B3 League Round 12 (Regular Season): Tokushima Gam. lose to Shinagawa

It's still too early stage of the Regular Season in B3 League, but even now we can clearly see the difference between stronger teams and outsiders. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Gambarous (12-2) recorded its second loss on the court of fifteenth ranked Shinagawa on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Shinagawa 97-93. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Gambarous. Shinagawa made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 53.8 percentage. Shinagawa looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) who had a double-double by scoring 31 points and 14 rebounds (went 11 for 11 at the free throw line !!!). The former international point guard Ryo Tawatari (180-1993, college: Dominican, CA) chipped in 33 points (!!!) and 7 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who recorded 28 points. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Shinagawa (2-12) moved-up to fourteenth place. Tokushima Gam. at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Important game to mention about took place in Takamatsu. Second ranked Five Arrows (9-2) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Broncos (7-4) 83-81 on Saturday evening. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Tucker Haymond contributed with 20 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) replied with 19 points and 7 rebounds for Saitama. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Five Arrows have an impressive five-game winning streak. Kagawa maintains second position with 9-2 record having 3 victories less than leader Tokushima Gam., which they share with Tokyo. Saitama at the other side keeps the fifth place with four games lost. Kagawa will play against Saitama (#5) at home in the next round. Saitama will have a break next round.
Leader Gambarous delivered the twelfth victory on Friday night. This time they beat 15th ranked Shinagawa (2-12) 82-71. Worth to mention a quality performance of Chris McLaughlin who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field). The best for the losing side was Victor Hart with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Gambarous have a solid four-game winning streak. Tokushima Gam. maintains first position with 12-2 record. Loser Shinagawa dropped to the fourteenth place with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

Rest of the games of round 12 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Veertien Mie was defeated by Tokyo in a road game 84-69. Niigata A. was beaten by Tokyo Utd at home 80-98. Tachikawa lost to Kanazawa on the opponent's court 112-115. Gifu unfortunately lost to Okayama in a home game 80-90. Tokyo Z recorded a loss to Yamaguchi on the road 69-85.



Shinagawa - Tokushima Gam. 71-82

Leader Gambarous delivered the twelfth victory on Friday night. This time they beat 15th ranked Shinagawa (2-12) 82-71. Tokushima Gam. outrebounded Shinagawa 45-30 including 16 on the offensive glass. Tokushima Gam. looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of Canadian center Chris McLaughlin (208-1992, college: Victoria, agency: Starting 5) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) and American-Filipino guard Roosevelt Adams (196-1998, college: Idaho Coll.) who added 15 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) with 16 points and 9 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Marius Grazulis (211-2002, college: GVSU, agency: Diamond Sports) scored 11 points. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Gambarous have a solid four-game winning streak. Tokushima Gam. maintains first position with 12-2 record. Loser Shinagawa dropped to the fourteenth place with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: M.Chris 22+10reb+5ast, A.Roosevelt 15+5reb+1ast, D.Tavrion 11+6reb+2ast, L.Ryan 7+7reb+5ast, Y.Tsukamoto 6+4reb+5ast, M.Reita 6+2reb
Shinagawa: V.Hart 16+9reb+3ast, M.Grazulis 11+3reb+1ast, B.Ali 10+4reb+1ast, R.Tawatari 8+1reb+4ast, K.Yudai 8+1reb+4ast, O.Kunitatsu 5+1reb+3ast

Shinagawa - Tokushima Gam. 97-93

Top ranked Gambarous (12-2) recorded its second loss on the court of fifteenth ranked Shinagawa on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Shinagawa 97-93. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Gambarous. Shinagawa made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 53.8 percentage. Shinagawa looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) who had a double-double by scoring 31 points and 14 rebounds (went 11 for 11 at the free throw line !!!). The former international point guard Ryo Tawatari (180-1993, college: Dominican, CA) chipped in 33 points (!!!) and 7 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who recorded 28 points and Canadian center Chris McLaughlin (208-1992, college: Victoria, agency: Starting 5) added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists respectively. Four Tokushima Gam. players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Shinagawa (2-12) moved-up to fourteenth place. Tokushima Gam. at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Shinagawa: T.Ryo 33+4reb+7ast, H.Victor 31+14reb+3ast, K.Ogata 11+3reb+2ast, V.Grantas 6+3reb+1ast, G.Marius 6+4reb+6ast, T.Ochiai 4+5reb+3ast
Tokushima Gam.: T.Dawson 28+3reb+2ast, C.McLaughlin 15+8reb+6ast, N.Moriyama 13+3reb, R.Logan 10+2reb+3ast, T.Yusuke 9+4reb+10ast, T.Yutaka 7

