B2 League Round 21 (Regular Season): Fukushima lose to Yamagata

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Firebonds (19-2) recorded its second loss in Yamagata on Sunday night. Visitors were edged by sixth ranked Wyverns (6-15) 89-87. It ended at the same time the 18-game winning streak of Firebonds. 25 personal fouls committed by Fukushima helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The game was dominated by American players. The best player for the winners was center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds. James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 16 points. At the other side the best for losing team was power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) who recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Yamagata maintains sixth place with 6-15 record. Fukushima at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. They share it with Kobe S.. Yamagata are looking forward to face higher ranked Kumamoto V. (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Fukushima will play against Aomori W. and is hoping to win this game.
Another exciting game was played in Matsuyama between third ranked Shinshu and second-best Orange Vikings where Shinshu (14-7) crushed Orange Vikings (13-8) on the road with 36-point difference 105-69. It was a good game for American Mike Daum (206-1995, college: S.Dakota St.) who led his team to a victory with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Aki Chambers contributed with 16 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) answered with 19 points and 4 assists for Orange Vikings. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Shinshu have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place which they share with defeated Ehime. Ehime lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the second position with eight games lost. They share it with Fukui B.. Shinshu will play against Fukui B. (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Ehime will play against Fukuoka R. and hopes to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Nara between Nara and Big Bulls. Sixth ranked Nara (8-13) got a very close home victory over 5th ranked Big Bulls (8-13). Nara managed to escape with a 3-point win 66-63 in the fight for the fifth place. Nigel Spikes stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 18 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners. Nara's coach Haruyuki Ishibashi used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Clay Mounce with 33 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds. Bambitious moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Iwate. Bambitious will meet at home Shizuoka (#7) in the next round. Iwate will play against Yokohama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Other games of round 21 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Fukui B. was defeated by Kagoshima in Renova 112-106. Aomori W. was smashed by Kumamoto V. at home 70-103. Yokohama destroyed Shizuoka on the opponent's court 96-61.
The best stats of 21th round was 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists by Tray Boyd III of Yokohama EX.



Kagoshima - Fukui B. 112-106

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Renova where second-best Blowinds (13-8) were defeated by third ranked Rebnise (10-10) 112-106 on Sunday. Kagoshima made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. Czech Patrik Auda (206-1989, college: Seton Hall, agency: Octagon Europe) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) chipped in 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. The best for the losing side was Lithuanian forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati) with 30 points and 8 rebounds and American forward Perry Ellis (203-1993, college: Kansas) scored 14 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kagoshima maintains third place with 10-10 record having ten points less than leader Fukushima. Loser Blowinds keeps the second position with eight games lost. They share it with Ehime. Kagoshima will meet league's leader Kobe S. in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukui B. will play against the league's second-placed Shinshu in Nagano and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fukui B.: R.Ivanauskas 30+8reb+2ast, N.You 17+5reb+3ast, P.Ellis 14+5reb+7ast, R.Kelly 14+7reb+3ast, K.Sena 10+1ast, F.Naoyuki 9+1reb+1ast
Kagoshima: A.Patrik 31+10reb+3ast, S.Josh 22+3reb+2ast, G.Anthony 20+8reb+7ast, K.Takayuki 12+1reb+5ast, K.Fujimoto 10+2reb+9ast, E.Zen 8+1reb

Bambitious N. - Iwate 66-63

A very close game took place in Nara between Nara and Big Bulls. Sixth ranked Nara (8-13) got a very close home victory over 5th ranked Big Bulls (8-13). Nara managed to escape with a 3-point win 66-63 in the fight for the fifth place. Bambitious outrebounded Iwate 40-26 including 25 on the defensive glass. Bambitious looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American center Nigel Spikes (208-1989, college: Marshall) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 18 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners and swingman Takuya Soma (182-1991) chipped in 11 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Nara's coach Haruyuki Ishibashi used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Czech Patrik Auda (206-1989, college: Seton Hall, agency: Octagon Europe) with 33 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds and American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) scored 2 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Bambitious moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Iwate. Bambitious will meet at home Shizuoka (#7) in the next round. Iwate will play against Yokohama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Iwate: M.Clay 33+5reb+2ast, M.Keijiro 12+3reb, N.Gurley 6+2reb+2ast, N.Yuto 4+4reb+1ast, G.Shohei 3, S.Kokoro 3+1reb+2ast
Bambitious N.: S.Nigel 20+18reb+1ast, S.Takuya 11+7reb+7ast, R.Kobayashi 10+2reb+4ast, J.Honda 9, M.Komaki 7+2reb+3ast, P.Viacheslav 6+7reb+6ast

