Latest news with #Braswell
Japan Forward
7 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Finals: Utsunomiya Rallies Past Ryukyu to Capture the Title
In Game 3 of the Finals, the Brex erased an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Makoto Hiejima led the comeback with 14 points in the final period. The Utsunomiya Brex captured the franchise's third title on May 27, 2025, at Yokohama Arena, beating the Ryukyu Golden Kings 73-71 in Game 3. (© YOKOHAMA ― Big plays and big moments defined Game 3 of the Finals. The Utsunomiya Brex also had more points in the fourth quarter (29) than either team had in the other 10-minute periods. Star guard Makoto Hiejima's dynamic fourth quarter, when he scored 14 of his 17 points, provided the spark to ignite the Brex offense in the game's most critical stage against the Ryukyu Golden Kings. Simply put, Hiejima's 5-for-5 shooting touch in the final stanza was a pivotal component of the team's title-clinching, 73-71 victory at Yokohama Arena on Tuesday night, May 27. The Brex have now won more titles (three) than any other team in history. The Alvark Tokyo have a pair of titles (2017-18 and 2018-19, when the championship was decided by a single game). It was an emotional win for the Brex, who dedicated their season to Kevin Braswell, their beloved head coach who died on February 24, 2025, at age 46 after having a heart attack and heart surgery. In every game they played since his death, Braswell's framed portrait was displayed on the seat next to bench boss Zico Coronel, who succeeded him as the team's top coach. Coronel later held the picture frame, with Braswell's photo facing his heart during his postgame interview. Braswell and Coronel were close friends who previously coached together and against one another in New Zealand. After the fourth quarter ended, Utsunomiya players, the coaching staff and team personnel exchanged hugs and smiles and tears of joy. Makoto Hiejima (©SANKEI) Zico Coronel (©SANKEI) DJ Newbill (©SANKEI) Coronel described the Golden Kings as a sensational team during his postgame interview on the court, noting their four consecutive appearances in the Finals. He said they are "an unbelievable collection of coaches [and] players." To beat Ryukyu in Game 3, "we are very fortunate," said Coronel, who hails from New Zealand. Kevin Braswell's portrait is displayed on the Utsunomiya Brex bench during Game 3. (KYODO) Coronel then spoke about Braswell's children, recalling something their father had mentioned. "Your dad believed this team could be special," an emotional Coronel said. "You see now he's a wise man. He believed you could be very, very special through the ups and downs in life as you grow up. Never forget that." Coronel called the Brex "a special team." "I think you can see by all the tears there's no other team who has been in the hospital together, been to the funeral together," he said, recalling the team's collective experience over the past few months. This title, he said, "means the world to us," and by winning it, "we get to honor KB." Coronel then paid tribute to Utsunomiya's fans. "You were amazing for your team all year long," he said. "As we've said all season long since day one, Brex Nation, you were the big yellow wave that brought us home to the shore. Thank you very much." Finals MVP DJ Newbill averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists in the three games at Yokohama Arena. ( Brex guard DJ Newbill, who scored a game-high 19 points and handed out five assists to lead all players, was named Finals MVP. "Man, I feel great," the Penn State alum said. "I'm so proud of our team and so proud of our fans. [And] I'm just filled with joy right now." Newbill added, "Man, we all had the same goal since KB passed on and we wanted to get one (the title) for him. And we got one for KB." Newbill was named MVP of the 2023-24 season, his first with the Brex. Utsunomiya had a league-best 51-9 record last season but lost in the opening round of the playoffs. They returned in October 2024 with a new head coach in Braswell, who previously had been an assistant coach with the team, and once again had the league's best record (48-12). Brex guard Makoto Hiejima defends Golden Kings guard Hayate Arakawa in the first half. (KYODO) The Golden Kings took an 18-11 lead into the second quarter and continued to dominate. With 2:37 remaining until halftime, a Keve Aluma 3-pointer gave them a double-digit lead (35-23) for the first time. Moments later, Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki sank another 3 to make it 38-26. By halftime, Golden Kings star Vic Law was one rebound shy of a double-double (11 points, nine boards). Ryukyu's Jack Cooley (right) and Utsunomiya's Gavin Edwards compete in Game 3. (KYODO) Capitalizing on its energy, Ryukyu created consistent scoring opportunities in the opening half, outscoring Utsunomiya 12-2 on fast-break plays. The