2016 Akira Komai Memorial Playoffs – So. Cal Finals Results
CARSON.—The Akira Komai 2016 NAU Playoffs finished on Sunday, April 17 with games in four divisions, AA, Aye Plus, Aye Major and Aye Minor.
Two teams both wanted to start a new era in AA, with the retirement of the Quicksilver AA team. Ironmen, with a host of college players, fell behind by 18 points in the first half, but rallied to slip past Just Saiyans, 90-80. Dane Okuda spirited the comeback with 25 of his 29 points in the second half. Teammate Trevor Carroll added 12 of his 18 in the period, including two crucial three-pointers which put the game away. Johnathan Chu poured in 40 points to lead Just Saiyans, most of them coming on long jumpers over assorted defenders.
Ironmen (90)—T. James 0 pts and 6 reb, T. Carroll 20 pts and 9 reb, J. Sasada 10 pts and 11 reb, G. James 10, M. Kinoshita 5. Just Saiyans (80)—R. Kamayatsu 15, J. Chu 40, J. Deans 1 pt and 6 reb, J. Chen 9, M. Nitake 3, T. Hunt 6 pts and 7 reb, G. Mitsuuchi 3, P Nitake 2.
GI Quicksilver used their size to good advantage to wear down FOR Grinders, 81-70, in the Aye Plus championship bout. Grinders out-rebounded their opponents, 32-18, with Nolan Imamura grabbing a dozen caroms. Five of the six Grinder players hit double figures, topped by the sharpshooting of John Gabio and his 21 points.
FOR Grinders (70)—M. Ujimori 4, P. Gonzaque 14, B. Gonzaque 7, D. Kalthoff 11, R. Young 19, B. Matsui, K .Tanaka 15. GI Quicksilver (81)—E. Iki 12, Q. Lee 6, N. Imamura 11 pts and 12 reb, B. Miyano 18, J. Gabio 21 pts and 6 reb, K. Deemer 12.
In a game of two evenly-matched Aye Major teams, Yellow Storm bested Mavericks, 68-65. The first half was a nail-biter with four tie scores and six lead changes. Mavericks came out in the second half behind Alan Morris, Eric Wun and Kyle Wun to take the lead, 47-31. A trio of Storms blew in, Marc Sahara, Kyler Lee and Steve Song, and YS tied the score at 56-all with 5:54 left on the clock. The two adversaries matched each other until Lee’s drive with 33s. left put Storm ahead, 64-61. Ten sec. later, Morris made two fts, only for Song to match fts. With 18.5s. left, Wun converted his one-and-one but at the 16.8s. mark, Lee posted the 68-65 score. Mavericks tried a couple of treys but failed to connect.
Yellow Storm (68)—S. Song 16 and 10 reb, K Lee 20 and 6 reb, M. Sahara 10, E. Lim 1, C. Liu 5, M. Fukumoto 6, C. Akiyoshi, C. Lee, S. Thi 9. Mavericks (65)—K. Wun 8, A. Morris 12 pts and 8 reb, A. Olsen 9, K. Masuyama 7, E. Wun 16 and 7 reb, J Suminaga, A. Wun, M. Suminaga, R. Wun.
In the Aye Minor game, Mustangs and Pasadena Warriors battled for 45 min. before Mustangs could secure the win, 61-57. The largest lead of the game was six points, twice by Mustangs. Both times, Pasadena quickly erased the deficit. Kirk Nakagawa forced overtime, 53-53, with his jumper, one step into the key, 52s. left in regulation. In overtime, Mustang Darren Hashimoto hit two jumpers. Four-for-four free throw shooting by Hashimoto and Nakagawa clinched it.
Pasadena Warriors (57)—D. Bell 16 pts and 10 reb, T. Bell 23, D. Wright 13 and 10 reb, D. Kato, R. Matsumoto 3, J. Utsunomiya 2. Mustangs (61)—W. Louie, C. Hayashi 8 pts and 9 reb, Da. Hashimoto 27, T. Matsuda 3, K. Nakagawa 20, Dn. Hashimoto 2.
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