B2 League Round 45 (Regular Season): Ehime defeat Kagoshima in the game between Top 4 teams

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An interesting game for Orange Vikings (29-16) which hosted in Matsuyama 4th placed Rebnise (23-21). Second ranked Orange Vikings had an easy win 100-72. Ehime shot 60.3 percent from the field. It was a great shooting night for Ehime especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. It was a good game for American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) who led his team to a victory with 19 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) contributed with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) answered with a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists for Kagoshima. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Ehime maintains second place with 29-16 record having six points less than leader Kobe S. Kagoshima lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with 21 games lost. Ehime are looking forward to face Kagoshima (#4) in Renova in the next round. Kagoshima will have a break next round.
An interesting game for Volters (26-19) which hosted in Kumamoto second-best Firebonds (33-12). Third ranked Volters managed to get a 8-point victory 88-80. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and Kaito Ishikawa chipped in 24 points and 5 assists. The best for the losing side was Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds. Firebonds' coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Volters have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Kumamoto V. maintains third place with 26-19 record having nine points less than leader Kobe S., which they share with Fukui B. Fukushima at the other side keeps the second position with 12 games lost. Kumamoto V. will play against league's second-placed Fukushima at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukushima will have a break next round.
B2 League top team - Storks (40-5) managed to deliver another win on Saturday. This time they beat seventh ranked Wyverns (8-37) in Hyogo 85-70. American players dominated the game. Yoeli Childs nailed a double-double by scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. Storks' coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Noah Waterman came up with 28 points and 6 rebounds for Yamagata in the defeat. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Storks. Kobe S. maintains first place with 40-5 record. Yamagata lost their thirteenth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 37 games lost. Kobe S. will meet at home Yamagata (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Yamagata will have a break next round.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 45: Iwate was beaten by Fukui B. on the road 72-68. Shinshu destroyed Aomori W. on its own court 91-65. Bambitious unfortunately lost to Shizuoka in a road game 92-97.
The most impressive performance of 45th round was 53 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds by Jaemyn Brakefield of Bambitious N..



Ehime OV - Kagoshima 100-72

An interesting game for Orange Vikings (29-16) which hosted in Matsuyama 4th placed Rebnise (23-21). Second ranked Orange Vikings had an easy win 100-72. Ehime shot 60.3 percent from the field. It was a great shooting night for Ehime especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. It was a good game for American Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) who led his team to a victory with 19 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Five Orange Vikings players scored in double figures. American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) answered with a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists and Czech Patrik Auda (206-1989, college: Seton Hall, agency: Octagon Europe) added 16 points in the effort for Kagoshima. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Ehime maintains second place with 29-16 record having six points less than leader Kobe S. Kagoshima lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with 21 games lost. Ehime are looking forward to face Kagoshima (#4) in Renova in the next round. Kagoshima will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: H.Shaquille 19+4reb+6ast, P.Michael 15+4reb, H.Matt 14+10reb+3ast, R.Takeuchi 13+1reb+2ast, F.Takumi 13+3reb+5ast, W.Mitchell 11+6reb+7ast
Kagoshima: P.Auda 16+4reb+2ast, Z.Endo 11+3reb+1ast, A.Gaines Jr. 10+10reb+9ast, T.Komamizu 7, N.Rabay 6+5reb+2ast, J.Sharma 6+9reb+1ast

Fukui B. - Iwate 72-68

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fourth ranked Blowinds' (26-19) home victory over 5th ranked Big Bulls (11-34) in Fukui 72-68 on Saturday. Lithuanian forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati, agency: Slash Sports) nailed 15 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and American forward Perry Ellis (203-1993, college: Kansas) accounted for 11 points and 11 rebounds. American forward Noah Gurley (203-1999, college: Alabama) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks and the other American import forward Clay Mounce (199-1998, college: Furman, agency: Slash Sports) added 17 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Iwate in the defeat. Four Iwate players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Fukui B. moved-up to third place, which they share with Kumamoto V. Iwate lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 34 games lost. Fukui B. will meet at home Iwate (#5) in the next round. Iwate will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukui B.: I.Rapolas 15+7reb, Y.Nishino 13+6reb+3ast, E.Perry 11+11reb, D.Mosaku 8+3ast, K.Orgil 7+3reb+1ast, K.Ryan 6+7reb+2ast
Iwate: C.Mounce 17+6reb+1ast, N.Gurley 16+10reb+2ast, Y.Sogo 11+1reb+2ast, M.Tejic 11+9reb+1ast, U.Hiroki 4+2reb+1ast, T.Shutatsu 4+1reb+3ast

