Tapscott’s big game leads Volcanoes to win

Chehales Tapscott scored a season-high 40 points and pulled down 20 rebounds as the Vancouver Volcanoes defeated the Nippon Tornadoes 137-104 in International Basketball League action Saturday at the O’Connell Center.

Tapscott, who is averaging a double-double this season, made 19 of 28 shots as the Volcanoes (8-3) shot 53 percent from the field.

Andre Murray scored 27 points to go with 11 assists for Vancouver. JR Moore also had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds.

The Volcanoes led by as many as 36 points late in the game.

Takato Hara led the Tornadoes (1-4) with 29 points, and Glen Hollins had 17 points and 19 rebounds.

Saturday’s game was the first of five consecutive home games for the Volcanoes. They next host Salem at 7 p.m. Friday.

VANCOUVER VOLCANOES 137, NIPPON TORNADOES 104

NIPPON (1-4) — Sasaki 8-27 0-0 19, Ban 1-8 0-0 3, Hara 12-23 1-2 29, Hollins 7-10 0-0 17, Abe 0-0 0-0 0, Carter 3-8 1-2 7, Bradford 11-23 0-0 27, Ito 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 43-101 2-4 104.

VANCOUVER (8-3) — Bloodsaw 6-10 5-6 17, Rocket 2-13 0-0 5, Tapscott 19-28 2-3 40, West 9-17 1-2 19, Murray 10-13 6-6 27, Hafford 5-18 0-0 10, Moore 6-6 0-0 12, Carlisle 3-8 0-0 7. Totals 60-113 14-17 137.

Nippon 19 25 28 32–104

Vancouver 31 36 31 39–137