Read the full story on SportsLook - Strong Start Propels Reigning B.League Champion Dragonflies to 1st Victory of Season
A fine line often separates the difference between a win or a loss ― or just a handful of plays that prove influential. And a determined effort from the opening tipoff, as demonstrated by the reigning B.League champion Hiroshima Dragonflies against the Sunrockers Shibuya on Sunday afternoon, October 20, can be the biggest difference.
The Dragonflies, playing with a palpable sense of urgency after five straight losses to open the 2024-25 season, seized control in the first quarter.
It was the exact opposite of what occurred in the series opener on Saturday night at Aoyama Gakuin Memorial Hall. In that game, the Sunrockers jumped out to a 27-15 lead after one quarter en route to a 79-63 triumph.
A day later, Hiroshima held a 27-15 advantage entering the second period. Shibuya was in catch-up mode over the next 30 minutes, never fully recovered and was handed a 74-69 defeat.
Dragonflies coach Shogo Asayama's club shot the ball extremely well in the first 10 minutes of the rematch, making 12 of 18 shots from the floor. That aspect of the game went a long way in determining the final outcome.
The Sunrockers slipped to 3-3 in the ultra-competitive Central Conference, which Shibuya coach Luka Pavicevic has called the toughest conference in the B.League.
"I'd like to congratulate Hiroshima on achieving the first victory," Pavicevic commented.
"I think it was the gap [in points] that decided the game. We really wanted this game, the second win in the weekend toward our quest, so that we can possibly qualify for the playoffs [and] so every win is needed if we want a chance."
Balanced Scoring Carries the Dragonflies
Veteran forward Nick Mayo paced the Dragonflies with 18 points on 7-for-10 shootings. Teammates Takuto Nakamura (16 points) and Kerry Blackshear Jr and Dwayne Evans (11 points apiece) also scored in double digits while Ryu Watanabe chipped in with six.
After a hot-shooting first quarter ignited the Dragonflies, they continued to make 2-point attempts at a high percentage throughout the game. They finished the game at 58.3% on 2-point shots (21 of 36).
Hiroshima jumped out to its largest lead of the game (60-38) on a Keijiro Mitani driving bank shot with 1:45 remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth-Quarter Comeback Falls Short
Entering the fourth quarter, Shibuya faced a 64-44 deficit.
The Sunrockers sliced the margin to 64-53 and were on their way to outscoring the visitors 25-10 in the final period.
Guard Anthony Clemons, who led the Sunrockers with 23 points, six assists and four steals, initiated the team's comeback attempt with 13 fourth-quarter points.
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
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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 X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