Kobe S. - Yamagata 85-70

B2 League top team - Storks (40-5) managed to deliver another win on Saturday. This time they beat seventh ranked Wyverns (8-37) in Hyogo 85-70. Kobe S. dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Wyverns's 26. Kobe S. outrebounded Yamagata 41-28 including 27 on the defensive glass. Kobe S. looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American players dominated the game. Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) nailed a double-double by scoring 23 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and Luke Maye (203-1997, college: UNC, agency: Slash Sports) accounted for 26 points and 7 rebounds. Storks' coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) came up with 28 points and 6 rebounds and James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) respectively for Yamagata in the defeat. Four Yamagata players scored in double figures. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Storks. Kobe S. maintains first place with 40-5 record. Yamagata lost their thirteenth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 37 games lost. Kobe S. will meet at home Yamagata (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Yamagata will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kobe S.: M.Luke 26+7reb+2ast, C.Yoeli 23+13reb+5ast, S.Terazono 13+4reb+9ast, K.Kimura 8+4reb+2ast, S.Jimmy 8+2ast, B.Isaac 5+6reb+1ast
Yamagata: N.Waterman 28+6reb+1ast, J.Bell 17+5reb+4ast, R.Abe 10+3reb+3ast, S.Taisei 10+2reb, J.Toi 3+2reb+2ast, S.Doorson 2+5reb

Kumamoto V. - Fukushima 88-80

An interesting game for Volters (26-19) which hosted in Kumamoto second-best Firebonds (33-12). Third ranked Volters managed to get a 8-point victory 88-80. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and guard Kaito Ishikawa (170-1990) chipped in 24 points and 5 assists. The best for the losing side was Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and American power forward Jack Nunge (213-1999, college: Xavier) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds. Five Kumamoto V. and four Fukushima players scored in double figures. Firebonds' coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Volters have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Kumamoto V. maintains third place with 26-19 record having nine points less than leader Kobe S., which they share with Fukui B. Fukushima at the other side keeps the second position with 12 games lost. Kumamoto V. will play against league's second-placed Fukushima at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukushima will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: I.Kaito 24+4reb+5ast, L.Mitch 20+14reb+1ast, A.Rawle 16+4reb+5ast, S.Yamamoto 13+2reb+1ast, M.Lamine 10+3reb, E.Gregory 3+6reb+2ast
Fukushima: P.Gardner 19+10reb+1ast, N.Tsukasa 15+3reb+1ast, J.Nunge 15+12reb+2ast, K.Manigault 12+7reb+5ast, D.Bamba 8+2reb+1ast, M.Takumi 4+2reb+3ast

Shinshu BW - Aomori W. 91-65

Very expected game when 6th ranked Watts (10-35) were smashed by first ranked Brave Warriors (35-10) in Nagano 91-65 on Saturday. Shinshu made 18-of-20 free shots (90.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American players dominated also this game. Mike Daum (206-1995, college: S.Dakota St.) nailed 28 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and forward JJ OBrien (200-1992, college: SDSU, agency: Slash Sports) accounted for 12 points and 5 assists. Center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds and forward Tim Dalger (201-2000, college: St.Louis) added 20 points respectively for Aomori W. in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Brave Warriors. Shinshu maintains first place with 35-10 record. Loser Watts keeps the sixth position with 35 games lost. They share it with Shizuoka. Shinshu will meet at home Aomori W. (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Aomori W. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Shinshu BW: D.Mike 28+9reb+1ast, O.J.J. 12+2reb+5ast, D.Tsuchiya 9+2reb+2ast, O.Akitoshi 8+3reb+2ast, M.Wayne 8+4reb+2ast, C.Aki 6+5reb+4ast
Aomori W.: M.Hisatake 21+11reb, T.Dalger 20+2reb+1ast, M.Beni 8+3reb+3ast, A.Shugo 6+2reb, O.Masahiro 5+1reb+6ast, K.Takahiro 3+2reb

Shizuoka - Bambitious N. 97-92

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when seventh ranked Veltex (10-35) won against 6th ranked Nara (14-31) in Shizuoka 97-92 on Saturday. Shizuoka made 20-of-25 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Australian center Angus Brandt (208-1989, college: Oregon St.) nailed 25 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winning side and American center Kenny Lawson (207-1988, college: Creighton) accounted for 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Veltex players scored in double figures. American forward Jaemyn Brakefield (203-2000, college: Ole Miss, agency: Slash Sports) came up with 53 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds and Ukrainian center Viacheslav Petrov (204-1994, agency: BIG) added 14 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Bambitious in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Shizuoka moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Aomori W. Loser Nara keep the sixth position with 31 games lost. Shizuoka will meet at home Bambitious (#6) in the next round. Bambitious will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: B.Angus 25+6reb+2ast, N.Chris-Ebou 15+7reb+1ast, L.Kenny 14+9reb+7ast, M.Toguchi 10+2ast, M.Konno 9+1reb+1ast, M.Keisuke 7+1reb+1ast
Bambitious N.: J.Brakefield 53+7reb+3ast, V.Petrov 14+9reb+2ast, T.Sakaguchi 7+4reb+2ast, K.Masaya 6+1ast, K.Ryota 6+1reb+4ast, T.Soma 6+1reb+10ast