Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Jamel Morris

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Jonava (7-2) recorded its second loss at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Lietkabelis (7-2) 91-88. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Jonava. It was a key game for the second position in the league. It was a great shooting night for Lietkabelis especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 55.0 percentage. The best player for the winners was American guard Jamel Morris (193-1992, college: Fairmont St.) who scored 19 points and 4 assists. Forward Gabas Maldunas (205-1993, college: Dartmouth) chipped in 13 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international swingman Edvinas Seskus (196-1995, agency: BIG) who recorded 15 points and 6 assists. Lietkabelis have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated Jonava. Lietkabelis is looking forward to face Neptunas (#7) in Klaipeda in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Jonava will play at home against Gargzdu (#11) and is hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Utena. Sixth ranked Juventus (5-4) saved a 1-point victory at home edging 7th ranked Siauliai (4-5) 85-84 in the game for the sixth place. It was a good game for American point guard Jawun Evans (185-1996, college: OK State) who saved his team from a defeat with 16 points. Alex Hamilton contributed with 18 points and 5 steals for the winners. Power forward Arminas Urbutis (206-1986, college: Hofstra) answered with 19 points and 8 rebounds for Siauliai. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Juventus maintains sixth place with 5-4 record. Siauliai at the other side keeps the seventh position with five games lost. They share it with Neptunas. Juventus will play against bottom-ranked Prienai (#12) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Siauliai will play against Rytas (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Leader Zalgiris delivered the eighth victory on Sunday night. This time they crushed 8th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (3-6) 92-59 in Pasvalys. Motiejus Krivas stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winners. The best for the losing side was Ignas Vaitkus with 17 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. Zalgiris maintains first place with 8-1 record. P.Zvaigzdes lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with six games lost. They share it with Nevezis. Zalgiris will meet at home Wolves (#5) in the next round. P.Zvaigzdes will play against Nevezis (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Other games of round 9 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Rytas defeated Gargzdu in Vilnius 99-81. Wolves beat Prienai at home 79-70. Neptunas won against Nevezis on the opponent’s court 71-67.
The best stats of 9th round was 16 points and 11 rebounds by Paulius Petrilevicius of Nevezis.

Gargzdu – Rytas 81-99

There was no surprise in Gargzdai where 11th ranked Gargzdu (1-8) was defeated by fourth ranked Rytas (6-3) 99-81 on Saturday. Rytas made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 Gargzdu turnovers. Swingman Lukas Uleckas (199-1999) stepped up and scored 18 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winners and American guard Marcus Foster (191-1995, college: Creighton) chipped in 15 points. The best for the losing side was American point guard Josh Newkirk (185-1994, college: Indiana) with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists and Marius Runkauskas (186-1986, agency: BIG) scored 20 points. Four Gargzdu players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains fourth place with 6-3 record, which they share with Wolves. Newly promoted Gargzdu keeps the eleventh position with eight games lost. Rytas will meet Siauliai (#8) on the road in the next round. Gargzdu will play against Jonava and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Gargzdu: M.Runkauskas 20+3reb+2ast, S.Beniusis 18+4reb+1ast, J.Newkirk 17+6reb+8ast, J.Kazakauskas 11+10reb+2ast, M.Stasys 6, S.Thompson 5+2reb+1ast
Rytas: L.Uleckas 18+5reb, M.Foster 15+3reb+1ast, E.Fridriksson 14+1reb+3ast, B.Varadi 9+3reb+5ast, T.Lekunas 9+1ast, M.Normantas 9+3reb+4ast

gschID: 1003213

Jonava – Lietkabelis 88-91

gschID: 1003214

Juventus – Siauliai 85-84

Important game to mention about took place in Utena. Sixth ranked Juventus (5-4) saved a 1-point victory at home edging 7th ranked Siauliai (4-5) 85-84 in the game for the sixth place. Juventus made 18-of-20 charity shots (90.0 percent) during the game. It was a good game for American point guard Jawun Evans (185-1996, college: OK State) who saved his team from a defeat with 16 points. His fellow American import point guard Alex Hamilton (193-1993, college: Louisiana Tech) contributed with 18 points and 5 steals for the winners. Power forward Arminas Urbutis (206-1986, college: Hofstra) answered with 19 points and 8 rebounds and American guard Kyle Mangas (193-1999, college: IWU) added 19 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) in the effort for Siauliai. Four Siauliai players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Juventus maintains sixth place with 5-4 record. Siauliai at the other side keeps the seventh position with five games lost. They share it with Neptunas. Juventus will play against bottom-ranked Prienai (#12) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Siauliai will play against Rytas (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Siauliai: K.Mangas 19+2reb+1ast, A.Urbutis 19+8reb+1ast, N.Bezbradica 15+1reb, M.Varnas 11+4reb+5ast, J.Zohore 7+3reb+2ast, D.Paulius 6+5reb+2ast
Juventus: A.Hamilton 18+2ast, J.Evans 16+2reb+3ast, J.Alston 14+4reb+1ast, M.Paliukenas 9+2reb+1ast, Z.Skucas 9+4reb+3ast, K.Benson 6+5reb+1ast

