B3 League Round 17 (Regular Season): Okayama defeat Tokyo in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 17 in the B3 League took place in Okayama. This derby game ended with only two-point defeat on the road of 4th placed Hachioji Trains (10-4) to third ranked Try Hoop (12-6) 67-65 on Sunday evening. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) stepped up and scored 7 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 12 points and 5 rebounds. American swingman Donovan Clay (203-2001, college: Missouri St.) responded with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Okayama moved-up to second place, which they share with Niigata A. Tokyo at the other side dropped to the fifth position with four games lost. They share it with Kagawa. Okayama is looking forward to face Tokyo Z (#14) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Tokyo will play against Yamaguchi (#12) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
B3 League top team - Gambarous (14-4) added another victory to their record. This time they beat seventh ranked Broncos (9-7) in Saitama 86-80. American forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) nailed 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Chris McLaughlin accounted for 16 points and 9 rebounds. American Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) came up with 16 points and 9 rebounds for Saitama in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tokushima Gam. maintains first place with 14-4 record. Saitama at the other side keeps the seventh position with seven games lost. Tokushima Gam. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Saitama will play at home against Veertien Mie (#15) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Sixth ranked Dice (11-5) crushed at home 12th ranked Pats Five (5-13) by 17 points 93-76, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was Andrew Fitzgerald who scored 27 points and 8 rebounds. Bostyn Holt produced 17 points for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Dice have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Tachikawa moved-up to fourth place. Yamaguchi lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 13 games lost. Tachikawa will meet Gifu (#8) on the road in the next round. Yamaguchi will play against Tokyo (#6) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 17 Shanan Utd lost to Gifu on the opponent's court 67-84. Veertien Mie unfortunately lost to Tokyo Utd in a home game 69-84.



Saitama - Tokushima Gam. 80-86

B3 League top team - Gambarous (14-4) added another victory to their record. This time they beat seventh ranked Broncos (9-7) in Saitama 86-80. Tokushima Gam. players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Saitama was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) nailed 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Canadian center Chris McLaughlin (208-1992, college: Victoria, agency: Starting 5) accounted for 16 points and 9 rebounds. American Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) came up with 16 points and 9 rebounds and his fellow the other American import import forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) added 15 points respectively for Saitama in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tokushima Gam. maintains first place with 14-4 record. Saitama at the other side keeps the seventh position with seven games lost. Tokushima Gam. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Saitama will play at home against Veertien Mie (#15) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Saitama: D.Oliver 16+9reb+2ast, I.Shota 15+2ast, T.Nesmith 8+9reb, M.Keijuro 8+3reb+2ast, R.Kawabe 7+1reb+1ast, M.Yuta 6+1reb
Tokushima Gam.: A.Roosevelt 17+4reb+1ast, M.Chris 16+9reb+2ast, L.Ryan 16+9reb+4ast, D.Tavrion 9+8reb+3ast, Y.Tsunai 7+3reb+4ast, M.Naoto 7

Tachikawa - Yamaguchi 93-76

Sixth ranked Dice (11-5) crushed at home 12th ranked Pats Five (5-13) by 17 points 93-76, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. Tachikawa shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Yamaguchi's players. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was power forward Andrew Fitzgerald (202-1990, college: Oklahoma, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 27 points and 8 rebounds. Swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) chipped in 25 points and 5 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) produced 17 points and center Antavion Collum (206-2000, college: McNeese St.) added 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Dice have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Tachikawa moved-up to fourth place. Yamaguchi lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 13 games lost. Tachikawa will meet Gifu (#8) on the road in the next round. Yamaguchi will play against Tokyo (#6) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: H.Bostyn 17+4reb+3ast, A.Collum 11+5reb+4ast, K.Shuto 11+1reb+2ast, T.Yuki 11+2reb+3ast, T.Shodai 9+1reb+1ast, T.Enokida 5+5reb+2ast
Tachikawa: F.Andrew 27+8reb+3ast, P.LJ 25+5reb+3ast, F.Sato 12+2reb, R.Gustys 12+9reb+2ast, J.Yoshikawa 6+6ast, O.Mori 5+1reb+5ast

