B2 League Round 42 (Regular Season): Kagoshima top Iwate by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Fifth-ranked Big Bulls (11-31) were very close to win a game against third ranked Rebnise (23-18) in Renova on Sunday. Rebnise managed to secure only one-point victory 82-81. However their fans expected easier game. Kagoshima outrebounded Iwate 35-24 including 22 on the defensive glass. 25 personal fouls committed by Iwate helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) who saved his team from a defeat with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. American-British center Josh Sharma (213-1995, college: Stanford) contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. American forward Noah Gurley (203-1999, college: Alabama) replied with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for Iwate. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Rebnise have a solid three-game winning streak. Kagoshima maintains third position with 23-18 record having ten points less than leader Kobe S. Iwate at the other side keeps the fifth place with 31 games lost. Kagoshima are looking forward to face league's leader Kobe S. in Hyogo in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Iwate will play at home against the league's leader Shinshu (#1) and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Important game to mention about took place in Shizuoka. Seventh ranked Veltex (9-33) saved a 2-point victory at home edging their close opponent Wyverns (8-34) 70-68 in the game for the sixth place. American center Kenny Lawson (207-1988, college: Creighton) scored 19 points and 5 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Manaya Yamamoto chipped in 15 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shizuoka moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Aomori W. Yamagata lost tenth consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with 34 games lost. Shizuoka will play against higher ranked Yokohama (#3) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Yamagata will play against Kumamoto V. (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game for Orange Vikings (27-15) which played road game in Fukui against 4th ranked Blowinds (24-18). Second ranked Orange Vikings managed to get a 14-point victory 97-83. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Blowinds. Michael Parker notched a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort. Even a double-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists by Ryan Kelly did not help to save the game for Fukui B.. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Ehime maintains second position with 27-15 record having five points less than leader Kobe S. Loser Blowinds keeps the fourth place with 18 games lost. Ehime will meet league's second-placed Fukushima on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukui B. will have a break next round.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 42: Fukushima smashed Aomori W. on the road 92-54. Kobe S. won against Yokohama on its own court 120-114. Bambitious were outscored by Kumamoto V. in a road game 101-63.



Aomori W. - Fukushima 54-92

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Firebonds (32-10) crushed 6th ranked Watts (9-33) in Aomori 92-54 on Sunday. Fukushima looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Aomori W.'s players. American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) notched a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks to lead the effort and Senegalese forward Bamba Diouf (198-1993) supported him with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Even 8 points and 9 rebounds by American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) did not help to save the game for Aomori W.. His fellow American import forward Tim Dalger (201-2000, college: St.Louis) added 11 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Firebonds have an impressive five-game winning streak. Fukushima keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Shinshu. Loser Watts keeps the sixth place with 33 games lost. They share the position with Shizuoka. Fukushima will meet at home league's second-placed Ehime in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Aomori W. will play against Bambitious (#6) in Nara and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: N.Jack 22+12reb+4ast, B.Diouf 18+5reb, T.Nakano 15+2reb+3ast, G.Jeff 8+6reb+3ast, M.Kenny 7+5reb+5ast, S.Ogawa 6+1ast
Aomori W.: T.Dalger 11+3reb+1ast, N.Kenshin 10+2ast, A.Shugo 9, M.Hisatake 8+9reb+2ast, A.Chol 6+5reb, W.Wang 4+4reb+2ast

Fukui B. - Ehime OV 83-97

An interesting game for Orange Vikings (27-15) which played road game in Fukui against 4th ranked Blowinds (24-18). Second ranked Orange Vikings managed to get a 14-point victory 97-83. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Blowinds. Ehime dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Blowinds's 32. Ehime outrebounded Fukui B. 42-25 including a 30-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Naturalized American forward Michael Parker (200-1981, college: Evergreen St.) notched a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead the effort and American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) supported him with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Even a double-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists by American Ryan Kelly (211-1991, college: Duke, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Fukui B.. Guard Sena Kawashima (187-2000) added 21 points. Four Ehime and five Fukui B. players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Ehime maintains second position with 27-15 record having five points less than leader Kobe S. Loser Blowinds keeps the fourth place with 18 games lost. Ehime will meet league's second-placed Fukushima on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukui B. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: P.Michael 24+12reb+1ast, H.Shaquille 24+7reb+3ast, H.Matt 20+7reb, W.Mitchell 18+10reb+6ast, Y.Okuda 4+3reb+6ast, R.Takeuchi 3+1reb
Fukui B.: K.Sena 21+1reb+2ast, P.Ellis 15+6reb+2ast, N.You 14+3reb+3ast, R.Kelly 12+10reb+7ast, M.Damilola 12+2reb+2ast, R.Ivanauskas 7+2reb+3ast