Tokyo HT - Veertien Mie 84-69

There was no surprise in Tokyo where 13th ranked Veertien Mie (2-9) was defeated by third ranked Hachioji Trains (9-2) 84-69 on Saturday. Tokyo forced 21 Veertien Mie turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of American swingman Donovan Clay (203-2001, college: Missouri St.) who helped to win the game recording 19 points (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) and Fuki Yamamoto who added 14 points, 7 assists and 6 steals during the contest. Four Hachioji Trains players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American power forward Damonte Dodd (211-1994, college: Maryland) with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 14 rebounds and Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) scored 8 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Tokyo moved-up to second place, which they share with Kagawa. Veertien Mie lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth position with nine games lost. Tokyo will again meet at home Veertien Mie (#13) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Veertien Mie will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tokyo HT: C.Donovan 19+3reb+1ast, F.Yamamoto 14+7ast, S.Taren 12+5reb+4ast, S.Kubema 10+4reb+1ast, T.Kudou 9+3reb+1ast, J.Jonathan 8+8reb+1ast
Veertien Mie: D.Dodd 18+14reb+1ast, M.Yasuyuki 9+1reb+4ast, S.Takaya 9+1reb+1ast, T.Misaki 9+3reb+2ast, D.Doblas 8+9reb+1ast, A.Fuga 7+1reb+2ast

Niigata A. - Tokyo Utd 80-98

There was a surprise result in Niigata where eleventh ranked United (4-7) defeated higher ranked Albirex (7-6) 98-80 on Saturday. Tokyo Utd shot the lights out from three sinking 19 long-distance shots on high 61.3 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Hiroki Higashi who helped to win the game recording 25 points and 5 assists and Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) who added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds and scored 14 points and 5 assists. Five Tokyo Utd and four Niigata A. players scored in double figures. Albirex's coach rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. United have a solid three-game winning streak. Tokyo Utd maintains eleventh position with 4-7 record. Loser Albirex keeps the sixth place with six games lost. Tokyo Utd will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Niigata A. will play against Tokyo Utd (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tokyo Utd: H.Higashi 25+5ast, V.Rhys 16+7reb+5ast, B.Glorida 14+3reb+2ast, S.Kedrick 10+3reb+6ast, R.Kawashima 10+5reb+3ast, K.Tanaka 9+2reb+3ast
Niigata A.: E.Phelps 16+10reb+1ast, H.Aruma 14+2reb+5ast, J.Mutombo 12+7reb, P.Isaiah 12+3reb+3ast, N.Mitsuki 7+3ast, P.Pogue 5+1reb

Kanazawa - Tachikawa 115-112

There was a minor upset in Ishikawa where 7th ranked Dice (6-5) was edged by tenth ranked Samuraiz (6-7) 115-112 on Saturday. Kanazawa forced 19 Tachikawa turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward KJ Allen (198-2000, college: Portland St.) who helped to win the game recording 25 points and 8 rebounds and Takayuki Omori who added 27 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was American power forward Andrew Fitzgerald (202-1990, college: Oklahoma, agency: Octagon Europe) with 30 points and 9 rebounds and Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) scored 22 points and 4 assists. Four Kanazawa and five Tachikawa players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Kanazawa maintains tenth position with 6-7 record. Tachikawa lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with five games lost. They share the position with Gifu. Kanazawa will meet at home higher ranked Tachikawa (#7) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Tachikawa will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kanazawa: T.Omori 27+2reb+1ast, A.KJ 25+8reb+3ast, I.Tomida 15+3reb, C.Jediael 14+6reb, R.Mitsuo 13+3reb+3ast, G.Matsuo 11+4reb+5ast
Tachikawa: A.Fitzgerald 30+9reb+2ast, M.Ousu 22+3reb+4ast, L.Peak 20+5reb+3ast, S.Fumiya 19+2reb+1ast, G.Rokas 12+8reb+1ast, M.Jota 6+2reb+2ast

