 Last additions - Shiga Lakestars vs. Takamatsu Five Arrows at Hikone 2009.10.31 |
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Victorious American players high five with the crowd.Nov 02, 2009
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Head Coach Robert Pierce high five with the crowd.Nov 02, 2009
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Japanese players high five with the crowd.Nov 02, 2009
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The Shiga Lakestars are on a roll with five home game victories in a row, putting them in 1st place in the Western Conference. Team morale must be high.Nov 02, 2009
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The game's MVP was Gary Hamilton who was awarded with a gas heater from Osaka Gas.Nov 02, 2009
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Head Coach Bob Pierce thanks the crowd for coming and urges them to come again to support the Lakestars. (Will do.)Nov 02, 2009
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Shinya also talked.Nov 02, 2009
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Closing speechesNov 02, 2009
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Final score: 93-79. The Shiga Lakestars win their fifth home game in a row. However, on the next day, they lost their first home game of the season as Takamatsu took revenge and won handily 81-91.Nov 02, 2009
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The Lakestars led most of the way so it wasn't a cliffhanger game like with Osaka Evessa the weekend before.Nov 02, 2009
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Mike HallNov 02, 2009
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If you feel down or depressed, see a basketball game to cheer you up.Nov 02, 2009
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Like a big party.Nov 02, 2009
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She's glowing.Nov 02, 2009
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Cheerleader on roller blades.Nov 02, 2009
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Shiga Lakestar cheerleaders always do a great job when firing up the crowd, whether it's "DEFENSE!!" or "GO GO LAKES!!"Nov 02, 2009
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Ogawa Shinya #5, local boy from Nagahama.Nov 02, 2009
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Luke Zellar on a free throw and Coach Pierce looks on.Nov 02, 2009
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Lakestars still lead at the end of the 3rd period: 71-59Nov 02, 2009
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Butterfingers again.Nov 02, 2009
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Coach Pierce gives a heated pep talk during a break.Nov 02, 2009
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Gary with the ball.Nov 02, 2009
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Bobby gives a signal as he plays point guard with Fujiwara disabled and Shinya fouled out of the game.Nov 02, 2009
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ButterfingersNov 02, 2009
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Magnee and cheerleaders. Nov 02, 2009
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No hot pants for this game. Looks like they wear only two outfits (out of the four I've seen so far) per game.Nov 02, 2009
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Shiga Lakestars cheerleaders in their long-pants outfit with windows. Cheerleaders are also athletes in their own right.Nov 02, 2009
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Luke Zellar was all alone when he sped down the court and dunked this one. Huge cheers ensued. This is what we come to see.Nov 02, 2009
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Joho helps up a Takamatsu player who crashed into a billboard.Nov 02, 2009
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Nov 02, 2009
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JohoNov 02, 2009
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Mike Hall shoots.Nov 02, 2009
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Luke and Bobby rest up.Nov 02, 2009
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During halftime, they held the free throw game for spectators. They gave a little prize to those who got the ball in.Nov 02, 2009
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Magnee playing around.Nov 02, 2009
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Score at halftime: Lakestars lead 50-43.Nov 02, 2009
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Dancing to Y.M.C.A. (sung by the Village People) at halftime.Nov 02, 2009
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Joho taking it down.Nov 02, 2009
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KidsNov 02, 2009
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Mike Hall #23Nov 02, 2009
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Chris Schlatter #4 going for 3 points.Nov 02, 2009
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The cheerleaders perform during most timeouts, even for 20 sec.Nov 02, 2009
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Bobby Nash #33Nov 02, 2009
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Takamatsu swarms Gary Hamilton.Nov 02, 2009
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Sometimes they wear this silver dress, and sometimes a black cowboy outfit.Nov 02, 2009
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DEFENSE!Nov 02, 2009
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Score after the 1st period. Lakestars trail by 1 point.Nov 02, 2009
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Defense!Nov 02, 2009
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Bobby on defense.Nov 02, 2009
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Luke Zellar #40Nov 02, 2009
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KOJIMA Yuta #03Nov 02, 2009