Golden Kings also had nine turnovers in the first half. Additional mistakes on offense were more costly in the second half for Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani's club. "In the first half, we were able to play good basketball at the pace of the Kings," Oketani said after the game. "But in the second half, our scoring was halted by turnovers, and we were targeted for those points by Utsunomiya, which has very skilled players." Hiejima was held to zero points on 0-for-4 shooting in the first half. Trailing by 12 points when the third quarter began, the Brex quickly began to chip away at the lead. Gavin Edwards nailed the first basket of the second half, a 3-pointer, at the 9:03 mark. Just over a minute later, Edwards caught a pass from Hiejima and slammed the ball through the net. The Brex trailed 43-36 at this point. Momentum was shifting. With 6:07 to play in the third, Edwards was called for his third foul, as Cooley took a charge. Both veteran standouts fouled out in the fourth quarter. Utsunomiya's Grant Jerrett had 15 points in Game 3. ( Former NBA forward Grant Jerrett capped a 10-0 run and cut it to 43-42 on a putback. For Ryukyu, that one-point lead was back to five and then a Tatsuya Ito steal, followed by a Masahiro Waki layup increased its advantage to 51-44 on the final play of the third quarter. But the Golden Kings had an inadequate performance on offense in the third, making only 4 of 12 shots from the floor. The absence of point guard Ryuichi Kishimoto (foot injury), who has a knack for hitting clutch shots, proved to be a factor in this series. Makoto Hiejima, seen in action in the second quarter, found his shooting touch in the second half. ( With 9:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, Aluma knocked down a 3. The Okinawa squad now led 57-46 and Aluma now had 12 points on the night to the delight of rabid Ryukyu supporters, who were smiling and chanting "Go, go Kings" That was when Hiejima started to heat up on offense. He made a 3-pointer in response to Aluma's. Looking back on the Utsunomiya comeback, Hiejima spoke about his style of play. Makoto Hiejima led all scorers with 14 points in the fourth quarter. (©SANKEI) "I'm sorry, but I don't shoot unless I'm under pressure," Hiejima said on the court in his postgame interview. Describing his role as the catalyst of the rally, he added: "It was a shot that I really made with my heart, and I believe that the late head coach Braswell gave me the push I needed." Shortly after that, a pair of Newbill free throws cut it to 58-53 with 6:50 to play. Cooley picked up his fifth foul with 5:48 remaining. It was a frustrating night for the longtime Kings big man, who finished with four points and three rebounds. After Cooley's departure, Brex guard Atsuya Ogawa buried a left-corner 3-pointer for his first basket of the game. Utsunomiya now trailed 62-57. That quickly changed. Hiejima showcased his athleticism on a driving layup and made it a one-possession game, 62-59 in favor of Ryukyu. With 3:49 remaining, Hiejima lived up to his reputation as a player who thrives in high-pressure moments, converting a mid-range jumper. Newbill's stop-and-pop 3-pointer made it 67-66 with 1:15 remaining, and gave the Brex their first lead since the 8:47 mark of the opening quarter. After Aluma sank two foul shots to put his team ahead by one, Hiejima flushed a catch-and-shoot 3 from the left corner. That gave Utsunomiya a 70-68 lead with 33 seconds remaining. Hiejima sank two free throws to extend the lead to 72-68. Seiji Ikaruga made the first of two foul shots with 11 seconds to play, giving the Brex a 73-68 lead. Aluma missed a 3 on the Golden Kings' next possession and Kirk's putback jam made it 73-70. Ikaruga turned the ball over with 2 seconds to play, giving Ryukyu a chance to tie the game. And Aluma was fouled by Kosuke Takeuchi on a 3-point attempt with 0.6 seconds remaining. A 79.6% free-throw shooter in the regular season, Aluma made the first attempt and the second one rattled off the rim. He intentionally missed the third one, giving his team the possibility of being in greater position to snare the rebound and make a game-tying shot. The first part of that strategy worked, as Law grabbed the rebound. Then Jerrett made the Brex's biggest defensive play of the game, blocking Law's close-range shot. The final buzzer sounded. Brex fans rejoiced. And the Golden Kings lost in the Finals for the second consecutive year. The Utsunomiya Brex celebrate the franchise's third title. ( "When I think about whether or not we were able to switch the game around properly as a team when the other team took over in the fourth quarter, I have some regrets," said Matsuwaki, one of three Golden Kings players to score in double digits. He had 12 points, Aluma scored 15 and Law had 16 on 4-for-16 shooting and 13 rebounds. Matsuwaki added, "However, I am proud that we were