Toyama Grouses have swept a two-game road series against the Chiba Jets, following Saturday's 100–93 victory with an 83–78 win on Sunday, 1 November. The second result was less spectacular on the scoreboard and more convincing in the trenches. Toyama won the rebounding count 51–35, and Darral Willis Jr finished with 24 points and 18 boards. Chiba had chances to close the gap late, but spent too much of the afternoon trying to recover from a dreadful second quarter. B.LEAGUE's final game record confirms the result.
Toyama edged the first quarter 20–19 before taking the match apart with a 26–10 second period. That made it 46–29 at half-time. Chiba fought back, winning the second half 49–37, but the damage was done. The Jets needed stops and second opportunities; Toyama were better placed to secure the ball whenever a shot missed. The quarter scores and player box score show why the five-point final margin tells only part of the story.
Willis did much of the heavy lifting. His 18 rebounds included 15 at the defensive end, while Amir Sims contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Toyama collected 16 offensive boards to Chiba's eight. That is a sizeable supply of extra possessions in a game decided by five points, and it helps explain how the visitors won despite hitting just six of 28 three-point attempts. This was not a night when they could simply shoot their way out of trouble.
Braian Angola provided the other route to the basket. He scored 17 points and handed out nine assists, making 12 of his 15 free throws. Toyama went 25-of-30 at the line; Chiba managed 17-of-23. The Grouses' outside shooting was poor, but their rebounding and ability to draw fouls gave them enough ways to score. Angola's passing also meant the offence did not depend entirely on Willis finishing possessions himself.
Chiba's individual returns underline the swing across the weekend. Nate Williams had poured in 34 points on Saturday, including six threes, but finished Sunday's game with eight points in 17 minutes and 35 seconds. Yuta Watanabe went from 11 points in the opener to five in the rematch. Yuki Togashi scored 16 with seven assists on Sunday, while Luke Maye added 18 points and 11 rebounds. There were useful contributions, just not enough collective control of the glass or the second quarter.
The pattern was already visible in Saturday's 100–93 game. Toyama won the rebounds 47–37 that afternoon and broke open a contest that Chiba had led after one quarter. The visitors followed that with an even larger rebounding advantage on Sunday. Two games, two different scoring rhythms, the same problem for the home side. Toyama have moved to 8–5; Chiba are 4–9 after the pair of defeats.
The next assignments will test both teams in different ways. Toyama host West Division leaders Nagoya Diamond Dolphins on Saturday, 7 November, while Chiba face Altiri Chiba at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY on Friday, 6 November. The official fixture list sets up an immediate question for the Grouses: can their physical approach survive against a leading side? For the Jets, the challenge is more basic. Winning the second half is admirable; surrendering the middle of the game and 16 rebounds is a much harder habit to carry.
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