B2 League Round 12 (Regular Season): Ehime edge Yokohama by three points

It's still too early stage of the Regular Season in B2 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.

Fourth-ranked Excellence (5-7) made lots of trouble for second ranked Orange Vikings (11-2) in Yokohama on Saturday. The visitors from Matsuyama managed to secure only three-point victory 82-79. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Excellence. Ehime made 23-of-28 free shots (82.1 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) who scored 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Naturalized American forward Michael Parker (200-1981, college: Evergreen St.) chipped in 10 points and 9 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) who recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Orange Vikings have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Ehime maintains second position with 11-2 record behind leader Fukushima. Yokohama at the other side keeps the fourth place with seven games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Yokohama. Second ranked Orange Vikings faced 4th ranked Excellence. Guests from Matsuyama (11-2) defeated host Excellence (5-7) 90-77. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Excellence. It was a good game for American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). Shaquille Hines contributed with 23 points and 5 assists for the winners. American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) replied with 26 points and 4 assists for Yokohama. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Orange Vikings have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Ehime maintains second position with 11-2 record behind leader Fukushima. Yokohama at the other side keeps the fourth place with seven games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Fukushima. First ranked Firebonds faced 3rd ranked Blowinds. Host Firebonds (12-1) defeated guests from Fukui (7-6) 86-77. Worth to mention a great performance of Patrick Gardner who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was Rapolas Ivanauskas with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Firebonds have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Fukushima maintains first position with 12-1 record, which they share with Kobe S. Fukui B. lost third consecutive game. They keep the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Fukuoka R.. Fukushima will meet at home Fukui B. (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Fukui B. will have a break next round.

Rest of the games of round 12 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Shinshu defeated Iwate in Nagano 66-61. Kagoshima beat Yamagata at home 84-75. Shizuoka lost to Kumamoto V. on the opponent's court 57-69. Bambitious outscored Fukuoka R. in a home game 88-68. Aomori W. was rolled over Kobe S. on the road 98-49.
The best stats of 12th round was 16 points and 11 rebounds by Yoeli Childs of Kobe S..



Yokohama EX - Ehime OV 77-90

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Yokohama. Second ranked Orange Vikings faced 4th ranked Excellence. Guests from Matsuyama (11-2) defeated host Excellence (5-7) 90-77. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Excellence. Ehime players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. It was a good game for American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). The other American import Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) contributed with 23 points and 5 assists for the winners. Four Orange Vikings players scored in double figures. American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) replied with 26 points and 4 assists and British forward Benjamin Lawson (216-1995, college: WKU) added 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in the effort for Yokohama. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Orange Vikings have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Ehime maintains second position with 11-2 record behind leader Fukushima. Yokohama at the other side keeps the fourth place with seven games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: H.Shaquille 23+4reb+5ast, W.Mitchell 22+8reb+4ast, P.Michael 14+7reb+1ast, H.Matt 14+9reb+1ast, R.Taira 5+1reb, R.Takeuchi 4
Yokohama EX: T.Boyd III 26+4reb+4ast, B.Lawson 10+9reb+4ast, N.Tatsuya 9, E.Williams 9+4reb+1ast, Z.Moore 5+4reb+1ast, J.Uera 5+1reb

Yokohama EX - Ehime OV 79-82

Fourth-ranked Excellence (5-7) made lots of trouble for second ranked Orange Vikings (11-2) in Yokohama on Saturday. The visitors from Matsuyama managed to secure only three-point victory 82-79. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Excellence. Ehime made 23-of-28 free shots (82.1 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) who scored 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Naturalized American forward Michael Parker (200-1981, college: Evergreen St.) chipped in 10 points and 9 rebounds. Four Orange Vikings players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) who recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and French-Lebanese power forward Karim Ezzeddine (206-1997, college: N.Mexico) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Orange Vikings have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Ehime maintains second position with 11-2 record behind leader Fukushima. Yokohama at the other side keeps the fourth place with seven games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: H.Shaquille 18+5reb+5ast, F.Takumi 13+1reb+2ast, H.Eiji 12+6reb+1ast, P.Michael 10+9reb+1ast, W.Mitchell 9+9reb+1ast, T.Yoshihiko 7+2reb+1ast
Yokohama EX: T.Boyd III 24+5reb+6ast, K.Ezzeddine 19+5reb+3ast, J.Uera 10+2reb, E.Williams 8+6reb+4ast, O.Hirotaka 8+2reb+2ast, B.Lawson 5+4reb+3ast

