Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Martynas Echodas

There were just 7 rounds played in Regular Season of LKL and we can clearly see which teams will fight for top positions and which will try to avoid bottom places. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 7 in the LKL took place in Vilnius. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 3rd placed Wolves (5-2) to fifth ranked Rytas (4-3) 91-89 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Wolves. 25 personal fouls committed by Wolves helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) who helped to win the game recording 18 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). The former international guard Margiris Normantas (194-1996) contributed with 16 points for the winners. American guard Ahmad Caver (188-1996, college: ODU) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists for Wolves. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Defending champion maintains fifth place with 4-3 record, which they share with Siauliai. Newly promoted Wolves keeps the third position with two games lost. They share it with Lietkabelis. Rytas is looking forward to face league’s leader Zalgiris in Kaunas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Wolves will play on the road against Neptunas in Klaipeda and is hoping to win this game.
LKL top team – Zalgiris (7-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed sixth ranked Juventus (3-4) in Kaunas 109-76. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Juventus. It was a great evening for Central African-American center Kevarrius Hayes (206-1997, college: Florida) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points and 8 rebounds. Ignas Brazdeikis helped adding 16 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side American point guard Jawun Evans (185-1996, college: OK State) responded with 18 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Undefeated Zalgiris have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-0 record. Juventus at the other side dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with Nevezis and P.Zvaigzdes. Zalgiris will play against Rytas (#5) in Vilnius in the next round. Juventus will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes in Pasvalys and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Gargzdu is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their seventh consecutive match to tenth ranked Nevezis (3-4) 73-71 on Saturday evening. It was an exceptional evening for Arturs Zagars who led the winners and scored 16 points and 6 assists. Nevezis’ coach Gediminas Petrauskas used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Giedrius Staniulis came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 17 rebounds for Gargzdu in the defeat. Nevezis moved-up to seventh place, which they share with P.Zvaigzdes and Juventus. Gargzdu lost their seventh game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with seven games lost. They share the position with Prienai CBet. Nevezis will meet at home higher ranked Lietkabelis (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gargzdu will play against Prienai CBet (#12) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Other games in round 7 were not that significant. Lietkabelis smashed Prienai CBet on the road 96-77. Siauliai won against P.Zvaigzdes on its own court 81-65. Jonava managed to outperform Neptunas in a road game 93-77.
The most impressive performance of 7th round was 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists by Goran Huskic of Jonava.

Gargzdu – Nevezis 71-73

Bottom-ranked Gargzdu is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their seventh consecutive match to tenth ranked Nevezis (3-4) 73-71 on Saturday evening. Nevezis forced 19 Gargzdu turnovers. It was an exceptional evening for Latvian guard Arturs Zagars (190-2000) who led the winners and scored 16 points and 6 assists. Belgian Tim Lambrecht (207-1998) accounted for 12 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Four Nevezis players scored in double figures. Nevezis’ coach Gediminas Petrauskas used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Giedrius Staniulis (206-1991) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 17 rebounds and American forward Corey Sanders (188-1997, college: Rutgers) added 16 points respectively for Gargzdu in the defeat. Nevezis moved-up to seventh place, which they share with P.Zvaigzdes and Juventus. Gargzdu lost their seventh game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with seven games lost. They share the position with Prienai CBet. Nevezis will meet at home higher ranked Lietkabelis (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gargzdu will play against Prienai CBet (#12) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Gargzdu: C.Sanders 16+4reb+1ast, G.Staniulis 15+17reb+3ast, J.Kazakauskas 10+7reb+2ast, M.Runkauskas 9+2reb+2ast, M.Ruikis 7+2reb+2ast, J.Newkirk 7+3reb+4ast
Nevezis: A.Zagars 16+3reb+6ast, B.Davison 14+2reb+3ast, P.Petrilevicius 12+5reb+3ast, T.Lambrecht 12+7reb+2ast, J.Marcinkevicius 8+1reb+1ast, D.Lavrinovicius 7+8reb+2ast

gschID: 1003201

Wolves – Rytas 89-91

gschID: 1003202

Prienai CBet – Lietkabelis 77-96

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Lietkabelis (5-2) crushed on the road bottom-ranked Prienai CBet (0-7) 96-77 on Sunday. Lietkabelis dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Prienai CBet’s 30. It was an exceptional evening for Estonian point guard Kristian Kullamaee (194-1999) who led the winners and scored 25 points and 6 rebounds. Forward Paulius Murauskas (203-2004) accounted for 13 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side. Four Lietkabelis players scored in double figures. Guard Karolis Giedraitis (194-1998) came up with 20 points and center Rokas Gadiliauskas (211-1998) added 15 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Prienai CBet in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lietkabelis moved-up to third place, which they share with Wolves. Prienai CBet lost their seventh game in a row. They still close the standings with seven games lost. They share the position with Gargzdu. Lietkabelis will meet Nevezis (#7) in the next round. Prienai CBet will play against Gargzdu (#11) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Prienai CBet: K.Giedraitis 20+3reb+3ast, R.Gadiliauskas 15+8reb, D.Salic 11+4reb+2ast, B.Brown 9+1reb+5ast, M.Mintautas 8+4reb+1ast, G.Bergaudas 7+3reb
Lietkabelis: K.Kullamaee 25+6reb+1ast, V.Lipkevicius 15+1reb+2ast, M.Paulius 13+6reb+3ast, J.Morris 12+2reb+2ast, S.Peno 9+4reb+7ast, B.Griciunas 9+4reb

