Ended the league in 13th place without a win in the final game
The Kanto University League match (league match) that started at the end of August finally reached its final match, and they faced Chuo University. Waseda University is in 13th place based on the result of the previous round and is certain to be relegated to the second division, so this may be the last match of the season
. The starting lineup has changed significantly and is centered around upperclassmen. Waseda University started out ahead, but Chuo University made good three-point attempts late in the first quarter and took the lead. Heading into the second half 11 points behind. In the third quarter, Waseda University aggressively defended and attacked hard. They succeeded in reversing the game and entered the final fourth quarter at 55-54. Waseda University wanted to continue to take the lead, but Chuo University’s three-pointers made it difficult for them, and they fell behind. They didn’t give up and headed toward the goal, but they couldn’t catch up and unfortunately lost 75-86. Unable to end the league match with a victory, he cried.
*If the two schools in the first division decide to remain in the replacement match that will be held from November 8th, Waseda University, which is ranked 13th in the first division, will be given the right to participate in the All-Japan University Championship.
Iijima hits a layup shot
In the 1st quarter, the starting lineup consisted mostly of upperclassmen, including captain Sora Hosokei (Teacher 4 = Sasami, Tokyo). Early in the game, G Ishimizu Koji (Sports 2 = Tokyo, Kokugakuin Kugayama) made a three-pointer. G Yoshiki Iijima (person 3 = Ibaraki, Shimotsuma Daiichi) and Hosokei continued to score and got off to a good start. Furthermore, F Kenichi Miura scored consecutive points, giving Waseda University a 15-7 lead. However, Chuo University started to catch up with consecutive three-pointers, and then conceded points in a row late in the first quarter. The first quarter ended at 18-19. In the second quarter, Waseda University bravely headed toward the goal, but they were unable to land a shot and their scoring stagnated. On the other hand, Chuo University had found the flow and racked up points, increasing the point difference to more than 10 points. At the end of the second quarter, G Eiji Shimoyama (Sport 1 = Aichi, Chubu Daiichi) had a three-pointer and G Yori Iwaya (Sport 2 = Kyoto, Rakunan) had a quick attack to put the game back at 32-43.
Hosokei penetrates
In the third quarter, they tried to regain the point difference, but F Kennobu Hoshikawa (Sport 4 = Kyoto Rakunan) scored to take the lead. Furthermore, G Kido Kenshin (Sports 1 = Fukuoka Daiichi) continued to score. Waseda University caught up and narrowed the gap to 5 points, and Chuo University called for a timeout. However, Waseda University got the ball rolling with their aggressive defense and scored consecutive points. Miura finally succeeded in reversing the game with a point from a rebound. It was a see-saw game from the end of the third quarter, but Shimoyama finally scored on a drive and ended the third quarter with a one-point lead, 55-54. In the 4th quarter, they gave up consecutive points early on, and then Chuo University succeeded in counting baskets. The trend is towards Chuo University. Miura struggled and made a free throw and a three-pointer to make it 61-61, but the three-pointer was returned and Waseda requested a timeout. They wanted to break the flow at this point, but Chuo University scored consecutive points and things got tough. Chuo University made four three-pointers and was quickly pushed away. Waseda University also had Iwaya and Kido try to shoot, but were unable to catch up. The game ended 75-86. I couldn’t finish the final league game with a smile on my face.
Hoshikawa takes a shot
There are only two fourth-year players this year. Hoshikawa, who has led the younger players on the court as an ace, and Hosokei, who has been encouraging the team with his voice from the bench as captain, although he has only played a few times. The two were supported by four fellow student staff members. Looking back on the league match, Hoshikawa said, “I lacked the mental strength to withstand the pressure and the amount of effort I put in.” The weight of responsibility shouldered by the most senior students must have been immeasurable. However, while some of his classmates had left the club, he did not regret spending his four years at university playing basketball, saying, “Even though we kept working hard, we were able to see things that only we could see.” Starting next season, competition will begin in the second division. Inheriting the passion of the fourth year student who dedicated his university life to basketball, he is sure to return to the First Division stage.
