Kai Sotto played just seven minutes in Hiroshima’s 80-83 loss to Shinshu in the 2022-23 B.League season, Saturday at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall.
Sotto went scoreless in the contest — the first time he has done so since debuting in the league last March. The 7-foot-3 big man only tallied two rebounds and an assist in the contest.
Reo Maeda and Kazuya Mitsui feasted for the Brave Warriors in the upset win, scoring 17 apiece while Anthony McHenry produced a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Brave Warriors went up to 27-28 — still 10th in the league.
Tough was the loss for the Dragonflies as it fell to a tie with Nagoya DD in the standings with identical 39-16 records for fifth.
Ray Parks remained on the sidelines in the Diamond Dolphins’ 84-71 win over neighbor Flying Eagles at Nagoya Biwajima Sports Center.
Sotto’s good pal Carl Tamayo only logged two minutes and 40 seconds in Ryukyu’s 73-72 escape of Shibuya at Okinawa Arena.
The Golden Kings raised their slate to 44-11 as they close in on Shimane for the second seed.
The Susanoo Magic dropped Kyoto to a 20-35 slate after racking up a 79-71 win at Kyoto City Gymnasium.
Matthew Wright tallied eight points and six assists in the loss.
Kiefer Ravena and Shiga, meanwhile, were given a 76-82 defeat by Osaka at Ookini Arena Maishima
Kiefer produced a line of eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists but it was not enough as the Lakes dropped to a 13-42 record.
Fortunately for Shiga, Niigata (10-45) outlasted Toyama (12-43) in OT, 89-77.
Thirdy, who tallied eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists, could not steer San-En to an upset of Kawasaki, falling 83-90 on the road.
The NeoPhoenix suffered their 34th loss against 21 victories.
Over at B2, Jordan Heading’s 25 points fell for naught as Nagasaki bowed to Ehime, 89-95, at Nagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium.
The Velca fell to 42-17 but still remained second at the west.
Roosevelt Adams also played his best game for Kagawa but his efforts were wasted by Kumamoto, who escaped with a 73-69 win, at Takamatsu City Gymnasium.
Adams got 16 points, six rebounds, and a block for the Five Arrows, who fell to 15-44 — still second to the last in Division II.
Finally, Greg Slaughter played 10 minutes and finished with seven points and six rebounds in Fukuoka’s 70-66 win over Nara at Teriha Sekisui House Arena.
The Rizing Zyphyr climbed to a 20-40 record.