Kagoshima - Iwate 82-81

Fifth-ranked Big Bulls (11-31) were very close to win a game against third ranked Rebnise (23-18) in Renova on Sunday. Rebnise managed to secure only one-point victory 82-81. However their fans expected easier game. Kagoshima outrebounded Iwate 35-24 including 22 on the defensive glass. 25 personal fouls committed by Iwate helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) who saved his team from a defeat with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. American-British center Josh Sharma (213-1995, college: Stanford) contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. American forward Noah Gurley (203-1999, college: Alabama) replied with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and point guard Harumichi Ishikawa (170-1999) added 16 points and 4 assists (perfect from the field making all six shots) in the effort for Iwate. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Rebnise have a solid three-game winning streak. Kagoshima maintains third position with 23-18 record having ten points less than leader Kobe S. Iwate at the other side keeps the fifth place with 31 games lost. Kagoshima are looking forward to face league's leader Kobe S. in Hyogo in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Iwate will play at home against the league's leader Shinshu (#1) and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Kagoshima: G.Anthony 23+10reb+3ast, K.Fujimoto 15+1reb+6ast, S.Josh 13+9reb+2ast, E.Zen 11+1ast, A.Yoshiki 7+4reb+3ast, K.Takayuki 6+3reb+2ast
Iwate: N.Gurley 19+5reb+4ast, I.Harumichi 16+3reb+4ast, C.Mounce 14+8reb, Y.Sogo 11+1ast, N.Yuto 8+2reb, M.Tejic 6+2reb+4ast

Kobe S. - Yokohama EX 120-114

Rather expected game when 3rd ranked Excellence (26-15) lost to first ranked Storks (37-5) in Hyogo 114-120 on Sunday. Kobe S. made 32-of-39 free shots (82.1 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists. American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) notched a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and point guard Shuto Terazono (172-1994) supported him with 25 points and 12 assists. Even 53 points (!!!) and 8 assists by American guard Tray Boyd III (193-1998, college: ETSU) did not help to save the game for Yokohama. His fellow American import forward Stephen Hurt (211-1993, college: Kansas St.) added 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Kobe S. and four Yokohama players scored in double figures. Excellence's 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 37-5 record. Yokohama lost third consecutive game. They keep the third place with 15 games lost. Kobe S. will meet Kagoshima (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Yokohama will play against Shizuoka and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kobe S.: S.Terazono 25+2reb+12ast, M.Luke 23+7reb+1ast, C.Yoeli 22+12reb+5ast, K.Kimura 18+2reb+4ast, R.Kaneda 11+5reb+1ast, R.Sasakura 10+1reb+1ast
Yokohama EX: T.Boyd III 53+4reb+8ast, S.Hurt 20+9reb+4ast, N.Io 14+1ast, E.Williams 13+3reb+1ast, Z.Moore 5+5reb, O.Hirotaka 4+4reb+2ast

Kumamoto V. - Bambitious N. 101-63

Rather predictable result when fourth ranked Volters (23-19) rolled over 6th ranked Nara (13-29) in Kumamoto 101-63 on Sunday. Kumamoto V. dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Nara' 32. Kumamoto V. looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Bambitious' players. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) notched a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 rebounds (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and guard Kaito Ishikawa (170-1990) supported him with 20 points and 11 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Four Volters players scored in double figures. Even 13 points and 5 rebounds by American forward Jaemyn Brakefield (203-2000, college: Ole Miss, agency: Slash Sports) did not help to save the game for Bambitious. Ukrainian center Viacheslav Petrov (204-1994, agency: BIG) added 4 points and 12 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kumamoto V. maintains fourth position with 23-19 record. Bambitious lost eighth consecutive game. They keep the sixth place with 29 games lost. Kumamoto V. will meet Yamagata (#7) on the road in the next round. Bambitious will play against Aomori W. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: L.Mitch 26+12reb+1ast, I.Kaito 20+2reb+11ast, A.Rawle 14+1reb+8ast, E.Gregory 13+3reb+1ast, S.Yamamoto 7+4ast, A.Yamada 6+3reb+2ast
Bambitious N.: J.Brakefield 13+5reb+1ast, N.Erimu 8+2reb+3ast, U.Aoba 8, N.Spikes 8+3reb+3ast, K.Masaya 6, H.Jumpei 6+2reb+1ast

Shizuoka - Yamagata 70-68

Important game to mention about took place in Shizuoka. Seventh ranked Veltex (9-33) saved a 2-point victory at home edging their close opponent Wyverns (8-34) 70-68 in the game for the sixth place. Shizuoka made 17-of-22 charity shots (77.3 percent) during the game. American center Kenny Lawson (207-1988, college: Creighton) scored 19 points and 5 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and point guard Manaya Yamamoto (163-2004) chipped in 15 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists and point guard Ryusei Abe (181-1995) scored 22 points. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shizuoka moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Aomori W. Yamagata lost tenth consecutive game. They keep the seventh position with 34 games lost. Shizuoka will play against higher ranked Yokohama (#3) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Yamagata will play against Kumamoto V. (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: L.Kenny 19+5reb+2ast, M.Yamamoto 15+2reb+4ast, N.Hashimoto 10+2reb+1ast, R.Hashimoto 8+2ast, M.Keisuke 6+8reb+1ast, M.Konno 6+2ast
Yamagata: R.Abe 22+4reb, N.Waterman 21+10reb+7ast, S.Doorson 8+10reb+3ast, J.Toi 7+4reb+1ast, S.Taisei 5+2reb+1ast, K.Sotaro 5+3reb+2ast