Weekend split cost Golden Kings’ chance for lead in conference

Mo Carlo taking aim at the hoop on Saturday.

Mo Charlo taking aim at the hoop on Saturday.

Golden Kings faced the Western Conference 1st place squad Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the weekend home game series, and won the first game 71-58 but lost the second 64-69 on Sunday. Had the Kings swiped both games they would now be in the first place in the conference. The result on Sunday was very tough for both the members of the team and all funs of Kings.

Hiromasa Omiya making an attack past Nagoya's defense.

Ryuichi Kishimoto making an attack past Nagoya’s defense.

On Saturday game, the Kings did well in the first period, including some impressive dunk shots by Hiromasa Omiya. They looked good also in the second quarter, and managed to increase the gap to more than 10 points at one point, but Nagoya began to pile points one after another, and with the Kings missing some plays, the score was 33-28 at the half time.

In the 3rd quarter, the Kings’ misfired a number of shots, and the game turned over once. However, the team found the energy to explode in the final quarter with Kinjo’s and Tsuyama’s 3-point shots that ensured the team nailed the win.

After the match, King’s Head Coach Tsutomu Isa said, “The Dolphins are in the first place in the conference, and we thought us as the challenger of this match. When we keep running through the whole game, we can create much trouble for them, and that’s how it was. But we have to try to miss less plays to shorten tomorrow’s game.”

Lamont Hamilton scored eight point and had six rebounds and three assists.

Lamont Hamilton scored eight point and had six rebounds and three assists.

On Sunday, the Kings lost 64-69. It was a very tough game from the 1st quarter on. While Dolphins managed to make a couple of three-point shots, the Kings piled up with effective teamwork play and ended with 22-19 after the 1st quarter.

Also the 2nd quarter was an even, low-score game and, at half time, the score was 36-28 for the Kings.

But after the half-point, the Dolphins beefed up both defense and offense, especially shining with their rebounds, and finally, just less than two minutes left of the game, the game turned over for the Dolphins.

According to Isa, “It was a very wasted game for us. We could well have won today. We were not patient in the final part of the game. The concentration of Dolphins at the end of the game was very effective, and we should follow similar style of play, or we can’t hope to win contantly.”

HAMGAWA4

20:16 29 Mar , 2024