Despite not playing, Kemark Cariño suffered a huge heartbreaker.
Kagawa’s Takayuki Kodama scored the game-winner to deal Aomori a 78-81 defeat in the 2021-22 B.League Division 2 season, Sunday at Zentsuji Civic Gymnasium.
With the game knotted at 75-all with 44 ticks left, Hiroki Usui was fouled by Hiroki Taniguchi while attempting a trey. Usui converted on all three to give the Wat’s a three-point edge.
Angus Brandt quickly answered on the other end with an and-one.
The final moments of the contest were hectic. After an Usui miss, Taniguchi grabbed the board and ran the length of the court to find Kodama for the winner.
Kodama had seven points and eight assists while Taniguchi got 12 points and five rebounds.
Terrance Woodbury led the Five Arrows with 24 points, six assists, four rebounds, and two steals while Brandt tallied 24 points and nine rebounds.
The Five Arrows went up to 6-2 with the win. Meanwhile, Aomori lost its second straight game to fall to 1-7.
Michael Craig paced Aomori with 23 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. Usui and Kiichi Kikuyama added 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Up next for Cariño and Aomori are Dwight Ramos and Toyama on Saturday in the All-Japan Cup.