(Article by Ayano Gondo, photos by Risakura Kajitani, Yusuke Miura, Ruka Tanaka)
99th Kanto University League Match November 3rd (vs. Chuo University)
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Waseda University１８
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◇Waseda University starting members◇
G#2 Ko Ishimizu (Sport 2 = Tokyo, Kokugakuin Kugayama)
F#13 Kennobu Hoshikawa (Sport 4 = Kyoto/Rakunan)
G#22 Yoshiki Iijima (person 3 = Ibaraki/Shimotsuma Daiichi)
F#24 Hosokei University (Teacher 4=Tokyo, Sasami)
F#77 Yuzuki Ishizaka (Sport 3 = Tokyo, Kokugakuin Kugayama)
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F Kennobu Hoshikawa (Sport 4 = Kyoto/Rakunan)
–What did you talk about with the fourth graders before the game?
Since it was decided that we would be relegated and we would have to play in the second division next year, we talked about what we should say to the team and how we should prepare for the Central League game. At first, we were aiming to win the league championship, but as we kept losing, we naturally started aiming to stay in the first division, and we had to face the reality that we couldn’t achieve that goal. We talked about what we should do since it would be difficult to move on from there to the central game. We talked about doing our best for the people who have supported us in the past, our friends and family who actually came to watch today’s game, and we communicated this to everyone starting in fourth grade. I did. But in the end, rather than feeling like you have to do something, the natural feeling of wanting to win is a stronger motivation. When I was forced to do something, I felt a lot of pressure and it was difficult to control. In the midst of all this, going into today’s game, there were only a few fourth-year players, and the team was mostly underclassmen, so I felt very sorry for putting a burden on everyone.
–What do you feel when you look back on this league match?
I really felt the weight of one win, as it was reflected in the numbers of wins and losses. I also think again that the early stages of the league match were important. I lost a lot of matches that I thought I could win, and I ended up with the impression that I was going to lose. When we lose, the mood of the team becomes somber, and I can’t help but wonder if the same thing will happen again. I think winning first matches and close matches will give the team momentum, so I had to do my best as a fourth year student, but things didn’t go well and we kept losing. Entering the second round, I tried to make up for my losses, but I was pushed into a corner that was impossible and impossible, so I felt that it would be difficult if I didn’t set my sights on winning from the beginning.
――Did you see anything good about the team in this difficult situation?
Even when the situation gets tough and the head coach or assistant coach says something harsh, Kenichi (Kenichi Miura) and Nao (Naohide Hotta, Sports 2, Kyoto/Higashiyama) say, “Keep moving forward.” he gave to the team. It was good to hear the words “I can still do this” from each individual. We didn’t win today either, but there were clearly times when we were able to play basketball in our own style, and we just need to keep doing that for a long time. It just felt like it was difficult to win.
—How do you look back on your last year as the only fourth year student on the court?
During those four years, I tried to be honest about my curiosity, so I tried a lot of other things besides basketball. During last year’s replacement game, I personally thought to the fourth-year students that they didn’t have to put so much weight on the team. However, the 4th graders took advantage of that and guided us, and we were able to win the replacement game and remain in the first division. When I became a fourth-year student and was forced into the final stages of the league match, I felt that kind of pressure, and I had to put in even more effort in the high-pressure situations of the league match than the effort I put into getting to the finals of the tournament. I felt that something was wrong. I think I lacked the mental strength and effort needed to withstand the pressure. If you’re just trying to get better, you’ll start to waver at times like this. It might not be a good idea to call this a good experience, but if you look at it as a positive, you can only experience this on a team like that at university, and there are people who go to the game and feel like it’s their own loss rather than the team’s loss. I don’t think there are many. When I experienced this in my fourth year of university, I felt strongly that I was no good. I may be able to play basketball professionally from now on, but being a professional is a job, and I have to repay the money to the people who watch me through my plays, so I’m going to have to face myself from now on, and when I join a team, I’m going to have to learn how to play as a team. I want to understand my role and work on it.
