A day after clinching their slot in the 2023 B.League playoffs, Kai Sotto and Hiroshima could not sustain their momentum, falling to Shimane, 88-100, Sunday at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall.
The Dragonflies’ 80-71 win over the Susanoo Magic yesterday formalized their entry to the next round.
However, Hiroshima was not able to score the brace against Shimane, dropping to a 37-13 record. The Susanoo Magic went up to 42-8.
Still, Sotto delivered for the Dragonflies, finishing the game with 13 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Carl Tamayo and Ryukyu completed their weekend sweep of Matthew Wright and Kyoto, taking a 93-80 win at Okinawa Arena.
The Golden Kings, who went up to 39-11, wasted Wright’s 17-point, 12-assist double-double.
Tamayo logged 10 minutes, producing two points and two rebounds, against the Hannaryz, who fell to a 17-33 slate.
Kiefer Ravena and Shiga continued to create separation against the bottom two teams in the league — Toyama and Niigata, after dominating FE Nagoya, 86-61, at Nagoya Biwajima Sports Center.
Ravena produced 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a steal, steering the Lakes to a 12-38 record and giving the Flying Eagles a 20-30 record.
Bobby Ray Parks missed Nagoya DD’s 87-81 win over Osaka at Ookini Arena Maishima.
The Diamond Dolphins went up to 50-36 — sixth in the league.
Over in Division II, Jordan Heading fired 17 points, dished out five assists, and grabbed four rebounds in Nagasaki’s 101-91 win over Fukuoka at Isahaya City Central Gymnasium.
The Velca went up to 41-15 to clinch their entry to the playoffs.
Greg Slaughter did not play for the also-ran Rizing Zephyr, who fell to 17-39.
Finally, Roosevelt Adams got seven points in Kagawa’s 68-89 defeat at the hands of Yamagata at Takamatsu City Gymnasium.
The Five Arrows fell to 15-41 — second to the last in B2. They are now tied with Nara.
Falling to the bottom two of the standings will result in automatic relegation to B3.
