Kiefer Ravena-led Shiga deals blowout revenge on Ray Parks, Nagoya

Kiefer Ravena broke out of a week-long slump at just the right time as the visiting Shiga Lakestars exacted revenge on Ray Parks and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins with a wire-to-wire 110-79 blowout on Sunday, October 24.

With the win, the Lakestars rose to a 6-2 record for a share of second place in the league, while the Dolphins cooled down to 4-4 and saw their four-game winning streak snapped in emphatic fashion.

Ravena, who bottomed out with 5 points on 1-of-13 shooting the prior game against Nagoya, shook off the cobwebs in his offensive arsenal, and finished with 16 points, all in the first half, on 6-of-12 shooting to go with 9 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.

On the losing end, Parks quieted down to just 7 markers, 3 boards and 2 steals after a career-high 22-point outing in the Dolphins’ 39-point destruction of the Lakestars last game.

It was a no contest from the very start as Shiga turned an 8-0 start to a huge 31-12 opening quarter blitz, ending with a buzzer-beating triple from import Novar Gadson.

The Lakestars never looked back from that onslaught, and peaked with a 42-point gap, 104-62, off a Teppei Kashiwagura triple exactly at the 5-minute mark of the fourth quarter, making a final 17-6 Nagoya run still look meaningless in the end.

After being the lone bright spot in their last loss, Shiga import Ovie Soko continued his strong play with game-highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds in the easy win, while fellow reinforcement Sean O’mara chipped in 22 markers, 9 boards and 5 dimes.

Nagoya import Coty Clarke dragged his team to the finish line with a game-best 26 points plus 7 boards, 5 dimes and 3 steals, backstopped by Scott Eatherton’s 19-marker, 10 board double-double.

Ravena and the Lakestars will look to start a new winning streak with a Wednesday, October 27 match at 6:05pm against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

Parks and the Dolphins will also tip off at the exact same time on that same day as they aim for a bounce-back win against another Ravena, Pinoy pioneer import Thirdy and the San-en NeoPhoenix.