able to make it to the Finals stage like this, and I am glad that we fought as a team. We really wanted to win the championship, but I think we were able to move in the right direction throughout the season." The Golden Kings react after their Game 3 loss. (KYODO) Coach Oketani expressed gratitude for his players' effort in the Finals and throughout the season. "The players fought hard until the very end, despite everything that has happened so far," said Oketani, whose team defeated the San-en NeoPhoenix in double overtime in Game 2 of the playoff semifinals to force a decisive Game 3. A Game 2 win on Sunday, May 25 provided the same opportunity for his club in the Finals. "Everyone grew and fulfilled their roles," added Oketani. "I feel that it was a very successful season. I would like to thank all of our fans for their support, for today's game would not have been possible without it. We will work even harder, and I hope that you, the fans, will join us in supporting us." On YouTube, commenting on a Game 3 highlights video, a Golden Kings supporter shared their thoughts on the 2024-25 season and the Finals. "I was happy to see the Kings playing without giving up until the very end," the fan wrote. "Of course it's frustrating, but thank you so much for bringing us to the Finals. I think it's really amazing that they've made it to the Finals four years in a row. They are the pride of Okinawa." Newbill was the leading scorer in Game 1 (25 points), and he led all players with 21 points in Game 2. Since the current format (best-of-three) was first held in 2021 for the Finals, two championship series required a third game. The Chiba Jets claimed the title in 2021 with a Game 3 win over the Brex. And in 2024, the Hiroshima Dragonflies topped the Golden Kins 65-50 in Game 3. Nearly all of the Utsunomiya boosters, who proudly claim membership in the Brex Nation, wore yellow shirts or team jerseys. Almost every Golden Kings fan was clad in either yellow or white. In all, it was a bright backdrop of colors in the spacious arena. After losing the battle on the boards in Game 2 (Ryukyu outrebounded Utsunomiya 47-33), the Brex had a stronger effort in that phase of the game on Tuesday as the Kings held a slight edge (41-37). Brex teammates Makoto Hiejima and DJ Newbill embrace after the game. ( "It was a really tough season, but everyone on the team played with a special and strong desire for head coach Braswell, and I am very happy that we were able to make history with this win," Hiejima said after the Brex's title-clinching win. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
The Mainichi
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Basketball: Utsunomiya clinches B-League title in Game 3 thriller
Utsunomiya Brex guard Makoto Hiejima, right, attempts a shot during Game 3 of the B-League basketball finals against the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Yokohama Arena on May 27, 2025. (Kyodo) YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) -- Makoto Hiejima poured in 14 fourth-quarter points to lead Utsunomiya Brex to a championship-clinching 73-71 victory over the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Game 3 of the B-League basketball finals on Tuesday. With just three points through the first three quarters, the veteran shooting guard exploded in the final period at Yokohama Arena, hitting 5-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Utsunomiya won the best-of-three series opener 81-68 on Saturday before Ryukyu evened things up with an 87-75 victory the following day. Contesting their fourth-straight finals, the Okinawa-based Golden Kings led 51-44 going into the fourth quarter of Game 3 before Brex came back to take their first lead since the opening period at 67-66 on a three-pointer from finals MVP D.J. Newbill with 1:15 left. Hiejima, who finished with 17 points and three assists, gave coach Zico Coronel's squad the lead for good on a corner three-pointer with 33 seconds on the clock. Ryukyu received a lifeline when Keve Aluma was fouled on a three-point attempt with Utsunomiya up 73-70 and less than a second left. The forward miss his second free-throw, however, forcing him to intentionally miss the third in an unsuccessful attempt to score two points off a rebound. The Utsunomiya players dedicated the team's first title since 2021-2022 to former head coach Kevin Braswell, who died aged 46 during the season in February after suffering complications from emergency heart surgery. The team kept a framed photograph of Braswell on the bench throughout the remainder of the season, including the finals, and the players shouted his initials, "KB," for motivation during their huddles. "We've been to funerals and cried together, and now we get to cry tears of joy," said Coronel, who started the season as Braswell's assistant. "It means the world to us to honor Kevin."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Community comes together to raise money for family of toddler who died at Lenoir daycare
