The girls’ basketball team at Shichibayashi Junior High School advanced to the final of the Chiba Prefecture qualifying tournament for the 7th National U15 Basketball Championship, commonly known as the Junior Winter Cup. The squad secured their spot following matches held on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, setting up a decisive matchup on Oct. 17 at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.
Chiba Prefecture Qualifying Final at LaLa Arena
The upcoming final on Oct. 17 begins at 4:00 p.m. at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY, situated in Hamacho 2-chome. The venue serves as the home arena for the professional team Chiba Jets. Shichibayashi Junior High will face the club team Blue Pebbles with a berth in the national Junior Winter Cup tournament — scheduled for January in Tokyo — on the line.
Tickets for the prefectural qualifying final go on sale at 15:00 on match day at a special booth on the second floor of the venue. Admission is priced at 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for high school students and younger. Spectators holding tickets for the preceding Chiba Jets versus Shimane Susanoo Magic game, which tips off at 1:00 p.m., may use those passes to stay for the prefectural finals.
Tournament Path and Summer Successes
Shichibayashi reached the prefectural final by navigating the second round of the tournament, overcoming the regional club team LINKS in the quarterfinals and defeating powerhouse Showa Gakuin Junior High School in the semifinals. This run follows a summer campaign for the public school team.
In July, the team won the 80th Chiba Prefecture Junior High School General Athletic Meet Basketball Tournament. That victory propelled Shichibayashi to its first appearance at the National Junior High School Basketball Tournament in August, where the squad advanced to the national quarterfinals and finished among the top eight teams in Japan.
Roster Composition and Coaching Staff
The Shichibayashi roster features 24 players: nine third-graders, four second-graders, and 11 first-graders. All members attend the school from the local neighborhood district, with many having played youth basketball in elementary school for local teams including Shichibayashi MBC, Yakuendai, and Takago.
Head coach Masayuki Komatsu has led the team for four years, supported by assistant coach Masanori Kezuka, who has observed the program for 28 years. Komatsu brings playing experience to the bench, having graduated from Narashino Fifth Junior High School before attending Fukuoka-Daiichi High School. At Tsukuba University, he served as team captain and guided his squad to a victory at the All Japan Intercollegiate Basketball Championship.
Data-Driven Practice Methods and Team Goals
The coaching staff builds training plans backward from a specific target established by the players: reaching the national top four. Practices incorporate statistical tracking, such as shot-attempt percentages, alongside sessions where players use the school’s electronic whiteboard to review tactical problems and propose solutions.
Every player submits a basketball notebook once a week, an exercise designed to encourage self-assessment after practices and matches. Komatsu noted that the club aims to foster independent decision-making, stating that he wants the children to set their own goals, think critically, and take action.
Captain Hinaha Toda, a third-year student, pointed to the team’s strength about being vocal and proactive. “Everyone can use their voices and be proactive, and everyone fulfills their respective roles,” Toda said. “As captain, I want to be a leader who guides everyone to the national top four.”
Match Schedule and Ticket Information
The Oct. 17 event schedule at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY features the following lineup:
- 13:00 — Chiba Jets vs. Shimane Susanoo Magic
- 16:00 — Girls’ Prefectural Qualifying Final: Shichibayashi Junior High School vs. Blue Pebbles
- 17:45 — Boys’ Prefectural Qualifying Final
Adult tickets for the qualifying matches are priced at 1,000 yen, while high school students and younger enter for 500 yen.
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