Sports

Shimane Susanoo Magic Stretch Winning Streak to 17 Games

B.League MVP candidate Perrin Buford scores a season-high 42-points for the Shimane Susanoo Magic against the Gunma Crane Thunders in their latest victory.

Published

1 year ago

April 4, 2023

Ed Odeven

Shimane Susanoo Magic forward Perrin Buford drives to the basket against the Gunma Crane Thunders on April 2 in Ota, Gunma Prefecture. (B.LEAGUE)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Shimane Susanoo Magic Stretch Winning Streak to 17 Games

With 13 games remaining in the regular season for all but two of the B.League's 24 first-division teams, the Shimane Susanoo Magic are firing on all cylinders.

Shimane extended its winning streak to 17 games with back-to-back road wins (76-73, 87-80) over the Gunma Crane Thunders on Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2.

The Susanoo Magic (40-7) dominated in the second quarter of their weekend rematch against the Crane Thunders (24-23), outscoring the hosts 23-11 to take a 42-28 advantage into the third quarter.

Veteran small forward Perrin Buford, the B.League's leading scorer (22.2 points per game), paced Shimane with a season-high 42 points. He added eight rebounds and seven assists.

*Shimane's Seiya Ando leads the B.League in minutes played and 3-point attempts this season. (B.LEAGUE)*

Shimane teammate Nick Kay chipped in with 13 points and Seiya Ando and Reid Travis had 11 apiece.

Standout performances by Gunma's Trey McKinney-Jones, who had 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting, Narito Namizato (16 points, eight assists) and Michael Parker (15 rebounds) kept the club within striking distance.

*Gunma's Narito Namizato runs the offense in the series finale. (B.LEAGUE)*

But Susanoo Magic coach Paul Henare's team led 86-75 with 1:14 to play after Buford scored his final point of the game at the free-throw line. And another game ended in the win column for the Western Conference title-chasing club.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.