LENOIR, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — On Tuesday, the family of the 16-month-old who died at a Lenoir daycare will hold a funeral service in her honor. One person is facing charges in connection with Maddy's death, and the state has shut down the daycare where it happened, Creative Beginnings of Lenoir. A group of community members and small business owners are making sure Maddy's family is taken care of while they grieve. This affected all of Caldwell County and nobody knew what to do with their emotions, so we just wanted to bring everybody together,' said Jenny Braswell, who helped organize a fundraiser on Sunday. What started as a routine monthly gathering of Caldwell County Jeep owners turned out to be a whole lot more than that. 'Nobody should ever have to prepare to bury a child financially, especially when they're 16 months,' said Braswell. 'While we can't take away the pain they're feeling, we can help some of the financial struggles that they're going through right now.' Braswell and other small business owners partnered up on Sunday to raise money for the family of Maddy, the toddler who died after going into cardiac arrest last week at daycare. 'I couldn't even imagine it,' said Brianna Bentley, another organizer. 'My son, I couldn't even imagine it. It breaks my heart for the mom, the family, and especially how it happened. No person should have to go through that.' Through sales of drinks from Carolina Coffee and clothes and accessories from other local boutiques, to donations, the small business owners expect to have raised between $3,000 and $4,000 for the family. 'Caldwell County, you did not disappoint,' said Braswell. About 500 people came out to listen to live music and support the cause. Some don't know the family personally. 'Even though they don't know us, that Carolina Coffee and the community is here for them and Lenoir is behind them 100%,' said Bentley. Others do. 'I was so close to that girl,' said Clarissa Watts, who attended Sunday's fundraiser. 'The mom is like a sister to me. It's just heartbreaking. Maddy was, she laughed all she could. The ducks, she loved ducks. Ducks was her favorite thing.' Those rubber ducks Maddy loved so much are represented in a growing memorial outside Creative Beginnings of Lenoir. 'She went too soon,' said Watts. 'She shouldn't have went too soon. But I know she's looking over me.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two Republicans, one Democrat running in HD 11 special
Left to right: Don Fallin, Alex Braswell and Heath Allbright qualified for the HD 11 special election. The primary between Fallin and Allbright will be on May 13, and the general between that winner and Braswell will be on Aug. 26. (photos courtesy of candidates/graphic by Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) One Democratic candidate and two Republicans have qualified for the House District 11 special election, scheduled for August. Democratic candidate Alex Braswell, an American Sign Language interpreter, will face the winner of the Republican primary in May between Heath Allbright, a lumber business owner and a former member of the Cullman County Board of Education, and Don Fallin, a retired U.S. Army colonel. The seat, taking in eastern Cullman and northern Blount counties, became vacant after Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, resigned last month to become constituent services director for Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman. The seat is solidly Republican. Shedd never faced general election opposition after winning a special election for the seat in 2013. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Braswell, 35 moved to Cullman in 2012 and worked as a pharmacy technician. She later went to Troy University to get a Bachelor's degree in interpreter training. Since then, she said she has traveled across the state interpreting for the deaf and hard of hearing community using American Sign Language. 'I know that I'm a Democrat, and I know that that could be a disadvantage, but whomever you voted for for president is between yourself and God,' she said in a phone interview last week. 'I just looked around my community, and I saw we needed an advocate. It's what interpreters do.' Braswell said she wants to advocate for the protection of Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating based on disability. The law covers a wide range of disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments, autism, diabetes, Down syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD. A group of Republican attorneys general sued the federal government in September over the Biden administration's addition of a gender identity-related disorder to the disabilities protected under Section 504. Disability advocates said the suit could weaken protections for all people with disabilities. 