against Yamagata and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Shinshu BW: T.Daiki 17+3ast, W.Marshall 16+3reb+2ast, M.Daum 14+7reb+2ast, S.Ikuhara 9+4reb+4ast, A.Chambers 9+6reb, E.Kojima-Donley 7+2reb
Kumamoto V.: Y.Shota 20+4reb+2ast, G.Echenique 12+2reb+2ast, M.Lightfoot 10+7reb+1ast, N.Djurisic 10+4reb+3ast, H.Isono 8+5reb+5ast, C.Tanaka 3+1reb

Fukuoka R. - Fukushima 80-88

Rather predictable result in Fukuoka where third ranked Firebonds (3-1) defeated 5th ranked Rizing (1-3) 88-80 on Sunday. Fukushima looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American swingman Kenny Manigault (195-1991, college: Pikeville) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. chipped in 27 points (made all of his seven free throws). Spanish Pablo Aguilar (204-1989, agency: Octagon Europe) produced 21 points and 9 rebounds and Puerto Rican-American swingman Davon Reed (198-1995, college: Miami, FL) added 21 points (made all of his seven free throws) 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. Fukushima moved-up to second place, which they share with Ehime. Loser Rizing dropped to the third position with three games lost. They share it with 5 other teams. Fukushima will meet Aomori W. (#4) on the road in the next round. Fukuoka R. will play against the league's second-placed Ehime and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: N.Tsukasa 27+3reb+3ast, P.Gardner 19+10reb+2ast, K.Manigault 17+12reb+5ast, D.Bamba 13+10reb+1ast, J.Nunge 8+6reb+2ast, M.Takumi 4+2reb+7ast
Fukuoka R.: P.Aguilar 21+9reb+1ast, D.Reed 21+3reb+2ast, J.Burrell 12+9reb+1ast, R.Aoki 11+4reb+6ast, A.Keisuke 7+5reb+3ast, Y.Karino 6+2reb+1ast

Bambitious N. - Kobe S. 66-81

Not a big story in a game when 4th ranked Nara (1-3) was defeated at home by top-ranked Storks (4-0) 81-66 on Sunday. Kobe S. dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Nara' 30. Americans were the main players on the court. Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) fired a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Rawle Alkins (197-1997, college: Arizona) chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds. Four Storks players scored in double figures. Forward Jaemyn Brakefield (203-2000, college: Ole Miss) produced 28 points and 6 rebounds and center Nigel Spikes (208-1989, college: Marshall) added 7 points and 14 rebounds (made all of his seven free throws) respectively for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Storks have a solid four-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains first position with 4-0 record, which they share with Shinshu. Bambitious lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with 5 other teams. Kobe S. will meet Kagoshima (#5) in the next round. Bambitious will play against Shizuoka and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Kobe S.: Y.Childs 16+11reb+1ast, K.Ryuya 14+1reb+1ast, R.Alkins 14+6reb+3ast, T.Shuto 10+1reb+6ast, D.Noriaki 7, I.Butts 6+8reb+1ast
Bambitious N.: J.Brakefield 28+6reb+3ast, H.Jumpei 8+1reb, S.Tatsuya 8+2ast, N.Spikes 7+14reb, J.Dallas 6+4reb+1ast, O.Yuto 4+1reb+3ast

Yamagata - Aomori W. 90-61

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Watts (2-2) against seventh ranked Wyverns (1-3) on Sunday night. Visiting Watts were crushed by Wyverns in Yamagata 90-61. Yamagata dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Watts's 28. Yamagata outrebounded Aomori W. 49-32 including a 38-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. The winners were led by American center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 17 rebounds and 6 assists and Dutch center Shaquille Doorson (213-1994, college: Rutgers) supported him with 8 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Even a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds by American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Aomori W.. His fellow American import Rashard Kelly (203-1995, college: Wichita St.) added 4 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists 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. Wyverns left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with 5 other teams. Aomori W. at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Fukui B.. Yamagata will play against Kumamoto V. (#6) at home in the next round. Aomori W. will play against Fukushima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: N.Waterman 33+17reb+6ast, Y.Kentaro 10, M.Shinya 10+1reb, N.Shuki 8+1reb+4ast, S.Doorson 8+12reb+4ast, R.Abe 7+3reb
Aomori W.: M.Hisatake 17+13reb, T.Kyonosuke 9+1reb, O.Masahiro 9+2reb+2ast, T.Dalger 8+3reb+1ast, W.Wang 6+2reb+2ast, R.Kelly 4+7reb+4ast

Ehime OV - Shizuoka 79-76

The most exciting game of round 4 in the B2 League took place in Matsuyama. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 7th ranked Veltex (1-3) to second ranked Orange Vikings (3-1) 79-76 in the game for the second place. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 30 personal fouls committed by Shizuoka helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 8 rebounds and point guard Takumi Furuno (178-1993) who added 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists (made all of his eight free throws) during the contest. At the losing side Australian center Angus Brandt (208-1989, college: Oregon St.) responded with 17 points and 8 rebounds and Norwegian forward Chris-Ebou Ndow (199-1993, college: NW Missouri St.) scored 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Orange Vikings have a solid three-game winning streak. Ehime maintains second position with 3-1 record behind leader Kobe S., which they share with Fukushima. Shizuoka at the other side dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with 5 other teams. Ehime is looking forward to face Fukuoka R. (#4) on the road in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Bambitious and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: S.Hines 20+3reb, M.Haarms 19+8reb+2ast, M.Watt 12+5reb+6ast, T.Furuno 10+8reb+5ast, E.Hayashi 6+2reb+1ast, Y.Toshino 6+1reb
Shizuoka: A.Brandt 17+8reb+3ast, H.Ryoma 16+2reb+4ast, C.Ndow 12+6reb+4ast, S.Takumi 10+4reb+2ast, S.Hayashi 9+1ast, T.Schneider 9+6reb

Yokohama EX - Kagoshima 86-75

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Rebnise (1-2) against fifth ranked Excellence (2-1) on Monday night. Visiting Rebnise was defeated by Excellence in Yokohama 86-75. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Yokohama forced 24 Kagoshima turnovers. American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) fired 31 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. British forward Benjamin Lawson (216-1995, college: WKU) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds (made all of his ten free throws !!!). American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 16 rebounds and Czech Patrik Auda (206-1989, college: Seton Hall, agency: Octagon Europe) added 16 points and 6 rebounds 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. Yokohama moved-up to second place. Loser Rebnise dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. Yokohama will meet at home Iwate (#6) in the next round. Kagoshima will play against the league's leader Kobe S. and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Yokohama EX: T.Boyd III 31+5reb, B.Lawson 14+12reb+2ast, N.Io 14+5reb+4ast, K.Hironao 11+6reb+1ast, E.Williams 6+4reb+2ast, J.Uera 5+3reb+2ast
Kagoshima: A.Gaines Jr. 19+16reb+3ast, T.Tada 17+3reb+1ast, P.Auda 16+6reb+1ast, J.Sharma 10+9reb+1ast, T.Kodama 8+3reb+3ast, F.Hiroshi 3+1reb+1ast