――What did you feel because you were a student athlete?
We spend time off the court together, some of us live in the same dormitory, and because we’re close in age, we talk a lot about each other, and I’m not on the bench with my classmates, like Okura (student coach Ryuta, teacher 4 = Wasami, Tokyo) and Kasuga (Hiroki). Student coaches, Bunka 4 (Kugayama, Kokugakuin, Tokyo) and others like that, want to do their best for their teammates who can help them when they are in trouble, and I think that’s the appeal of student sports. I think this connection will continue, and I want to cherish the relationships I have with other people.
–How would you describe the four years you spent in the basketball club in one word?
I guess it’s “Thank you.” Over the past four years, many people have graduated, many people have entered the school, and I feel grateful to have classmates who have seen it from the same perspective. I’m not satisfied with the results, and I have a lot of regrets, but we quit about half way through our school year, and I think the scenery that only they could see expanded after they left, and we, who continued to work hard, were also disappointed. I was able to see scenery that I could only see on the trip, and I feel confident and aware that I was able to see it, so I will cherish this memory and continue to do my best.
F Captain Sora Hosokei (Teacher 4 = Tokyo, Sasami)
――I heard that there was a meeting between the 4th graders before today’s game, what did you talk about?
Whether you win or lose, there is no difference in ranking or anything, so the fact that this is a competitive match remains the same. Kuraishi-san (Head Coach Kuraishi Hei, 1982 graduate) talked about how we should fight based on that, and we could fight as hard as we can, or we could fight through everything, but what should we do?Which way do you feel? I understand that, so you can do whatever you like. Later, when I talked to the fourth graders, they said, “It’s not even an option.” “We can’t play a game that would be disrespectful to the people who supported us and those who cheered us on.On top of that, even though we’ve been down to the second division for four years, we’re still underclassmen.” If you have something to show, then you should show it. You should go for it.”
–Looking back at today’s match, do you feel you were able to fight like that?
There is no doubt that the team’s policy was “Let’s go for the win,” so today’s result was that we tried our best as a team to win, but on top of that, Mr. Kuraishi understood our thoughts. As expected, two fourth-year students and two third-year students were in the starting lineup. Personally, I think it wasn’t a bad thing that we were able to create a flow in the beginning. Personally, I feel that my regret was that I was not able to stay on the court until the end in such an emotional game. However, Kenshin was doing what he was supposed to do, so I think I was able to fulfill my role by speaking out on the bench as usual.
–I think today was the final game of the league.How do you look back on the league match?
Regardless of whether the game ended like this or whether I was able to participate in the game or not, I was the captain of the team that ended up getting demoted to the second division, so I feel really bad for that, and I feel sorry for my juniors. That’s what I feel. League games are long, and since it is a student sport, I believe that the team with the strongest fourth-year students will definitely win. That’s why I felt like we lacked the strength in this league match.
–It was impressive to see how you encouraged the players even on the bench during league games.How about that?
I’ve been asked the same question in the past, and I’ve given a variety of answers, but to be honest, if you can stand on the court and lead the team with your play, your voice, and your back, then that’s the kind of captain you are. I wish I had. Those are Kanda-senpai (Masato Kanda, Rei 5 graduate from Shizuoka, Hamamatsu Kaiseikan), Mr. Tsuda (Masato Tsuda, Rei 4 graduate from Rakunan, Kyoto), and Mr. Komuro (Yutaro Komuro, Rei 3 company). It would have been ideal if I could stand on the court like that and lead the way with my play and voice, but I don’t have that kind of basketball ability. So I had no choice but to do what I had to do. When I thought about what I could do, I came to the point where I had no choice but to continue to make my voice heard on the bench.
