Kiefer Ravena and Shiga could not sustain the momentum they gained in last week’s sweep of Osaka, falling to fellow also-ran squad Hokkaido, 74-96, Saturday at Hokkai Kita-yale.
The loss is the Lakestars’ 35th loss in 47 games in the 2021-22 B.League season.
And a huge third quarter by Levanga turned things around.
Up by just one, 36-35, after the first 20 minutes of action, Hokkaido surged with a 37-point third stanza while limiting Shiga to just 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
At the forefront of the Levanga attack were Shawn Long and Yuta Matsushita as the duo outscored the Lakestars, combining for 21 points on a combined 8-of-10 shooting clip.
It never got close from there as the lead ballooned to as high as 28 points, 92-64, with 3:51 left in the game.
Levanga, who went up to 16-31, were led by Long’s 38-point and 16-rebound outing.
Matsushita got 15 points as well while Hayato Yamaguchi added 11 points.
Novar Gadson led the way for Shiga with 12 points but shot just 4-of-15 from the field. Ravena was held down to just 11 points and four assists as well.
Also tallying 11 points were Teppei Kashiwagura and Sean O’ Mara.
The two teams face off again tomorrow.
