They did it last week, and the week before that, and how this week sweeping the competition to expand the Ryukyu Golden Kings lead in the Basketball Japan League’s Western Conference.

The reigning champions, playing in the southern prefecture city of Ishigaki, the Golden Kings smashed the Saitama Broncos for a sixth consecutive victory, winning 89-82 and 84-77.  The wins stretch the Okinawa season record to 33-9.  Terrance Woodbury and Anthony McHenry led the team, while center Jeff Newton spent the weekend on the bench.

The Shimane Susanoo Magic hit the 30 victories mark for the first time in the team’s history, outdistancing the Toyama Grouses 90-78. The win pushes their record to 30-13.  The Niigata Albirex BB rolled over the Takamatsu Five Arrows 94-77 and 89-86, sending the hapless Five Arrows to a 18-28 record.  Niigata improves to stay a half-game behind the Eastern Conference-leading Yokohama B-Corsairs.  The B-Corsairs have had a busy week, whipping the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in a mid-week series, and then drubbing the Tokyo Cinq Reves in a second series.  They won 82-69 .

The surging Osaka Evessa, who began the season poorly but are rebounding under a new head coach, toppled the Sendai 89ers 56-52 and 79-66 to increase their record to 17-25.  Sendai’s in the cellar too, with a  16-26 record. The Kyoto Hannaryz upended the Shinshu Brave Warriors 78-65 and 76-72 to run their string to 23-19. The Akita Northern Happinets took an 84-77 win from the cellar-dwelling Miyazaki Shining Suns Saturday, but then were stunned in a 76-60 loss on Sunday afternoon.  Akita’s 22-20 while Miyazaki is 8-36.

The Chiba Jets, who’ll be jumping to a rival league next season, outpaced the Fukuoka Rizing 86-83 and 87-77 to stand at 22-20 on the season.  The Rizing’s still in playoff contention with a 28-16 record.  The Oita HeatDevils beat the Iwate Big Bulls 90-63 and 83-80 to improve to 16-28.

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