The Shiga Lakestars clicked on offense in their series opener against the Bambitious Nara on Saturday night.
Jeff Parmer and Ryota Kobayashi both doled out six assists and four Lakestars scored in double figures in an 85-73 triumph over Nara in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.
Yu Okada paced Shiga (16-7) with 21 points and sank a game-high three 3-pointers, and Terrance Woodbury poured in 20 points. Parmer, bj-league MVP and tone-setter for the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix¡¯s 2010-11 title team, finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Center Chris Holm supplied 10 points and eight rebounds, while forward Ray Nixon had an eight-point effort.
Shiga coach Koto Toyama won his first meeting against his ex-club, which he guided during its inaugural campaign in 2013-14.
Taishi Kasahara had 15 points and a jaw-dropping seven steals for the Bambitious (9-16) and Andre Murray matched his teammate¡¯s scoring output. Tatsuya Suzuki added 13 points and five assists and Chehales Tapscott scored 12 for Nara. Ryo Yamazaki contributed 10 points and Michael St. John hauled in 10 rebounds.
Northern Happinets 105, Broncos 81
In Saitama, Richard Roby¡¯s 24-point, six-steal effort energized Akita in a runaway victory over the Broncos.
Roby also dished out five assists as the Northern Happinets (23-4) won their 11th straight game and climbed a half-game ahead of the idle Iwate Big Bulls (22-4) atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Shigehiro Taguchi scored 19 points and backcourt mate Akitomo Takeno added 16 points and 10 assists for Akita. Yuto Otsuka had 15 points, Deshawn Stephens rang up 13 and Ruben Boykin 10 in the blowout.
Gary Johnson paced Saitama (1-23) with 25 points and Nyika Williams scored 19 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Ari Stewart chipped in with 18 points.
The Broncos, who picked up their first victory of the season on Sunday against the host Oita HeatDevils, finished with 23 turnovers.
Brave Warriors 88, Cinq Reves 73
In Inagi, Shinshu led 29-14 after the opening quarter and cruised to victory, handing host Tokyo its 12th straight loss.
The Brave Warriors improved to 10-15; the Cinq Reves fell to 4-23.
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