Shiga Lakestars vs. Osaka Evessa at Moriyama 2009.10.24
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The Shiga Lakestars played against Osaka Evessa on Oct. 24-25, 2009 at Moriyama Shimin Taiikukan gym, a short bus ride from Moriyama Station. Special shuttle buses ran from the station to the gym.
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Path to the gym entrance is lined with Lakestars banners.
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Outside the gm entrance is this food stand selling Bobby Nash's Locomoco (sunny-side up egg on a hamburger on a bowl of rice) and team captain Fujiwara Takamichi's curry rice.
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Moriyama gym entrance.
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Door to the Moriyama gym.
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Entrance lobby is decorated with player cutouts. We had to take off our shoes when entering the Moriyama gym. Slippers were provided.
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Official Shiga Lakestars merchandise.
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Cheerleaders perform.
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Introduction of Osaka Evessa players.
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Introduction of Shiga Lakestars players.
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Head coach Robert Pierce chats with an ardent fan in a wheelchair.
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Introduction of starting five. This is Luke Zellar.
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Tip-off at about 5 pm between the Shiga Lakestars and Osaka Evessa.
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Wara tries for one.
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Mike Hall #23 with the ball.
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View from upper level for free seating costing 1,800 yen (advance tickets).
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Luke Zellar #40 rises to the occasion.
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Fujiwara Takamichi #11, team captain. Nickname is "Wara."
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Luke Zellar #40 for a free throw.
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Many homemade banners cheering the Lakestars.
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Fujiwara Takamichi #11
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Fujiwara Takamichi #11 for a free throw.
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Kojima Yuta #03 going up.
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Osaka Evessa proved to be a strong team as the score went neck to neck throughout the game. The Lakestars managed to keep up with Evessa even after falling behind a few times.
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Gary Hamilton #2
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Evessa head coach Tennichi Kensaku (center) talks to his team during a timeout.
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Kojima Yuta #03 passing the ball.
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Fujiwara Takamichi #11
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Osaka provided an exciting game as the score kept see-sawing between the two teams.
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Ogawa Shinya #5
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Chris Schlatter #4
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Joho Masashi #31 trying the keep the ball away from the long arm of an Evessa player.
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Shiga Lakestars Joho Masashi #31
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Gary Hamilton #2
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Mike Hall #23
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Joho Masashi #31. During this game, I got a lot of good shots of Joho.
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Magnee, official mascot, and Lakestars cheerleaders.
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Horikawa Ryuichi #8 looking for someone.
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Bobby Nash #33
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Free throw game. People who sunk the ball in received a small prize.
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Lakestars trail Evessa at halftime. The Lakestars never allowed Osaka to lead by more than several points.
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Lakestars defense.
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Joho Masashi #31
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Caught in the act. Joho being fouled.
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Gary Hamilton for free throw.
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Magnee in the stands.
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Joho Masashi #31
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Joho Masashi #31 for a free throw.
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Gary passing to Bobby.
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Joho Masashi #31
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All eyes on the ball.
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Wara
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Bobby Nash goes for 3 points.
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Very close game even during the 3rd quarter.
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Wish I was on the other side of the court.
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The two head coaches watch at courtside.
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Joho Masashi #31
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Joho Masashi #31
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Shinya
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Mike Hall
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Firing up Lakestars fans.
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Wara gives the signal.
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Still tied with less than 4 min. left in the game. Very exciting. The crowd either roared each time the Lakestars scored or sighed each time they missed.
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High five between Joho and Wara.
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High five between Gary Hamilton #2 and Bobby Nash #33.
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Lakestars cheerleaders and Magnee in a corner.
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Even Magnee booed the Evessa free throw.
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Going for the rebound.
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Joho
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Lakestars cheerleaders in black.
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In a hard-fought match, the Shiga Lakestars sqeaked by Osaka Evessa 66-64. They beat Osaka the next day as well, 83-80 in another close game. With 6 wins and 2 losses so far, the Lakestars head the Western Conference.
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