'It would have disastrous side effects on not just our district, but the state as a whole,' she said. 'I wanted to speak up and help advocate for those communities that would suffer under the lack of Section 504.' Her experience as a pharmacy technician also motivates her candidacy. Braswell supports SB 99, sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, which would create new state regulations on the prices and and purchases that pharmacy benefit managers can charge pharmacies. 'They provide genuine, one-on-one care. But for the last decade, they have really been suffering under prescription benefit managers,' she said. 'They're not getting proper reimbursement for the cost of drugs, and these pharmacies are taking a huge toll.' Braswell also prioritizes opposition to SB 110, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, which would allow for the increased weight per axle when traveling with large loads. She said it would impact the Cullman community directly by making the roads less safe. 'If you add extra loads to 18-wheelers, or any company that is allowed to carry a larger load on their trucks, you're going to decrease the safety of our roads. That would be detrimental to the infrastructure of Cullman County,' Braswell said. Allbright, 39, said in an interview Tuesday he is running for office to make a positive impact on his community. 'Being in business my whole life and being on the board of education, I've always wanted to have a positive impact on people,' he said. 'People have approached me about seeking higher office, and we just felt that everything lined up.' He said education, traditional family values and cutting taxes and regulations for Alabama businesses are his top priorities if elected. 'I'm a conservative Christian. I have a family, a wife of 18 years, a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old daughter,' he said. 'Supporting traditional family values and defending those values against big big government, investing in local education.' He said his values and leadership ability make him qualified for the job. 'My ability to lead people, … and knowing how things work and being able to get things accomplished,' he said, referring to his time on the Board of Education. In his candidacy announcement on social media, Allbright promised to listen to his constituents' concerns with dignity and determination. 'I'm not your candidate, where I'm going to beat my podium, and say 'I'm going down there and going to fix this,'' he said. 'That's not me. However, I've always enjoyed leading people and having a positive impact on them.' The Business Council of Alabama, a major force in Republican politics, has endorsed Allbright for the seat. Fallin, 60, announced his candidacy via social media, and said in an interview Tuesday he prioritizes transparency and being a voice for the people of District 11. 'My number one priority is to be a voice for the people. I've talked to a lot of folks in the community, so I'm listening to what their concerns are,' he said. According to a statement, Fallin served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and went on eight combat tours. He said he wants to run for office to continue to serve. 'Why I'm running is to continue to serve and be a voice for the people,' he said. 'That's kind of my message, and it seems to resonate well with all the people.' He said he wants people to vote for the best candidate for them. 'If that's not me, then I will fully support whomever they they choose. But I believe, I think I bring a fresh look,' he said. 'I will represent the people, and that's really it to me. It's not overly complicated right now.' After Fallin retired, he partnered with the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, a nonprofit that funds scholarships for children of fallen military. 'I look forward to continuing my commitment to service to my state and district with honesty and integrity, bringing a grounded perspective to the district and serving the people of District 11,' he wrote on Facebook. The qualifying period for the election ended Tuesday at 5 p.m. The special primary election will be on May 13, and the special general election will be on Aug. 26. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Washington Post
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Kevin Braswell, former Georgetown basketball standout, dies at 46
Kevin Braswell, a former Georgetown guard who is the Hoyas' career leader in assists, died at age 46, the program confirmed Monday. 'He will be missed - forever a Hoya,' the team said on X. Braswell's death was first announced by Japanese professional team Utsunomiya Brex, which he had been coaching since 2023. Saying he passed away Monday at a hospital, the team did not provide a cause of death. It noted he was first hospitalized on Jan. 17.
