B3 League Round 45 (Regular Season): Okayama lose to lower ranked Tokyo Utd

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. What a coincidence that all visitors won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Round 45 most important game was a victory of Tokyo Utd over 4th placed Okayama 81-73 on Sunday night. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Try Hoop. United forced 20 Try Hoop turnovers. Strangely Try Hoop outrebounded United 44-31 including 30 on the defensive glass. It was a good game for American forward Jordan Faison (201-1994, college: CPP, agency: 011 Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) contributed with 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) answered with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 16 rebounds for Try Hoop. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tokyo Utd maintains eighth place with 20-22 record. Okayama at the other side keeps the fourth position with 15 games lost. Tokyo Utd are looking forward to face league's second-placed Saitama at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Okayama will play against Niigata A. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-35) and second ranked Five Arrows (35-7) in Yokkaichi ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Takamatsu outscored Veertien Mie 105-75. American forward Jacob Lampkin (206-1996, college: Alaska-Anch.) stepped up and scored 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Ikumi Takahashi chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 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. Five Arrows have an impressive series of nineteen victories in a row. Kagawa keeps a position of league leader. Veertien Mie lost fourteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 35 lost games. Kagawa will play against Tokyo Z (#12) on the road in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Veertien Mie will play against Gifu and hopes to get back on the winning track.

In the last two games of round 45 Tokushima Gam. beat Gifu on the road 79-74. Yamaguchi lost to Tachikawa on its own court 71-81.
The most impressive performance of 45th round was 21 points and 10 rebounds by Even Brauns of Yamaguchi.



Gifu - Tokushima Gam. 74-79

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Gambarous (34-10) beat 10th ranked Swoops (18-24) in Gifu 79-74. American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) stepped up and scored 40 points (!!!) for the winners and American-Filipino guard Roosevelt Adams (196-1998, college: Idaho Coll.) chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds. Gambarous' coach Kobayashi Yasunori used entire bench in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American forward Blake Preston (206-2000, college: Northwestern) with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 16 rebounds and point guard Ryo Takagi (180-2003) scored 18 points. Four Gifu players scored in double figures. Gambarous have a solid series of three victories in a row. Tokushima Gam. maintains third place with 34-10 record behind leader Kagawa FA. Gifu lost ninth consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with 24 games lost. Tokushima Gam. will play against Tokyo (#6) at home in the next round. Gifu will play against Veertien Mie (#15) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Gifu: T.Ryo 18+2ast, B.Preston 14+16reb+3ast, O.Souta 11+4reb+1ast, D.Fotu 10+3reb+3ast, K.Morito 9+6reb+1ast, J.Giles 5+4reb+3ast
Tokushima Gam.: D.Tavrion 40+3reb+2ast, A.Roosevelt 12+10reb, L.Ryan 8+2reb+5ast, T.Aoyama 5+2reb+1ast, M.Naoto 5+4reb+2ast, Y.Tsukamoto 3+2reb+5ast

Veertien Mie - Kagawa FA 75-105

The game between 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-35) and second ranked Five Arrows (35-7) in Yokkaichi ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Takamatsu outscored Veertien Mie 105-75. Kagawa dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Veertien Mie's 44 and made 18-of-22 charity shots (81.8 percent) during the game. Kagawa forced 20 Veertien Mie turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Veertien Mie was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American forward Jacob Lampkin (206-1996, college: Alaska-Anch.) stepped up and scored 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and guard Ikumi Takahashi (186-1998) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Five Five Arrows players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds and American forward Chris Olivier (202-1992, college: OK State, agency: Diamond Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 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. Five Arrows have an impressive series of nineteen victories in a row. Kagawa keeps a position of league leader. Veertien Mie lost fourteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 35 lost games. Kagawa will play against Tokyo Z (#12) on the road in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Veertien Mie will play against Gifu and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Veertien Mie: D.Doblas 26+10reb+3ast, C.Olivier 19+10reb+2ast, D.Dodd 7+5reb+1ast, K.Takao 6+3reb+4ast, S.Yusei 6+4reb+3ast, P.Abu 5+3reb
Kagawa FA: L.Jacob 16+8reb+4ast, D.Alex 15+3reb+2ast, I.Takahashi 13+5reb+3ast, H.Imabayashi 13+2reb+1ast, M.Kamata 10+3reb+3ast, Y.Ukeda 9+1reb+1ast

Okayama - Tokyo Utd 73-81

Round 45 most important game was a victory of Tokyo Utd over 4th placed Okayama 81-73 on Sunday night. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Try Hoop. United forced 20 Try Hoop turnovers. Strangely Try Hoop outrebounded United 44-31 including 30 on the defensive glass. It was a good game for American forward Jordan Faison (201-1994, college: CPP, agency: 011 Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) contributed with 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) answered with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 16 rebounds and the other American import forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) added 16 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Try Hoop. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tokyo Utd maintains eighth place with 20-22 record. Okayama at the other side keeps the fourth position with 15 games lost. Tokyo Utd are looking forward to face league's second-placed Saitama at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Okayama will play against Niigata A. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Okayama: T.King 16+8reb, W.Kouki 12+1reb+1ast, K.Hankerson 12+5reb+7ast, J.Scott 10+16reb+1ast, Y.Toshiki 6+1reb+4ast, N.Mizuki 5
Tokyo Utd: F.Jordan 19+10reb+8ast, V.Rhys 18+7reb+2ast, R.Kawashima 16, K.Hayden 12+6reb+1ast, S.Kedrick 6+2reb+2ast, H.Higashi 4+2reb+4ast

Yamaguchi - Tachikawa 71-81

Very expected game when 13th ranked Pats Five (12-34) lost to seventh ranked Dice (23-19) in Yamaguchi 71-81. American swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) stepped up and scored 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and Lithuanian power forward Rokas Gustys (206-1994, college: Hofstra) chipped in 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was American center Even Brauns (206-2002, college: Iowa, agency: Diamond Sports) with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import center Antavion Collum (206-2000, college: McNeese St.) scored 14 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Tachikawa and four Yamaguchi players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Tachikawa maintains seventh place with 23-19 record. Yamaguchi at the other side keeps the thirteenth position with 34 games lost. Tachikawa will play against Shanan Utd (#11) in Kanagawa in the next round. Yamaguchi will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: E.Brauns 21+10reb+1ast, A.Collum 14+8reb+5ast, H.Bostyn 11+3reb, K.Shuto 10+1reb+6ast, I.Yuki 7+4ast, S.Park 3
Tachikawa: P.LJ 20+5reb+5ast, F.Andrew 12+5reb, F.Sato 12+1ast, R.Gustys 11+9reb+4ast, Y.Makanae 10+2reb, S.Osaki 7+4reb