–Looking back on the year you spent as captain
To say something negative, it was a year full of failures. As a result, we made a big mistake and were demoted to the second division.Also, my team’s policy was that I couldn’t point out the poor approach to practice, and the team as a whole couldn’t build a team that I could point out. There is a reflection on the looseness of. That’s why there were more mistakes like being late or forgetting things that could be attributed to being lax, compared to last year and the year before. I definitely think it’s my responsibility, and in that sense, I regret that I wasn’t able to create a tighter team. Since this is a special interview, if I want to say it in a positive way, I might not continue playing basketball in the future, but I’m sure having this kind of experience will help me no matter what I do or what kind of job I get. I wonder if that’s the case.
――There is still a possibility that you will participate in the intercollegiate tournament.If you were to participate, how would you like to feel?
Honestly, it’s not that I just want to play in the game and do well, but the main premise is that I want to win the game as a team. On top of that, my juniors who will be moving to the second division from next year onwards will have the opportunity to play against top-level teams from first division schools and intercollegiate teams, but I’m not in a position to say so, but I hope they enjoy it to the fullest. My number one feeling is that I want them to connect first.
Ryunin Inoyama student coach (Sport 4 = Tokyo/Toyota)
–Please tell us what you talked about with the 4th graders before today’s game.
There was a time when the team had fallen to the second division even though we had already decided to have a final match, but even as fourth-year students, we talked about how we would all fight hard one last time. We all talked about wanting the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders to follow us.
–How have you been involved with the team during this league match?
I can’t go out on the floor and compete, so I’m thinking about how we can improve things like scouting the other team and our own basketball from outside the team. I’ve been working on it, but I think there’s one thing that didn’t go well. Also, since I was a fourth-year student and was able to objectively watch the team from the outside, I tried to provide more emotional support to the underclassmen, but I wish I had done it sooner.
–How do you feel after finishing the league match?
Anyway, I feel sorry for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. Throughout this league match, there were really tough times, especially for the first-year students, who had never lost this much before, so I think it was a first-time experience for them, but the underclassmen said they did a really good job. I really think about it.
–Tell me about your first and second years when you had a senior student coach.
When I was a first year student, I had a student coach as a senior, and the third and fourth year students were really reliable people, and there were a lot of student coaches and players, so I felt like I had no choice but to do what I could do in a small way, and of course play basketball. I felt like I wanted to study something like that.
–About your third and fourth years as a student coach, your senior year.
After becoming a fourth year student, it’s natural to continue doing what we’ve been doing up until now, and a student coach will come in as a junior, and after we’re gone, the third year student coach will become a senior. I was a little conscious of the fact that I wanted to be able to coach them properly and bring the team together.
–How would you like to feel if you decided to participate in the intercollegiate school?
It’s not something we can control ourselves, but if we are given the opportunity, we would like to come together as a team one more time, eliminate all the regrets from this league match, and play a game that will be a good asset for next year. I think so.
Seikazu Taguchi student trainer (Sport 4 = Aichi/Matsuin)
–What did you talk about with the fourth graders before the game?
It was a difficult situation, but I went into the match determined to do my best and finish the match.
–How have you been involved with the team during this league match period?
As a trainer, I not only rehabilitate injured players, but also as a motivator to raise the morale of the team.
–How do you feel now after the long league match?
To be honest, I do have some regrets about whether I could have done more. However, I was also able to see them working hard and growing during the time we spent together. I think there’s still a lot more I can do, so I’d like to do my best in that area again next year.
–What went well and what didn’t in the league match?
At first, the team was loose and the friendly atmosphere took a turn for the worse. I think it was a good thing that we were able to discuss this together and make improvements. The bad part is that we couldn’t improve on that. I feel like there were more off-court mistakes than on-court mistakes compared to last year.
–If you can participate in the intercollegiate tournament, please tell us how you feel about it.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to participate in the intercollegiate team, but like I said earlier, I’m determined to see it through to the end. It may not be a good idea to say this, but I would like to take the fact that we were relegated to the second division as a good thing and aim for a giant kill. I think it would be fun if we won. Given this situation, I hope we can take things in an interesting direction.
2023-11-06 05:32:08
#Ends #league #13th #place #win #final #game #Waseda #Sports