Gifu - Shanan Utd 84-67

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Gifu where 8th ranked United (8-8) was defeated by ninth ranked Swoops (8-8) 84-67 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American forward Blake Preston (206-2000, college: Northwestern) who had a double-double by scoring 23 points and 13 rebounds. His fellow American import forward Jordan Giles (200-1998, college: UMKC, agency: One Motive Sports) chipped in 18 points and 7 rebounds. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) produced 15 points and 7 rebounds and Guamanian-American guard Earnest Ross (198-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Haylett Sports) added 13 points respectively for the guests. Four Shanan Utd players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Gifu moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Shanan Utd. Gifu will meet at home higher ranked Tachikawa (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Shanan Utd will play against Shinagawa (#13) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Shanan Utd: J.Polakovich 15+7reb+2ast, E.Ross 13+4reb+1ast, C.Cunningham 11+5reb, T.Iju 10+2reb+3ast, N.Kodai 8+1reb, S.Shuki 8+1reb+3ast
Gifu: P.Blake 23+13reb+1ast, G.Jordan 18+7reb+1ast, F.Daniel 10+8reb, M.Tanaka 8+2reb+1ast, M.Koga 7+3reb+2ast, Y.Reo 5+2reb+3ast

Veertien Mie - Tokyo Utd 69-84

Rather predictable result in Yokkaichi where eleventh ranked United (6-10) defeated bottom-ranked Veertien Mie (3-13) 84-69 on Sunday. Tokyo Utd dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Veertien Mie's 32. Tokyo Utd forced 20 Veertien Mie turnovers. The best player for the winners was Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. American center Hayden Koval (216-1997, college: Cincinnati, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 16 points. Four United players scored in double figures. Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) produced 7 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and his fellow American import forward Jordan Giles (200-1998, college: UMKC, agency: One Motive Sports) added 15 points respectively for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Tokyo Utd maintains eleventh place with 6-10 record. Loser Veertien Mie dropped to the bottom position with 13 games lost. They share it with Tokyo Z. Tokyo Utd will meet higher ranked Kagawa (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Veertien Mie will play against Saitama (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Veertien Mie: M.Yasuyuki 15+3reb+2ast, M.Kulackovskis 14+1reb+1ast, K.Tatsuya 8+2reb+3ast, D.Doblas 7+12reb+4ast, S.Takaya 6+3reb+2ast, D.Dodd 6+2reb+1ast
Tokyo Utd: V.Rhys 21+13reb+2ast, K.Hayden 16+4reb, B.Glorida 13+4reb, K.Tanaka 12+1reb+4ast, S.Kedrick 7+1reb+4ast, H.Higashi 5+2reb+1ast

Okayama - Tokyo HT 67-65

The most exciting game of round 17 in the B3 League took place in Okayama. This derby game ended with only two-point defeat on the road of 4th placed Hachioji Trains (10-4) to third ranked Try Hoop (12-6) 67-65 on Sunday evening. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) stepped up and scored 7 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 12 points and 5 rebounds. American swingman Donovan Clay (203-2001, college: Missouri St.) responded with 22 points and 7 rebounds and scored 10 points and 4 steals. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Okayama moved-up to second place, which they share with Niigata A. Tokyo at the other side dropped to the fifth position with four games lost. They share it with Kagawa. Okayama is looking forward to face Tokyo Z (#14) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Tokyo will play against Yamaguchi (#12) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Tokyo HT: D.Clay 22+7reb+1ast, Y.Fuki 10+1reb+2ast, K.Steve 8+4reb, K.Takaya 5+2reb, Y.Oshiro 5+3reb+1ast, O.Hiroya 4+3reb+1ast
Okayama: K.Terrance 12+5reb+2ast, K.Wakasa 11+2reb+4ast, S.Cherif 10+6reb, H.Kameron 8+3reb+1ast, S.Josh 7+14reb+2ast, A.Hikaru 6+3reb+1ast