B3 League Round 26 (Regular Season): Okayama defeat Kagawa in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 26 in the B3 League took place in Takamatsu. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of second-ranked Five Arrows (17-6) to fifth ranked Try Hoop (17-10) 75-74 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Five Arrows. Americans were the main players on the court. Forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) scored 15 points and 5 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 7 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. Guard Tucker Haymond (195-1994, college: W.Michigan) responded with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Okayama moved-up to third place. Kagawa at the other side keeps the second position with six games lost. Okayama will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kagawa will play at home against Okayama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Hachioji Trains (16-7) against sixth ranked Broncos (15-8) on Saturday night. Visiting Hachioji Trains were crushed by Broncos in Saitama 95-74. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Hachioji Trains. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) notched 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the effort and TJ Nesmith supported him with 9 points and 12 rebounds. Even 27 points and 7 rebounds by forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) did not help to save the game for Tokyo. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Saitama maintains sixth position with 15-8 record. Tokyo at the other side dropped to the fourth place with seven games lost. Saitama will play against higher ranked Tokyo (#4) at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Tokyo will have a break next round.
An interesting game took place in Tachikawa where higher ranked Dice (12-11) was upset on its own court by eleventh ranked United (9-16) 92-83 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was Rhys Vague who had a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Andrew Fitzgerald produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tokyo Utd moved-up to tenth place. Tachikawa lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Tokyo Utd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tokyo .

In the last game of round 26 Shanan Utd won against Yamaguchi on the opponent's court 87-82.



Saitama - Tokyo HT 95-74

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Hachioji Trains (16-7) against sixth ranked Broncos (15-8) on Saturday night. Visiting Hachioji Trains were crushed by Broncos in Saitama 95-74. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Hachioji Trains. Saitama shot the lights out from three nailing 16 long-distance shots on high 57.1 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Tokyo's players. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) notched 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the effort and forward TJ Nesmith (206-2001, college: Radford) supported him with 9 points and 12 rebounds. Four Broncos players scored in double figures. Even 27 points and 7 rebounds by forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) did not help to save the game for Tokyo. Swingman Donovan Clay (203-2001, college: Missouri St.) added 13 points and 6 rebounds for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Saitama maintains sixth position with 15-8 record. Tokyo at the other side dropped to the fourth place with seven games lost. Saitama will play against higher ranked Tokyo (#4) at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Tokyo will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tokyo HT: T.Sullivan 27+7reb+3ast, D.Clay 13+6reb+1ast, K.Steve 10+8reb, I.Shuto 6+3reb+3ast, K.Takaya 6+3reb, Y.Oshiro 5+1ast
Saitama: K.Ryota 18+1reb, B.Trent 16+6reb+1ast, T.Asahi 13+4reb+3ast, O.Devin 13+7reb+6ast, M.Kataoka 10+2reb, N.TJ 9+12reb+3ast

Tachikawa - Tokyo Utd 83-92

An interesting game took place in Tachikawa where higher ranked Dice (12-11) was upset on its own court by eleventh ranked United (9-16) 92-83 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) who had a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. American center Hayden Koval (216-1997, college: Cincinnati, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 6 points and 17 rebounds. American power forward Andrew Fitzgerald (202-1990, college: Oklahoma, agency: Octagon Europe) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds and his fellow American import swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) added 15 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Four Tachikawa players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tokyo Utd moved-up to tenth place. Tachikawa lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Tokyo Utd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tokyo .
Top scorers:
Tachikawa: A.Fitzgerald 21+11reb+1ast, S.Fumiya 17+1reb+1ast, L.Peak 15+5reb+3ast, M.Yuto 14+3ast, M.Jota 7+5reb+4ast, E.Shouta 6+1reb+2ast
Tokyo Utd: V.Rhys 23+11reb+4ast, H.Higashi 21+3reb+2ast, S.Kedrick 14+2reb+1ast, S.Tokugawa 7+1reb, W.Furukawa 7+2reb+1ast, K.Tanaka 6+1reb+6ast

Yamaguchi - Shanan Utd 82-87

Rather expected game in Yamaguchi where 12th ranked Pats Five (8-19) was defeated by ninth ranked United (12-13) 87-82 on Saturday. Shanan Utd looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points and 17 rebounds. point guard Takaya Iju (179-1993) chipped in 17 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) produced 20 points and 7 assists and American center Hayden Koval (216-1997, college: Cincinnati, agency: Diamond Sports) added 18 points and 8 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Shanan Utd maintains ninth position with 12-13 record. Loser Pats Five keeps the twelfth place with 19 games lost. Shanan Utd will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Yamaguchi will play against Shanan Utd (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: K.Shuto 20+1reb+7ast, H.Bostyn 18+8reb, E.Brauns 17+4reb, T.Enokida 11+6reb+2ast, T.Shodai 11+3reb, A.Collum 5+6reb+4ast
Shanan Utd: T.Ishii 21+3reb+1ast, P.Jacob 20+17reb+1ast, I.Takaya 17+5reb+8ast, C.Christian 17+5reb+1ast, S.Takagi 6+3reb+1ast, K.Nakano 4+1reb+2ast

Kagawa FA - Okayama 74-75

The most exciting game of round 26 in the B3 League took place in Takamatsu. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of second-ranked Five Arrows (17-6) to fifth ranked Try Hoop (17-10) 75-74 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Five Arrows. Americans were the main players on the court. Forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) scored 15 points and 5 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 7 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. Guard Tucker Haymond (195-1994, college: W.Michigan) responded with 23 points and 9 rebounds and forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Okayama moved-up to third place. Kagawa at the other side keeps the second position with six games lost. Okayama will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kagawa will play at home against Okayama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kagawa FA: T.Haymond 23+9reb+1ast, A.Davis 13+10reb+1ast, J.Lampkin 8+3reb+4ast, K.Patrick 7+11reb, U.Yuya 6+2reb+3ast, K.Takahashi 6+2reb+2ast
Okayama: M.Nakamura 15+2reb+1ast, K.Terrance 15+5reb+1ast, Y.Mukai 13+4reb, S.Cherif 9+3reb+3ast, S.Josh 7+11reb+2ast, K.Takabatake 5+1ast