Shiga Lakes held off a determined Nagasaki Velca side on October 23, 2026, earning an 89-85 home win at the Shiga Prefectural Gymnasium in B1 League action. The game was tight throughout, but Shiga’s late 7-0 run and a pair of key defensive stops in the final two minutes made the difference.

Match overview

Shiga led 22-20 after the first quarter and 43-41 at halftime. Neither team led by more than six points in the second half. Nagasaki Velca tied the game at 82-82 with 2:30 remaining on a Jarrell Brantley three-pointer, but Shiga answered immediately. Kiefer Ravena hit a step-back three, Dwayne Evans finished a fast-break dunk, and the Lakes sealed the win at the free-throw line.

Key moments

• Late 7-0 run: Trailing 82-80 with just over two minutes left, Shiga scored seven straight points — a Ravena three, an Evans dunk off a steal, and two free throws — to take an 87-82 lead.
• Defensive stop: With 35 seconds left and Shiga ahead 87-85, the Lakes forced Nagasaki into a contested three-pointer that rimmed out. Evans grabbed the rebound and hit two free throws to ice it.
• Three-point shooting gap: Shiga shot 11-of-26 from beyond the arc, while Nagasaki managed just 10-of-32. The Velca’s late misses from deep proved costly.

Tactical story

Shiga Lakes mixed man-to-man and zone defenses, frequently collapsing on Nagasaki’s drivers and forcing kick-out passes. The Velca generated good looks from three but could not convert consistently. On offense, Shiga leaned on Ravena’s pick-and-roll creativity and Evans’s interior finishing. The Lakes also won the offensive rebounding battle 12-7, generating 14 second-chance points. Nagasaki’s transition game was effective in spurts, but Shiga’s half-court discipline won out.

Standout players

• Kiefer Ravena (Shiga Lakes): 24 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. He hit the biggest shot of the game and controlled the pace.
• Dwayne Evans (Shiga Lakes): 18 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals. His energy in the paint was crucial.
• Takumi Saito (Shiga Lakes): 14 points and 5 assists, providing steady secondary playmaking.
• Jarrell Brantley (Nagasaki Velca): 22 points and 8 rebounds. He kept Nagasaki close with timely shot-making.
• Masaya Karimata (Nagasaki Velca): 17 points and 6 assists, but he shot just 2-of-8 from three-point range.

Season impact

The win gives Shiga Lakes an important early home victory in the B1 League standings and reinforces their depth in the backcourt. Nagasaki Velca, meanwhile, leave with a competitive loss but will rue missed three-point opportunities and a late defensive breakdown. In a league where home court matters, Shiga’s ability to close out tight games could be a defining trait this season.