B2 League Round 32 (Regular Season): Aomori W. defeat Shinshu

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Brave Warriors (24-8) in Aomori on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by seventh ranked Watts (6-26) 75-66. It ended at the same time the 15-game winning streak of Brave Warriors. Aomori W. made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 20 rebounds. The other American import forward Tim Dalger (201-2000, college: St.Louis) contributed with 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. The former international guard Aki Chambers (191-1990, college: UC Merced) replied with 16 points and 7 rebounds for Shinshu. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Aomori W. maintains seventh position with 6-26 record, which they share with Shizuoka. Shinshu at the other side still keeps top place with eight games lost. They share the position with Fukushima. Aomori W. is looking forward to face higher ranked Kumamoto V. (#4) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Shinshu will play against Yokohama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in Yokohama. Third ranked Excellence (23-8) saved a 3-point victory at home edging second-ranked Firebonds (24-8) 83-80 on Sunday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) who helped to win the game recording 34 points (!!!) and 5 assists and Io Nagano who added 14 points and 6 assists during the contest. Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) responded with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Excellence have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Yokohama maintains third position with 23-8 record behind leader Kobe S. Fukushima lost fourth consecutive game. They still keep top place with eight games lost. They share the position with Shinshu. Yokohama will play against league's leader Shinshu in Nagano in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukushima will play at home against Yamagata and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game for Storks (29-3) which played road game in Fukui against 4th ranked Blowinds (18-14). First ranked Storks managed to get a 13-point victory 97-84. The winners were led by Yoeli Childs who had that evening a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Even a double-double of 29 points and 12 rebounds by Rapolas Ivanauskas did not help to save the game for Fukui B.. Blowinds' coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Storks have a solid three-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains first position with 29-3 record. Loser Blowinds keeps the fourth place with 14 games lost. Kobe S. will meet Iwate (#5) on the road in the next round. Fukui B. will play against Kagoshima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 32: Ehime beat Kagoshima on the road 78-63. Shizuoka lost to Kumamoto V. on its own court 70-81. Iwate unfortunately lost to Yamagata in a road game 60-70.



Aomori W. - Shinshu BW 75-66

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Brave Warriors (24-8) in Aomori on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by seventh ranked Watts (6-26) 75-66. It ended at the same time the 15-game winning streak of Brave Warriors. Aomori W. made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 20 rebounds. The other American import forward Tim Dalger (201-2000, college: St.Louis) contributed with 27 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. The former international guard Aki Chambers (191-1990, college: UC Merced) replied with 16 points and 7 rebounds and South Sudanese-American center Angelo Chol (206-1993, college: SDSU) added 6 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Shinshu. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Aomori W. maintains seventh position with 6-26 record, which they share with Shizuoka. Shinshu at the other side still keeps top place with eight games lost. They share the position with Fukushima. Aomori W. is looking forward to face higher ranked Kumamoto V. (#4) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Shinshu will play against Yokohama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: D.Tim 27+6reb+2ast, H.Max 20+20reb+2ast, K.Nabeta 10+1reb, M.Okabe 9+3reb+7ast, K.Rashard 3+5reb+3ast, W.Weijia 2+1ast
Shinshu BW: A.Chambers 16+7reb+3ast, M.Daum 11+3reb, K.Taichi 10+3reb, T.Daiki 8+1reb+3ast, A.Chol 6+10reb+1ast, H.Watanabe 4+5reb

Fukui B. - Kobe S. 84-97

An interesting game for Storks (29-3) which played road game in Fukui against 4th ranked Blowinds (18-14). First ranked Storks managed to get a 13-point victory 97-84. Kobe S. outrebounded Fukui B. 36-25 including 21 on the defensive glass. Kobe S. looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The winners were led by American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import Luke Maye (203-1997, college: UNC, agency: Slash Sports) supported him with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Even a double-double of 29 points and 12 rebounds by Lithuanian forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Fukui B.. point guard Naoyuki Fujisawa (174-1998) added 12 points and 14 assists for the hosts. Blowinds' coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Storks have a solid three-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains first position with 29-3 record. Loser Blowinds keeps the fourth place with 14 games lost. Kobe S. will meet Iwate (#5) on the road in the next round. Fukui B. will play against Kagoshima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kobe S.: C.Yoeli 35+11reb+4ast, M.Luke 24+11reb, S.Terazono 9+11ast, A.Hachimura 8+1reb+1ast, B.Isaac 8+3reb+2ast, K.Kimura 6+2reb+2ast
Fukui B.: R.Ivanauskas 29+12reb+2ast, F.Naoyuki 12+3reb+14ast, P.Ellis 9+3reb+3ast, N.You 9+2ast, K.Sena 8+1reb+2ast, M.Damilola 6+2reb+1ast