Fukushima - Fukui B. 86-77

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Fukushima. First ranked Firebonds faced 3rd ranked Blowinds. Host Firebonds (12-1) defeated guests from Fukui (7-6) 86-77. Fukushima looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Fukushima made 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) who added 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks during the contest. The best for the losing side was Lithuanian forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and American Ryan Kelly (211-1991, college: Duke, agency: Slash Sports) scored 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Fukui B. players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Firebonds have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Fukushima maintains first position with 12-1 record, which they share with Kobe S. Fukui B. lost third consecutive game. They keep the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Fukuoka R.. Fukushima will meet at home Fukui B. (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Fukui B. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: N.Jack 24+9reb+1ast, G.Patrick 19+11reb+4ast, M.Kenny 15+4reb+7ast, S.Ogawa 6+2reb+1ast, K.Shinkawa 6, W.Koki 6+2reb
Fukui B.: R.Ivanauskas 20+10reb, R.Kelly 17+6reb+4ast, N.You 14+4reb+3ast, P.Ellis 13+4reb+1ast, M.Damilola 6+4reb+3ast, T.Marcus 4+2reb

Iwate - Shinshu BW 61-66

There was no surprise in Iwate where 5th ranked Big Bulls (5-8) were defeated by second ranked Brave Warriors (9-4) 66-61 on Saturday. Shinshu made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Wayne Marshall (211-1986, college: Temple) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and Daiki Tsuchiya who added 13 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) with 22 points and 9 rebounds and American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) scored 7 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Brave Warriors have a solid three-game winning streak. Shinshu maintains second position with 9-4 record having just three points less than leader Fukushima. Iwate lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with eight games lost. They share the position with Bambitious. Shinshu will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Iwate will play against the league's second-placed Shinshu (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Shinshu BW: M.Wayne 19+10reb+1ast, D.Tsuchiya 13+1reb+4ast, C.Aki 8+3reb+1ast, I.Shusuke 7+1ast, K.Eliet 6+6reb+2ast, C.Angelo 5+9reb
Iwate: M.Clay 22+9reb+1ast, N.Gurley 13+4reb, S.Kokoro 8+3reb+5ast, Y.Sogo 7+6reb+7ast, J.Hillsman 3+2reb, M.Keijiro 3+1reb

Kagoshima - Yamagata 84-75

No shocking result in a game in Renova where third ranked Rebnise (6-6) defeated 6th ranked Wyverns (3-10) 84-75 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of point guard Takayuki Kodama (166-1992) who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 5 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) and American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) who added 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Four Rebnise players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists and scored 15 points. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Despite that victory Kagoshima went down to fourth position due to points difference. Yamagata lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the sixth place with ten games lost. They share the position with Kumamoto V. and Shizuoka. Kagoshima will meet at home Yamagata (#6) in the next round. Yamagata will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kagoshima: K.Takayuki 16+5reb+3ast, S.Josh 15+3reb+1ast, A.Patrik 13+3reb+3ast, G.Anthony 11+7reb+4ast, K.Fujimoto 9+2reb+2ast, T.Takeshi 7+1reb+2ast
Yamagata: J.Bell 21+10reb+8ast, M.Shinya 15+2reb+3ast, L.Jonghyun 8+6reb+2ast, N.Waterman 8+8reb+1ast, Y.Kentaro 7+5reb, N.Shuki 6+1reb+1ast