gschID: 1003215

P.Zvaigzdes – Zalgiris 59-92

Leader Zalgiris delivered the eighth victory on Sunday night. This time they crushed 8th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (3-6) 92-59 in Pasvalys. Zalgiris dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to P.Zvaigzdes’ 20. They outrebounded P.Zvaigzdes 38-19 including 28 on the defensive glass. Zalgiris looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by P.Zvaigzdes’ players. Center Motiejus Krivas (214-2004) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winners and international guard Tomas Dimsa (195-1994) chipped in 14 points and 6 assists. Four Zalgiris players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Ignas Vaitkus (197-1993) with 17 points and forward Justas Furmanavicius (198-1994, college: Ole Miss) scored 12 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. Zalgiris maintains first place with 8-1 record. P.Zvaigzdes lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with six games lost. They share it with Nevezis. Zalgiris will meet at home Wolves (#5) in the next round. P.Zvaigzdes will play against Nevezis (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
P.Zvaigzdes: I.Vaitkus 17+2reb+1ast, J.Furmanavicius 12+1reb+1ast, E.Saulys 9+1reb, C.Allen 7+2reb+3ast, A.Kovalov 3+2reb, M.Zigmantavicius 3+1ast
Zalgiris: K.Motiejus 16+11reb+1ast, T.Dimsa 14+3reb+6ast, T.Cavanaugh 14+3reb, I.Brazdeikis 11+2reb+2ast, L.Lekavicius 9+1reb+1ast, D.Giedraitis 7+3reb+4ast

gschID: 1003216

Wolves – Prienai 79-70

No shocking result in a game in Vilnius where fifth ranked Wolves (6-3) defeated bottom-ranked Prienai (0-9) 79-70 on Monday. Wolves forced 21 Prienai turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American guard Ahmad Caver (188-1996, college: ODU) stepped up and scored 18 points, 5 assists and 5 steals for the winners and French Hugo Invernizzi (198-1993) chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was Justinas Jogminas (197-1997) with 12 points and 9 rebounds and American point guard Brandon Brown (180-1991, college: LMU) scored 16 points. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Wolves moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Rytas. Loser Prienai still closes the standings with nine games lost. Wolves will meet league’s leader Zalgiris in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Prienai will play against Juventus (#6) in Utena and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Prienai: B.Brown 16+2reb+1ast, J.Jogminas 12+9reb, D.Domarkas 10+5reb+3ast, D.Salic 9+3reb+2ast, R.Gadiliauskas 9+7reb+1ast, K.Giedraitis 8+2reb+4ast
Wolves: A.Caver 18+1reb+5ast, H.Invernizzi 14+6reb, M.Lukauskis 9, K.Zemaitis 8+3reb+6ast, M.Delia 8+9reb, E.Zukauskas 7+8reb+2ast

gschID: 1003217

Nevezis – Neptunas 67-71

Everything could happen in Kedainiai at the game between two tied teams. Both eighth ranked Neptunas and 9th ranked Nevezis had identical 3-5 record. But Nevezis was not able to use a home court advantage and was defeated by the opponent from Klaipeda 71-67 on Monday night. The former international forward Deividas Gailius (200-1988) stepped up and scored 17 points for the winners and swingman Matas Jogela (201-1998) chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds. Neptunas’ coach Mindaugas Brazys used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was power forward Paulius Petrilevicius (204-1991) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) and American guard Brad Davison (193-1999, college: Wisconsin) scored 12 points and 6 rebounds. Neptunas (4-5) moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Siauliai. Loser Nevezis keeps the ninth position with six games lost. They share it with P.Zvaigzdes. Neptunas will meet league’s second-placed Lietkabelis in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nevezis will play against P.Zvaigzdes (#10) in Pasvalys and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nevezis: P.Petrilevicius 16+11reb+3ast, A.Zagars 13+2reb+1ast, B.Davison 12+6reb+3ast, D.Lavrinovicius 8+6reb+1ast, J.Marcinkevicius 7+2reb, T.Lambrecht 6+10reb+1ast
Neptunas: D.Gailius 17+3reb+2ast, N.Mineikis 14+2reb, M.Jogela 12+7reb, Z.Janavicius 8+5reb+4ast, V.Matas 4, P.Oskaras 4+1reb