B2 League Round 44 (Regular Season): Kobe S. edges Kagoshima by one point

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Fourth-ranked Rebnise (23-20) made lots of trouble for first ranked Storks (39-5) in Renova on Sunday. The visitors from Hyogo managed to secure only one-point victory 79-78. However their fans expected easier game. Kobe S. outrebounded Kagoshima 40-27 including 28 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) who had a double-double by scoring 30 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. The other American import Luke Maye (203-1997, college: UNC, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds. American-British center Josh Sharma (213-1995, college: Stanford) produced 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks for the hosts. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Storks have an impressive five-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains first position with 39-5 record. Kagoshima at the other side keeps the fourth place with 20 games lost. Kobe S. are looking forward to face Yamagata (#7) at home in the next round where they are favorite. Kagoshima will play against the league's second-placed Ehime in Matsuyama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in Fukushima. Second ranked Orange Vikings (28-16) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging their close opponent Firebonds (33-11) 93-91 in the game for the second place. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Firebonds. American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) orchestrated the victory by scoring 25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Matt Haarms contributed with 16 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) replied with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for Fukushima. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Ehime maintains second position with 28-16 record having six points less than leader Kobe S. which they share with defeated Fukushima. Fukushima at the other side keeps the second place with 11 games lost. Ehime will play against Kagoshima (#4) in Renova in the next round. Fukushima will play on the road against Kumamoto V. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Sixth-ranked Watts (10-34) made lots of trouble for sixth ranked Nara (14-30) on Sunday. Nara managed to secure only one-point victory 79-78. However their fans expected easier game. Worth to mention a great performance of Jaemyn Brakefield who helped to win the game recording 30 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Tim Dalger responded with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Bambitious maintains sixth position with 14-30 record which they share with defeated Aomori W.. Loser Watts keeps the sixth place with 34 games lost. Bambitious will meet Shizuoka (#7) on the road in the next round. Aomori W. will play against the league's leader Shinshu in Nagano and hope to secure a win.

Rest of the games of round 44 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Shinshu crushed Iwate in Nagano 84-54. Yamagata was smashed by Kumamoto V. at home 64-86. Fukui B. won against Fukuoka R. on the opponent's court 96-83.
The best stats of 44th round was 19 points by Ryan Kelly of Fukui B..



Fukushima - Ehime OV 91-93

Important game to mention about took place in Fukushima. Second ranked Orange Vikings (28-16) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging their close opponent Firebonds (33-11) 93-91 in the game for the second place. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Firebonds. Ehime dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Firebonds's 28. Ehime players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Fukushima was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) orchestrated the victory by scoring 25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) contributed with 16 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Five Orange Vikings players scored in double figures. American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) replied with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and Tsukasa Nakano (185-1996) added 15 points in the effort for Fukushima. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Ehime maintains second position with 28-16 record having six points less than leader Kobe S. which they share with defeated Fukushima. Fukushima at the other side keeps the second place with 11 games lost. Ehime will play against Kagoshima (#4) in Renova in the next round. Fukushima will play on the road against Kumamoto V. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: N.Tsukasa 15+3reb+3ast, P.Gardner 14+2reb+2ast, J.Nunge 13+11reb+5ast, S.Riku 9+1reb+3ast, O.Shoya 8, K.Manigault 7+7reb+4ast
Ehime OV: W.Mitchell 25+7reb+6ast, H.Eiji 18+3reb+4ast, H.Matt 16+7reb+2ast, H.Shaquille 15+6reb+1ast, P.Michael 12+8reb+1ast, Y.Okuda 4+2reb+5ast

Iwate - Shinshu BW 54-84

There was no surprise in Iwate where 5th ranked Big Bulls (11-33) were crushed by first ranked Brave Warriors (34-10) 84-54 on Sunday. Shinshu outrebounded Iwate 39-25 including a 31-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of American Mike Daum (206-1995, college: S.Dakota St.) who helped to win the game recording 25 points and 9 rebounds and the former international forward Eliet Kojima-Donley (198-1996, college: Chaminade, agency: Slash Sports) who added 8 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. American forward Noah Gurley (203-1999, college: Alabama) responded with 15 points and 4 assists and Hiroki Usui (193-1996) scored 7 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. Brave Warriors have a solid three-game winning streak. Shinshu maintains first position with 34-10 record. Iwate lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with 33 games lost. Shinshu will meet at home Aomori W. (#6) in the next round where they are favorite. Iwate will play against Fukui B. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Iwate: N.Gurley 15+3reb+4ast, S.Ryosuke 9+1reb, I.Harumichi 8+2ast, C.Mounce 7+3reb+1ast, U.Hiroki 7+2reb+2ast, T.Shutatsu 4+2ast
Shinshu BW: D.Mike 25+9reb, O.J.J. 14+4reb+2ast, O.Akitoshi 9+3ast, K.Eliet 8+7reb+5ast, M.Wayne 7+8reb+1ast, D.Tsuchiya 7+1reb+4ast