Yamagata - Fukushima 89-87

Top ranked Firebonds (19-2) recorded its second loss in Yamagata on Sunday night. Visitors were edged by sixth ranked Wyverns (6-15) 89-87. It ended at the same time the 18-game winning streak of Firebonds. 25 personal fouls committed by Fukushima helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The game was dominated by American players. The best player for the winners was center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds. James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 16 points. Four Wyverns players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) who recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds and swingman Kenny Manigault (195-1991, college: Pikeville) added 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Yamagata maintains sixth place with 6-15 record. Fukushima at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. They share it with Kobe S.. Yamagata are looking forward to face higher ranked Kumamoto V. (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Fukushima will play against Aomori W. and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: J.Nunge 28+10reb+2ast, K.Manigault 11+5reb+4ast, P.Gardner 10+5reb+2ast, N.Tsukasa 9+3reb+3ast, O.Yuuki 7+1reb+2ast, S.Keita 6+1reb+2ast
Yamagata: W.Noah 21+12reb+3ast, B.James 16+4reb+2ast, S.Murakami 15+2reb+5ast, S.Nakata 11+3reb+2ast, A.Ryusei 8+2reb+2ast, T.Shirato 6

Aomori W. - Kumamoto V. 70-103

No shocking result in a game in Aomori where fifth ranked Volters (9-12) smashed 7th ranked Watts (3-18) 103-70 on Sunday. Kumamoto V. dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Watts's 30. Kumamoto V. looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up and scored 19 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and guard Kaito Ishikawa (170-1990) chipped in 17 points and 6 assists. Four Volters players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American Rashard Kelly (203-1995, college: Wichita St.) with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists and the other American import forward Tim Dalger (201-2000, college: St.Louis) scored 15 points. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Volters. Kumamoto V. moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Fukuoka R. Aomori W. lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 18 games lost. They share it with Shizuoka. Kumamoto V. will meet at home Yamagata (#6) in the next round. Aomori W. will play against the league's leader Fukushima and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: T.Dalger 15+1ast, R.Kelly 11+8reb+10ast, W.Wang 11+2reb+1ast, O.Masahiro 9+1reb, A.Shugo 7+2reb, T.Kyonosuke 7+1ast
Kumamoto V.: L.Mitch 19+6reb+3ast, I.Kaito 17+2reb+6ast, S.Yamamoto 15+2reb+1ast, D.Nemanja 13+5reb+2ast, A.Yamada 12+1ast, E.Gregory 9+6reb+1ast

Ehime OV - Shinshu BW 69-105

Another exciting game was played in Matsuyama between third ranked Shinshu and second-best Orange Vikings where Shinshu (14-7) crushed Orange Vikings (13-8) on the road with 36-point difference 105-69. Brave Warriors made 20-of-26 charity shots (76.9 percent) during the game. Brave Warriors outrebounded Orange Vikings 40-26 including a 28-12 advantage in defensive rebounds. Brave Warriors players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. Orange Vikings were plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for American Mike Daum (206-1995, college: S.Dakota St.) who led his team to a victory with 22 points and 8 rebounds. The former international guard Aki Chambers (191-1990, college: UC Merced) contributed with 16 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Four Brave Warriors players scored in double figures. American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) answered with 19 points and 4 assists and Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) added 14 points in the effort for Orange Vikings. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Shinshu have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place which they share with defeated Ehime. Ehime lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the second position with eight games lost. They share it with Fukui B.. Shinshu will play against Fukui B. (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Ehime will play against Fukuoka R. and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: S.Hines 19+3reb+4ast, M.Haarms 14+4reb+1ast, E.Hayashi 14+1reb+1ast, M.Watt 6+9reb+1ast, T.Riki 4+2reb, M.Parker 4+2reb+3ast
Shinshu BW: D.Mike 22+8reb+3ast, M.Wayne 16+3reb+1ast, C.Aki 16+5reb+3ast, D.Tsuchiya 13+2reb+4ast, S.Tokairin 9+4reb+1ast, T.Kodama 7+1ast

Shizuoka - Yokohama EX 61-96

Rather expected game in Shizuoka where 7th ranked Veltex (3-18) was rolled over by fourth ranked Excellence (12-8) 96-61 on Sunday. Yokohama dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Veltex's 28. Yokohama had a 32-21 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) stepped up and scored 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and Hirotaka Ohashi chipped in 9 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Excellence players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was German Tim Schneider (208-1997) with 7 points and 11 rebounds and Australian center Angus Brandt (208-1989, college: Oregon St.) scored 7 points and 10 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Excellence. Yokohama maintains fourth place with 12-8 record. Shizuoka lost their eighth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 18 games lost. They share it with Aomori W.. Yokohama will meet Iwate (#5) on the road in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Bambitious in Nara and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: K.Teppei 10+1reb+1ast, K.Masuda 9+1reb+2ast, S.Takumi 8+2reb+2ast, T.Schneider 7+11reb+1ast, A.Brandt 7+10reb+1ast, H.Naoaki 5+1reb
Yokohama EX: B.Tray 20+5reb+5ast, M.Zack 15+5reb+1ast, Y.Sugiyama 15+8reb, W.Elyjah 11+6reb+4ast, H.Ohashi 9+7reb+7ast, L.Benjamin 8+5reb+1ast