Kagoshima - Ehime OV 63-78

The game between closely ranked teams ended with second ranked Orange Vikings' (21-11) road victory over one of their biggest challengers Rebnise (16-15) in Renova 78-63 on Sunday. Ehime made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. The winners were led by American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds and the other American import Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) supported him with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Five Orange Vikings players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) by American-British center Josh Sharma (213-1995, college: Stanford) did not help to save the game for Kagoshima. American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Ehime maintains second position with 21-11 record having just three points less than leader Kobe S. Loser Rebnise keeps the third place with 15 games lost. Ehime will meet at home Fukuoka R. (#5) in the next round. Kagoshima will play against Fukui B. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: W.Mitchell 21+11reb+3ast, H.Shaquille 16+5reb+2ast, P.Michael 13+6reb+2ast, Y.Okuda 12+3reb+1ast, H.Matt 11+9reb+2ast, R.Takeuchi 5+3reb+1ast
Kagoshima: A.Gaines Jr. 12+5reb+6ast, J.Sharma 11+15reb+2ast, P.Auda 10+8reb+2ast, Y.Ametani 8+2reb+3ast, T.Kodama 7+2reb+3ast, Z.Endo 4

Shizuoka - Kumamoto V. 70-81

Rather expected game when 7th ranked Veltex (6-26) lost to fourth ranked Volters (15-17) in Shizuoka 70-81 on Sunday. Kumamoto V. dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Veltex's 22. The winners were led by American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) who scored that evening 12 points and 7 rebounds and Venezuelan center Gregory Echenique (208-1990, college: Creighton, agency: Pensack Sports) supported him with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Four Volters players scored in double figures. Even 16 points by Norwegian forward Chris-Ebou Ndow (199-1993, college: NW Missouri St.) did not help to save the game for Shizuoka. point guard Ryusei Nabeta (175-2001) added 13 points and 4 assists for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Volters have a solid four-game winning streak. Kumamoto V. maintains fourth position with 15-17 record. Shizuoka lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with 26 games lost. They share the position with Aomori W.. Kumamoto V. will meet at home Aomori W. (#7) in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Bambitious in Nara and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: N.Ren 16+2ast, I.Hiroaki 12+4reb, L.Mitch 12+7reb+1ast, D.Nemanja 12+2reb+2ast, E.Gregory 10+6reb+3ast, S.Yamamoto 9+4reb+4ast
Shizuoka: C.Ndow 16+3reb+1ast, N.Ryusei 13+1reb+4ast, K.Lawson 8, S.Takumi 8+3reb+1ast, A.Brandt 8+7reb+3ast, S.Hayashi 6+4reb+1ast

Yamagata - Iwate 70-60

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when sixth ranked Wyverns (8-24) won against 5th ranked Big Bulls (9-23) in Yamagata 70-60 on Sunday. Yamagata outrebounded Iwate 36-22 including 29 on the defensive glass. Yamagata looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The winners were led by point guard Ryusei Abe (181-1995) who scored that evening 21 points and American James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) supported him with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Even 21 points and 4 assists by American forward Clay Mounce (199-1998, college: Furman, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Iwate. point guard Sogo Yamagiwa (179-2002) added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the guests. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Yamagata maintains sixth position with 8-24 record. Loser Big Bulls keeps the fifth place with 23 games lost. Yamagata will meet league's second-placed Fukushima on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Iwate will play against the league's leader Kobe S. and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: A.Ryusei 21+3reb+1ast, S.Nakata 15+2reb+1ast, W.Noah 9+3reb+1ast, B.James 7+6reb+8ast, J.Lee 5+6reb+2ast, D.Shaquille 4+6reb+1ast
Iwate: C.Mounce 21+2reb+4ast, Y.Sogo 12+6reb+4ast, M.Tejic 9+2reb+2ast, N.Gurley 5+6reb+2ast, M.Keijiro 4+3reb+1ast, Y.Riku 4+1reb

Yokohama EX - Fukushima 83-80

Important game to mention about took place in Yokohama. Third ranked Excellence (23-8) saved a 3-point victory at home edging second-ranked Firebonds (24-8) 83-80 on Sunday evening. Strangely Fukushima outrebounded Yokohama 41-29 including a 18-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. Yokohama players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) who helped to win the game recording 34 points (!!!) and 5 assists and point guard Io Nagano (178-2002) who added 14 points and 6 assists during the contest. Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) responded with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds and American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Excellence have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Yokohama maintains third position with 23-8 record behind leader Kobe S. Fukushima lost fourth consecutive game. They still keep top place with eight games lost. They share the position with Shinshu. Yokohama will play against league's leader Shinshu in Nagano in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukushima will play at home against Yamagata and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Yokohama EX: B.Tray 34+2reb+5ast, I.Nagano 14+2reb+6ast, S.Coulibaly 9+3reb+1ast, W.Elyjah 9+2reb+5ast, L.Benjamin 5+9reb+2ast, Y.Sugiyama 4+2reb
Fukushima: P.Gardner 33+13reb+1ast, J.Nunge 12+8reb+3ast, D.Bamba 11+6reb, M.Takumi 8+1reb+2ast, O.Yuuki 6+1reb+1ast, Y.Java 3+2reb+1ast