gschID: 1003203

Zalgiris – Juventus 109-76

LKL top team – Zalgiris (7-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed sixth ranked Juventus (3-4) in Kaunas 109-76. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Juventus. Zalgiris dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Juventus’ 40. Zalgiris had a 28-15 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 31 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Juventus’ players. It was a great evening for Central African-American center Kevarrius Hayes (206-1997, college: Florida) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points and 8 rebounds. The former international Ignas Brazdeikis (201-1999, college: Michigan) helped adding 16 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side American point guard Jawun Evans (185-1996, college: OK State) responded with 18 points and the other American import forward Justin Alston (203-1994, college: Boston U.) scored 13 points and 8 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Zalgiris have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-0 record. Juventus at the other side dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with Nevezis and P.Zvaigzdes. Zalgiris will play against Rytas (#5) in Vilnius in the next round. Juventus will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes in Pasvalys and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Juventus: J.Evans 18+3reb+3ast, J.Alston 13+8reb, K.Benson 11+1reb+1ast, Z.Skucas 10+8reb+1ast, M.Paliukenas 7+3reb+1ast, T.Pazera 7+2reb+1ast
Zalgiris: L.Birutis 17+4reb, I.Brazdeikis 16+5reb+2ast, K.Hayes 14+8reb+2ast, M.Kalnietis 10+3reb+6ast, K.Lukosiunas 10+1reb+3ast, L.Lekavicius 9+1reb+5ast

gschID: 1003204

Siauliai – P.Zvaigzdes 81-65

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both seventh ranked Siauliai and 6th ranked P.Zvaigzdes had identical 3-3 record. This time Siauliai used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Pasvalys 81-65 on Monday night. Siauliai dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to P.Zvaigzdes’ 36. They outrebounded P.Zvaigzdes 43-26 including a 33-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was an exceptional evening for the former international point guard Donatas Sabeckis (197-1992) who led the winners and scored 15 points and 6 assists. Power forward Arminas Urbutis (206-1986, college: Hofstra) accounted for 19 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. Forward Justas Furmanavicius (198-1994, college: Ole Miss) came up with 8 points and 4 assists and center Martynas Pacevicius (204-1997) added 6 points and 9 rebounds respectively for P.Zvaigzdes in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Siauliai (4-3) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Rytas. Loser P.Zvaigzdes dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with Nevezis and Juventus. Siauliai will meet at home league’s second-placed Jonava in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. P.Zvaigzdes will play against Juventus (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
P.Zvaigzdes: R.Kuksiks 13+1reb, C.Allen 12+1reb+1ast, E.Saulys 11+3reb, J.Furmanavicius 8+4reb+4ast, M.Pacevicius 6+9reb+1ast, D.Dzeletovic 4+2reb
Siauliai: A.Urbutis 19+5reb+1ast, D.Sabeckis 15+4reb+6ast, K.Mangas 11+3reb+1ast, M.Varnas 9+5reb+3ast, E.Stankevicius 8+4reb+2ast, J.Zohore 8+10reb+1ast

gschID: 1003205

Neptunas – Jonava 77-93

Very predictable result when second ranked Jonava (6-1) won against 10th ranked Neptunas (2-5) in Klaipeda 93-77 on Monday. Jonava dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Neptunas’ 32. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Serbian center Goran Huskic (210-1992, college: Howard Col., TX) who led the winners and scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international swingman Edvinas Seskus (196-1995, agency: BIG) accounted for 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. Four Jonava players scored in double figures. Swingman Matas Jogela (201-1998) came up with 23 points and 5 rebounds (perfect behind the arc making all five shots) and power forward Rokas Gustys (206-1994, college: Hofstra) added 7 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Neptunas in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Jonava maintains second place with 6-1 record behind leader Zalgiris. Loser Neptunas keeps the tenth position with five games lost. Jonava will meet Siauliai (#6) on the road in the next round. Neptunas will play against Wolves (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: M.Jogela 23+5reb+1ast, D.Gailius 9+2reb+2ast, Z.Janavicius 7+3ast, R.Gustys 7+7reb+1ast, A.Wiley 6+7reb, R.Malmanis 6+3reb
Jonava: G.Huskic 19+6reb+5ast, E.Seskus 18+5reb+2ast, D.Bickauskis 14+5reb+4ast, M.Laksa 12+1reb+2ast, V.Sulskis 9+3reb+2ast, J.Garrett 8+6reb+3ast