Gifu - Okayama 80-90

Rather predictable result in Gifu where fourth ranked Try Hoop (9-4) beat 8th ranked Swoops (6-5) 90-80 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds and the other American import guard Kameron Hankerson (196-1998, college: Green Bay, agency: 011 Sports) who added 16 points and 4 assists during the contest. Four Try Hoop players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was point guard Reo Yamazaki (179-1999) with 17 points and American forward Blake Preston (206-2000, college: Northwestern) scored 9 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Okayama maintains fourth position with 9-4 record. Loser Swoops dropped to the seventh place with five games lost. They share the position with Tachikawa. Okayama will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Gifu will play against Okayama (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Okayama: K.Terrance 25+11reb+1ast, H.Kameron 16+4reb+4ast, M.Fofana 15+2reb, A.Hikaru 12+1reb+2ast, K.Takabatake 8+2reb+1ast, K.Wakasa 6
Gifu: R.Yamazaki 17+2reb+1ast, S.Andre 10+7reb+1ast, B.Preston 9+10reb+1ast, D.Fotu 8+4reb, U.Kenshin 8+1reb, O.Souta 6+1reb+2ast

Yamaguchi - Tokyo Z 85-69

Not a big story in a game in Yamaguchi where 14th ranked Earthfriends (1-10) were defeated by twelfth ranked Pats Five (4-9) 85-69 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of Rikiya Yamaguchi who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 5 rebounds and Shuto Kishinaga who added 16 points during the contest. Four Pats Five players scored in double figures. Pats Five's coach Yasutaka Shiori used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American forward Jordan Bruner (208-1997, college: Alabama, agency: Diamond Sports) with 25 points and 8 rebounds and his fellow American import power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) scored 15 points. Yamaguchi maintains twelfth position with 4-9 record. Tokyo Z lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the bottom place with ten games lost. Yamaguchi will meet at home bottom-ranked Tokyo Z (#15) in the next round. Tokyo Z will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: R.Yamaguchi 16+5reb+2ast, S.Kishinaga 16+2reb+2ast, B.Even 12+8reb, C.Antavion 11+3reb+4ast, B.Holt 9+2reb+5ast, Y.Shigetomi 7+1reb
Tokyo Z: J.Bruner 25+8reb+1ast, J.Combs 15+4reb+3ast, T.Yoshi 9+2reb+4ast, M.Benlevi 8+5reb+5ast, S.Sho 5+1reb+1ast, F.Ryoga 4+2reb+3ast

Kagawa FA - Saitama 83-81

Important game to mention about took place in Takamatsu. Second ranked Five Arrows (9-2) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Broncos (7-4) 83-81 on Saturday evening. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Guard Tucker Haymond (195-1994, college: W.Michigan) contributed with 20 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) replied with 19 points and 7 rebounds and forward TJ Nesmith (206-2001, college: Radford) added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for Saitama. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Five Arrows have an impressive five-game winning streak. Kagawa maintains second position with 9-2 record having 3 victories less than leader Tokushima Gam., which they share with Tokyo. Saitama at the other side keeps the fifth place with four games lost. Kagawa will play against Saitama (#5) at home in the next round. Saitama will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kagawa FA: H.Tucker 20+9reb+2ast, D.Alex 18+10reb+5ast, H.Imabayashi 13+7reb+1ast, K.Takahashi 10+1ast, Y.Ukeda 9+1reb+5ast, I.Takahashi 7+3reb+1ast
Saitama: T.Buttrick 19+7reb+2ast, T.Nesmith 15+11reb+1ast, M.Yuta 10+1reb+2ast, A.Tajima 10+1reb+1ast, M.Keijuro 8+4reb+3ast, D.Oliver 7+2reb+2ast