Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Jose Medina

After 4 rounds played we can already see who rules in the D1 and who belongs to weaker ones. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Sindri (3-1) on the court of fifth ranked Hamar on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Hamar 96-86. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Sindri. They outrebounded Sindri 44-31 including 32 on the defensive glass. Worth to mention a great performance of Spanish point guard Jose Medina (185-1993) who helped to win the game recording 37 points (!!!) and 6 assists and the former international center Ragnar Nathanaelsson (220-1991) who added 22 points and 18 rebounds during the contest. Hamar’s coach Halldor Thorsson used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side American swingman Tyler Stewart (203-1998, college: SFU) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds. Hamar (2-2) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Sindri at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with Selfoss. Hamar is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Thor AK (#9) in Akureyri in the next round where they are favorite. Sindri will play at home against the league’s second-placed Selfoss (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked IA (2-2) against fourth ranked Selfoss (3-1) on Friday night. Visiting IA was crushed by Selfoss in Selfoss 116-87. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of IA. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Selfoss moved-up to second place, which they share with Sindri. IA at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Selfoss will play against Sindri (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. IA will play against Armann and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Reykjavik. Bottom-ranked host Armann lost to top-ranked Alftanes (4-0) 87-79. Dui Jonsson fired 21 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) for the winners. Alftanes’ coach Kjartan Kjartansson allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Snjolfur Bjornsson produced 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for lost side. Alftanes have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Newly promoted Armann still closes the standings with 0 game lost. Alftanes will meet at home Fjolnir (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Armann will play against IA (#5) in Akranes and hopes to get finally their first victory.

In the last two games of round 4 winless Thor AK was destroyed by Skallagrimur on the opponent’s court 106-74. Winless Fjolnir unfortunately lost to Hrunamenn in a home game 106-111.

Skallagrimur – Thor AK 106-74

Rather expected game in Borganes where bottom-ranked Thor AK (0-4) was crushed by sixth ranked Skallagrimur (2-2) 106-74 on Friday. Skallagrimur had a 41-25 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Skallagrimur made 8 blocks. American Keith Jordan (198-1998, college: SHU) fired 35 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Point guard Bjorgvin Rikhardsson (195-1993) chipped in a triple-double by scoring 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Skallagrimur’s coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Tarojae Brake (191-1997, college: St.Peter’s) produced 23 points and 6 assists and Croatian power forward Toni Cutuk (208-1999) added 11 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four Skallagrimur and five Thor AK players scored in double figures. Skallagrimur moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Thor AK still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Fjolnir. Skallagrimur will meet Hrunamenn (#7) in the next round. Thor AK will play against Hamar and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Thor AK: T.Brake 23+4reb+6ast, J.Smari 14+3reb+1ast, K.Gislason 12+7reb+2ast, H.Zak 11+3reb+1ast, T.Cutuk 11+9reb+2ast, H.Einarsson 2+5reb+2ast
Skallagrimur: K.Jordan 35+5reb+3ast, D.Gudmundsson 21+6reb+1ast, B.Rikhardsson 13+4reb+2ast, B.Rikhardsson 11+10reb+12ast, A.Bjornsson 6+6reb+2ast, S.Ragnar 5

gschID: 998752

Armann – Alftanes 79-87

The game between Top Four teams took place in Reykjavik. Bottom-ranked host Armann (0-0) lost to top-ranked Alftanes (4-0) 87-79. They made 18-of-20 free shots (90.0 percent) during the game. Point guard Dui Jonsson (183-2001) fired 21 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) for the winners. Eysteinn Aevarsson (196-1995) chipped in 25 points and 5 rebounds. Alftanes’ coach Kjartan Kjartansson allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Guard Snjolfur Bjornsson (183-1994) produced 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and forward Illugi Steingrimsson (192-1996) added 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Alftanes have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Newly promoted Armann still closes the standings with 0 game lost. Alftanes will meet at home Fjolnir (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Armann will play against IA (#5) in Akranes and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Armann: I.Steingrimsson 19+8reb+4ast, S.Bjornsson 18+7reb+7ast, A.Bracey 13+5reb+3ast, W.Thompson 11+12reb+2ast, K.Gislason 9+7reb+1ast, G.Sigurdarson 6+4reb
Alftanes: E.Aevarsson 25+5reb+1ast, D.Jonsson 21+5reb+8ast, D.Stipcic 18+7reb+2ast, C.Bowen 14+8reb+1ast, P.Jonsson 4+7reb+1ast, G.Steinar 3

gschID: 998753

Fjolnir – Hrunamenn 106-111

The game between closely ranked teams ended with seventh ranked Hrunamenn‘s (2-2) road victory over bottom-ranked Fjolnir (0-4) 111-106 on Friday. Hrunamenn shot 62.1 percent from the field. They also forced 19 Fjolnir turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American forward Ahmad Gilbert (200-1996, college: St.Thomas, FL) fired a double-double by scoring 41 points (!!!), 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals for the winners. American-Hungarian forward Sam Burt (201-1994, college: FPU) chipped in 27 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Burt is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Spanish point guard Arturo Fernandez (183-1990, agency: Helping Ballers) produced 27 points, 8 assists and 5 steals and forward Rafn Kristjansson (200-1999) added 29 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Fjolnir players scored in double figures. Hrunamenn moved-up to fourth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Fjolnir still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Thor AK. Hrunamenn will meet at home Skallagrimur (#6) in the next round. Fjolnir will play against the league’s leader Alftanes and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Fjolnir: R.Kristjansson 29+8reb+1ast, A.Fernandez 27+3reb+8ast, A.Hilmir 12+2reb+2ast, K.Scott 12+6reb+7ast, B.Karl 10+4reb+1ast, B.Isak 9+1reb+3ast
Hrunamenn: A.Gilbert 41+17reb+5ast, S.Burt 27+8reb+4ast, A.Odinn 10+1reb, A.Eythor 10+2reb+5ast, H.Hreinsson 9+2reb+7ast, K.Hringur 8+1reb

gschID: 998754

Selfoss – IA 116-87

Very important is a road loss of third ranked IA (2-2) against fourth ranked Selfoss (3-1) on Friday night. Visiting IA was crushed by Selfoss in Selfoss 116-87. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of IA. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Selfoss moved-up to second place, which they share with Sindri. IA at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Selfoss will play against Sindri (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. IA will play against Armann and hopes to get back on the winning track.

gschID: 998755

Hamar – Sindri 96-86