BJ-League | HOOP SCOOP Apr 21, 2013

Yokohama's Big Three key to club's second-season success

by Ed Odeven

Veteran forward Taketo Aoki, a player in the bj-league since the beginning in 2005, called his boss, Yokohama B-Corsairs head coach Reggie Geary, “a great coach” during a post-practice conversation on Tuesday. Yokohama captain Masayuki Kabaya said that Geary is quite adept at “making ...

BJ-League Apr 21, 2013

Lakestars clobber Northern Happinets in Nixon's return

by Ed Odeven

Sidelined for seven games with foot and ankle ailments, forward Ray Nixon returned to the Shiga Lakestars lineup on Saturday and helped the Western Conference club defeat the visiting Akita Northern Happinets 84-67 in their bj-league series opener. The University of Wisconsin product nailed ...

BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Apr 19, 2013

Kyoto's Hamaguchi proving again he is an elite coach

by Ed Odeven

For Honoo Hamaguchi and Dai Oketani, longevity is one part of their success story as the bj-league’s longest-tenured coaches. What’s more, their quality teams are always competitive year after year. Hamaguchi, the Kyoto Hannaryz coach, and Oketani, the Iwate Big Bulls bench boss, are ...

BJ-League Apr 16, 2013

B-Corsairs prove last season was no fluke

by Ed Odeven

As a first-year franchise, the Yokohama B-Corsairs proved to be one of the bj-league’s best clubs last season, advancing to the Final Four and placing third overall at Ariake Colosseum. No easy feat. Head coach Reggie Geary, a defensive demon during his playing days ...

BJ-League Apr 14, 2013

Woods' triple-double, Aoki's outside shooting propel Tokyo past Saitama

by Ed Odeven

Ricky Wods and Cohey Aoki grew up on opposites sides of the Pacific Ocean. But both are big keys for their team. Woods, a New Orleans native, and Aoki, who hails from Fukuoka, played starring roles for the visiting Tokyo Cinq Reves in a ...

BJ-League Apr 9, 2013

Broncos' energy, desire carry team to solid sweep over Crane Thunders

by Ed Odeven

Neither team has a shot at making the playoffs. Neither team will finish anywhere near .500. But both teams personify the spirited competitor who happens to be their head coach, former players Ryan Blackwell of the Gunma Crane Thunders and Tracy Williams of the ...

BJ-League Apr 7, 2013

Evessa trounce Happinets for 10th straight victory

by Ed Odeven

Head coach Bill Cartwright has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the Osaka Evessa basketball team. Taking over a team that was 5-19 when he was hired on Jan. 21, the Evessa are now only five games below .500. They won their 10th straight game ...

BJ-League | BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Apr 5, 2013

Ashby pivotal player in Fukuoka's quest for Final Four

by Ed Odeven

Julius Ashby is hungry to win a championship. One of the elite big men in the bj-league’s eight-season history, Ashby has been a valuable pivotman for four franchises that have reached the postseason: Takamatsu Five Arrows (2006-07, championship runnerup), Tokyo Apache (2008-09 and 2009-10, ...

BJ-League Apr 3, 2013

Akita veteran guard Hasegawa to retire after season

by Ed Odeven

What has been expected for many months is now official: Makoto Hasegawa is set to retire after this season, the Akita Sakigake Shimpo and other media outlets reported on Tuesday, Hasegawa’s 42nd birthday. The veteran point guard, who has only appeared in eight games ...

BJ-League Mar 31, 2013

Evessa hammer Shining Suns for eighth straight victory

by Ed Odeven

Trailing 11-7 after the opening quarter, the Osaka Evessa were playing a rather ordinary game against the host Miyazaki Shining Suns.