Kumamoto V. - Shizuoka 69-57

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 7th ranked Veltex's (3-10) road loss to sixth ranked Volters (3-10) 57-69 on Saturday. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds and guard Chikara Tanaka (188-2002, college: Bethel, IN, agency: Schafer Sports) who added 12 points during the contest. The best for the losing side was German Tim Schneider (208-1997) with 16 points and 6 rebounds and Guamanian forward Simon Takumi (190-2000) scored 13 points. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Kumamoto V. maintains sixth position with 3-10 record, which they share with Yamagata and Shizuoka. Kumamoto V. will meet at home Shizuoka (#7) in the next round. Shizuoka will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: L.Mitch 13+11reb+1ast, T.Chikara 12+3reb+3ast, S.Yamamoto 11+3reb+3ast, A.Yamada 11+2reb, E.Gregory 8+5reb+2ast, D.Nemanja 6+7reb+2ast
Shizuoka: T.Schneider 16+6reb+1ast, S.Takumi 13+3reb+2ast, C.Ndow 9+4reb+4ast, A.Brandt 7+4reb+2ast, T.Martel 7+3reb+1ast, K.Teppei 3+1reb+2ast

Bambitious N. - Fukuoka R. 88-68

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when fifth ranked Nara (5-8) outscored at home 4th ranked Rizing (7-6) 88-68 on Saturday. Bambitious shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 57.1 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Jaemyn Brakefield (203-2000, college: Ole Miss) who helped to win the game recording 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and Tatsuya Sakaguchi who added 23 points (perfect from downtown making all five shots) during the contest. Four Nara players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Puerto Rican-American swingman Davon Reed (198-1995, college: Miami, FL) with 14 points and 5 assists and American forward Justin Burrell (204-1988, college: St.John's) scored 5 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Bambitious maintains fifth position with 5-8 record, which they share with Iwate. Fukuoka R. lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Fukui B.. Bambitious will meet at home higher ranked Fukuoka R. (#3) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Fukuoka R. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Bambitious N.: T.Sakaguchi 23+4reb+1ast, B.Jaemyn 20+5reb+4ast, S.Takuya 12+3reb+2ast, M.Komaki 10+1reb+2ast, R.Kobayashi 7+2reb+3ast, P.Viacheslav 5+5reb+2ast
Fukuoka R.: D.Reed 14+4reb+5ast, A.Keisuke 10+1reb, M.Shunto 9+3reb+3ast, K.Toshikazu 9+3reb+1ast, P.Aguilar 7+5reb+1ast, Y.Karino 6+1reb

Kobe S. - Aomori W. 98-49

Not a big story in a game in Hyogo where 7th ranked Watts (2-11) were outplayed by first ranked Storks (12-1) 98-49 on Saturday. Kobe S. dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Watts's 22. Kobe S. outrebounded Aomori W. 46-26 including a 34-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kobe S. looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Aomori W.'s players. Worth to mention a great performance of American Rawle Alkins (197-1997, college: Arizona) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import center Isaac Butts (208-1989, college: App State) who added 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Four Storks players scored in double figures. Storks' coach felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) with 13 points and 6 rebounds and forward Weijia Wang (198-1998) scored 12 points. Storks have an impressive eight-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains first position with 12-1 record, which they share with Fukushima. Aomori W. lost tenth consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with 11 games lost. Kobe S. will meet at home Aomori W. (#7) in the next round where they are favorite. Aomori W. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kobe S.: A.Rawle 19+10reb+5ast, K.Kimura 17+1reb+1ast, C.Yoeli 16+11reb+2ast, B.Isaac 14+11reb+4ast, S.Terazono 9+4ast, A.Hachimura 7+3reb+2ast
Aomori W.: M.Hisatake 13+6reb+2ast, K.Taiga 12+1reb+1ast, W.Wang 12+4reb+1ast, R.Kelly 6+4reb, T.Kyonosuke 5+2ast, M.Beni 1+4reb