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Ogawa Shinya #5Nov 02, 2009
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ShinyaNov 02, 2009
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The Shiga Lakestars cheerleaders wear a new outfit, a shimmering silver miniskirt. They wore it for the first time during the game with Osaka on Oct. 25, 2009.Nov 02, 2009
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Free throw by Takamatsu Five Arrows.Nov 02, 2009
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Shiga Lakestars cheerleaders and Magnee.Nov 02, 2009
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Coach Pierce reacts.Nov 02, 2009
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Nov 02, 2009
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ShinyaNov 02, 2009
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EntanglementNov 02, 2009
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Free throw by Gary Hamilton #2.Nov 02, 2009
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Bobby Nash #33Nov 02, 2009
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Joho Masashi #31Nov 02, 2009
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Bobby Nash #33 looking to pass.Nov 02, 2009
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Hikone Shimin Taiiku Center gymNov 02, 2009
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Takamatsu scores first.Nov 02, 2009
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Ogawa Shinya gives Hiko-nyan a hug.Nov 02, 2009
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Both teams shake hands.Nov 02, 2009
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Tip-off at about 5 pm between the Shiga Lakestars and Takamatsu Five Arrows in Hikone.Nov 02, 2009
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Joho Masashi #31Nov 02, 2009
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Cheerleaders encourage people to join the Lakestars booster club.Nov 02, 2009
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Introduction of starting five. This is Gary Hamilton #2. Unfortunately, team captain Fujiwara Takamichi got a dislocated shoulder and is on the disabled list.Nov 02, 2009
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Hiko-nyan shakes hands with Shiga Lakestars Head Coach Robert Pierce as amused players look on. Note that Hiko-nyan is not related to Hello Kitty. The Japanese really love their cats. Shiga has other mascots modeled after cats.Nov 02, 2009
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Head Coach Robert Pierce and Assistant Coach Ishibashi Takatoshi.Nov 02, 2009
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A major thunderstorm ensued, and the cat saved him from getting wet. Another legend says that as soon as the cat beckoned Naotaka into the temple, lightning struck the tree where he was standing. Thus, the cat saved his life.Nov 02, 2009
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Hiko-nyan and Magnee fires up the crowd. Hiko-nyan is a white cat wearing a red samurai helmet modeled after the one worn by Lord Ii Naomasa, the first lord of Hikone Castle.Nov 02, 2009
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This legendary cat connection gave birth to the idea behind Hiko-nyan. This same legend is also one theory for the origin of the ubiquitous beckoning cat you see at shops and restaurants in Japan. The beckoning cat can be called Hiko-nyan's cousin.Nov 02, 2009
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According to legend, one day, Ii Naotaka, the third lord of Hikone Castle, was doing falconry in Tokyo and was near a temple when he saw this cat raising its paw. He was led inside the temple where he was able to rest inside.Nov 02, 2009
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Shiga Lakestars official mascot Magnee also welcomed Hiko-nyan to their first game in Hikone. Hiko-nyan is one of Japan's most famous and popular PR mascot characters. So popular that Hikone retained this cat as its official mascot indefinitely.Nov 02, 2009
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Hiko-nyan gives a big hello to the crowd. Hiko-nyan was created as the official mascot for the 400th anniversary celebration of Hikone Castle held in 2007. "Hiko" refers to Hikone, and "nyan" is a baby word for cat.Nov 02, 2009
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Special guest Hiko-nyan enters the gym and gives high fives to spectators. A most welcome guest for the Lakestars' for the first time in Hikone.Nov 02, 2009
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Introduction of Shiga Lakestars players. This is Chris Schlatter.Nov 02, 2009
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Posing with local kids basketball players who also served as the player escorts during the introductions.Nov 02, 2009
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Official Shiga Lakestars merchandise.Nov 02, 2009
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Cheerleaders perform.Nov 02, 2009
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Current standings: Shiga Lakestars lead the Western Conference with 6 wins 2 losses. (7 wins 3 losses after the weekend was over)Nov 02, 2009
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The Shiga Lakestars played against Takamatsu Five Arrows again on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2009 at Hikone Shimin Taiiku Center gym, a 20-min. walk from Hikone Station. These photos were taken on Oct. 31, 2009.Nov 02, 2009
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Entrance lobby is decorated with player cutouts. We had to take off our shoes when entering the Hikone gym. Slippers were provided.Nov 02, 2009
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Entrance to the gym in Hikone. It was the first time for the Lakestars to play a home game in Hikone.Nov 02, 2009
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