report
Fix the issues and win the next match! The Queen Bees challenge has just begun.
Yamanashi Queen Bees 65-81 Tokyo Haneda Vickies (Game 1)
Score/missed broadcast
The opening game was held at home in Tokyo Haneda.
Starting this season, the rules have changed to allow only the home team to play offensive music, and the game progressed in a different atmosphere than before, with the only support for the Queen Bees being the cheers of fans and boosters and the sound of harissen drums. However, the Queen Bees fan boosters who rushed to the away venue ignored the handicap and came together to support the team in the blue-stained venue.
However, the energetic play that Queen Bees is known for both offensively and defensively was overshadowed, and the faces of the players on the court showed some hesitation during the 40 minutes. They lost 65-81 to Tokyo Haneda in the important match that marked the beginning of this season, and their defense and offense did not coordinate well, and they were unable to grasp the flow of the game. Looking back on the cause, head coach Sachiko Ishikawa said, “We were unable to respond to the pick-and-roll and were broken down, allowing the opposing shooter to score freely.” There were times when the team’s defense was effective, but it was not enough to restore the momentum of the game.
On the offensive side, they set a goal of scoring 20 points or more in each quarter, but due to pressure from the opponent, the flow of the offense stalled, and the ball repeatedly moved laterally to the outside, resulting in many tough shots.
Point guard Saki Ikeda, who is responsible for controlling the game, said, “If we could find a rhythm on defense, our offense would have been more effective.” At one point in the second half, they were able to catch up by one point, but that momentum didn’t last long, and Tokyo Haneda once again extended their lead, and they were unable to get off to a successful start with a win in the opening match.
Even in the defeat, Nanami Hamanishi felt positive, saying, “We were able to create a good flow during the period when everyone was defending,” and Ikeda also said, “By preventing goals from being conceded immediately after scoring, we can take control of the game. ”, they reaffirmed that they will increase their defensive strength in Game 2 and develop the game with speed and boldness, which can be said to be their asset, “from defense to scoring.”
Head coach Ishikawa also said, “Tomorrow we will play harder defense, put pressure on the opponent, and attack aggressively on offense.”
Overall, is it possible to bring out the characteristics of Queen Beads or not?
What should we do to bring out its full potential?
After the game, players from both teams praised each other’s efforts, and then the Queen Bees took a longer than usual time to form a circle. Captain Momoko Inoue encouraged her teammates and left the venue, saying, “Let’s not forget this frustrating feeling, make a change now, and win tomorrow for sure.”
This card has had one win and one loss in the last three seasons. Unfortunately, we were not able to return to Yamanashi with consecutive wins, but we would like to grab a win in tomorrow’s match and get back to even star status, which will lead to the 4 home games starting next week when the team will turn yellow.
Victory tomorrow! !
Dear Fan Boosters,
At the venue and from live streaming
We look forward to your continued support tomorrow!
Head coach/player talk
Sachiko Ishikawa Head Coach
Today, we weren’t able to put enough pressure on our offense and defense, and our defense broke down when we made picks, which had a big impact on the game. The part we had promised as a team didn’t work, and we were delayed in trying other methods. In addition, a player with great decisiveness comfortably made a three-pointer, allowing the opponent to control the flow of the match.
On the offensive side, we were aiming for over 20 points in each quarter, but our rhythm was disrupted by the opponent’s pressure. Even so, I feel that allowing 81 points in the end was too much.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, we need to play even harder defense and be more aggressive in attack. Since we have been playing more on the outside, we will need to be more conscious of how to attack to break through the opponent’s pressure.
Captain Momoko Inoue
The reason for our loss today was our defense and not being able to respond well to the opponent’s pick-and-roll. Especially in 2-on-2 situations, we weren’t able to defend ourselves, and the opposing guards invaded the paint area, and from there we were broken up with shots and passes. It hurt that I couldn’t correct that discrepancy for a long time. We were able to improve our defense a little in the second half, but we were slow to respond.
In tomorrow’s game, we need to defend well in a 2-on-2 match. It is necessary to increase the strength of the two-man defense.
On the offensive side, there were some moments where our plays didn’t mesh well. It felt like the plays that each player wanted to play didn’t match up, and as a result, the flow of the attack was disrupted.
I think the reason we were able to close the gap to one point early in the second half was because of our aggressive play. If we can maintain that level of concentration for 40 minutes, we definitely have a chance to win. In tomorrow’s game, we want to bring that aggressiveness from the beginning.
Hamai Nanami
Of course we have been preparing for this important game, the opening game, and I think all the teams have been preparing in the same way. However, being able to express that preparation on the court is an important part of basketball. In today’s match, if we were to ask if we were able to give everything we wanted to do, to be honest, I think Tokyo Haneda gave it more. Rather than just failing, I feel that our biggest challenge was not being able to accomplish what we had been doing up until now.
Tokyo Haneda prepared well and played high-level basketball. As for whether we were able to make our own basket in that situation, we still weren’t able to do it. That is the most important point for me to reflect on. During the game, I don’t think everyone fully understood where our strengths were and where the instructions from the bench were heading.
Today too, we were able to create a good flow when everyone was able to defend. I feel that when everyone was able to defend, it led to a good offense. Basketball is a sport that naturally flows from defense to offense, so I want to emphasize that part more and have everyone fight hard for 40 minutes.
Saki Ikeda
After the game, I feel that our defense was still our issue. Even if you score a point, if you allow your opponent to score immediately after that, the point difference will not narrow. For this reason, I became acutely aware of the importance of making sure to stop in situations where protection is required.
As a guard, I wish I could have controlled the game better. In particular, the tempo tends to be slow when attacking after a goal is scored, but you should be able to create a rhythm by defending and then attacking. I once again felt that finding a rhythm on defense will lead to development of the offense.
In today’s match, there were many situations where we were unable to respond to the opponent’s guard. Even in matchups as individuals, I strongly believe that we have to defend with more passion. We will prepare ourselves for tomorrow’s match so that we can win not only as a team, but also individually, one-on-one.