Kagoshima - Kobe S. 78-79

Fourth-ranked Rebnise (23-20) made lots of trouble for first ranked Storks (39-5) in Renova on Sunday. The visitors from Hyogo managed to secure only one-point victory 79-78. However their fans expected easier game. Kobe S. outrebounded Kagoshima 40-27 including 28 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) who had a double-double by scoring 30 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. The other American import Luke Maye (203-1997, college: UNC, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds. American-British center Josh Sharma (213-1995, college: Stanford) produced 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks and point guard Zen Endo (182-1998, agency: Slash Sports) added 12 points and 9 assists respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Storks have an impressive five-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains first position with 39-5 record. Kagoshima at the other side keeps the fourth place with 20 games lost. Kobe S. are looking forward to face Yamagata (#7) at home in the next round where they are favorite. Kagoshima will play against the league's second-placed Ehime in Matsuyama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kagoshima: P.Auda 20+2reb, J.Sharma 19+7reb+3ast, Z.Endo 12+3reb+9ast, A.Gaines Jr. 10+4reb+5ast, F.Kota 9+3reb+5ast, T.Kodama 5+4ast
Kobe S.: C.Yoeli 30+13reb+4ast, K.Kimura 13+5reb+1ast, S.Terazono 12+3reb+6ast, M.Luke 10+11reb+1ast, R.Kaneda 7+3reb+2ast, B.Isaac 7+5reb

Bambitious N. - Aomori W. 79-78

Sixth-ranked Watts (10-34) made lots of trouble for sixth ranked Nara (14-30) on Sunday. Nara managed to secure only one-point victory 79-78. However their fans expected easier game. Bambitious looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Jaemyn Brakefield (203-2000, college: Ole Miss, agency: Slash Sports) who helped to win the game recording 30 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Ukrainian center Viacheslav Petrov (204-1994, agency: BIG) who added 13 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists during the contest. American forward Tim Dalger (201-2000, college: St.Louis) responded with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and his fellow American import center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Bambitious maintains sixth position with 14-30 record which they share with defeated Aomori W.. Loser Watts keeps the sixth place with 34 games lost. Bambitious will meet Shizuoka (#7) on the road in the next round. Aomori W. will play against the league's leader Shinshu in Nagano and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: M.Hisatake 17+10reb, T.Dalger 15+7reb+6ast, O.Masahiro 11+2ast, N.Kenshin 11+1reb+4ast, A.Chol 9+2reb, Y.Tetta 8+3reb+2ast
Bambitious N.: B.Jaemyn 30+5reb+4ast, M.Komaki 23+2reb+2ast, P.Viacheslav 13+13reb+7ast, J.Honda 10+3reb+2ast, S.Tatsuya 3+3reb+1ast, E.Nakatani 0

Yamagata - Kumamoto V. 64-86

No shocking result in a game in Yamagata where third ranked Volters (25-19) smashed 7th ranked Wyverns (8-36) 86-64 on Sunday. Kumamoto V. dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Wyverns's 24. Kumamoto V. outrebounded Yamagata 45-32 including a 37-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kumamoto V. looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American Rawle Alkins (197-1997, college: Arizona) who helped to win the game recording 28 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) and the other American import forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) who added 16 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Four Volters players scored in double figures. Dutch center Shaquille Doorson (213-1994, college: Rutgers) responded with 10 points and 9 rebounds and American James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) scored 13 points and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Volters have a solid four-game winning streak. Kumamoto V. maintains third position with 25-19 record having nine points less than leader Kobe S., which they share with Fukui B. Yamagata lost twelfth consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with 36 games lost. Kumamoto V. will meet at home league's second-placed Fukushima in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Yamagata will play against the league's leader Kobe S. (#1) in Hyogo and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: Y.Ishikawa 16+2reb+3ast, J.Bell 13+4reb+4ast, S.Doorson 10+9reb+2ast, S.Taisei 9+1reb, R.Abe 6+9reb+2ast, L.Jonghyun 3+3reb+1ast
Kumamoto V.: A.Rawle 28+4reb+3ast, L.Mitch 16+9reb+1ast, E.Gregory 11+12reb+1ast, S.Yamamoto 10+2reb+5ast, A.Yamada 7+1reb+2ast, I.Hiroaki 6+7reb+2ast

Fukuoka R. - Fukui B. 83-96

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 5th ranked Rizing's (20-24) home loss to fourth ranked Blowinds (25-19) 83-96 on Sunday. Fukui B. made 23-of-23 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Mongolian power forward Orgil Khishigbaatar (203-2003, agency: Slash Sports) who helped to win the game recording 23 points and 6 rebounds and American Ryan Kelly (211-1991, college: Duke, agency: Slash Sports) who added 19 points (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) during the contest. Spanish Pablo Aguilar (204-1989, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds and point guard Eiji Shimoyama (169-2004) scored 11 points and 9 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Fukui B. moved-up to third place, which they share with Kumamoto V. Loser Rizing keeps the fifth position with 24 games lost. Fukui B. will meet at home Iwate (#5) in the next round. Fukuoka R. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukuoka R.: R.Aoki 14+4reb, P.Aguilar 14+11reb+2ast, K.Toshikazu 12+1reb+1ast, S.Eiji 11+4reb+9ast, J.Burrell 11+7reb+2ast, M.Shunto 9+1reb
Fukui B.: K.Orgil 23+6reb, Y.Nishino 20+2reb+1ast, K.Ryan 19+4reb+3ast, I.Rapolas 11+10reb+3ast, N.Fujisawa 7+1ast, E.Perry 7+3reb+5ast