The Regular Season in Lat-Est BL just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
Liepaja defeated BK Ogre at home 80-75. Kristaps Kilps (195-2001) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and point guard Edgars Lasenbergs (187-1995) chipped in 21 points and 4 assists. At the losing side Latvian Kristaps Dargais (198-1990) responded with 9 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. BK Ogre will play next round against strong Ventspils trying to get back on the winning streak. Liepaja will try to continue on its current victory against Rigas Z. at home.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Rigas Z. on the court of Ventspils. Visitors were edged by Ventspils 85-84. Arturs Ausejs (192-1990) nailed 35 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds for the winning side and Lamar Norman Jr. accounted for 25 points. Ventspils’ coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Kriss Helmanis (209-2002) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds for Rigas Z. in the defeat. Ventspils will play against Keila at home in the next round. Rigas Z. will play against Liepaja to get more than just one victory in their record.
Quite upsetting was Estonian Kalev/Cramo‘s 21-point home defeat in a game versus Latvian VEF Riga who smashed hosts Gage Davis-McMurrin fired 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Severi Kaukiainen produced 10 points and 7 assists for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. VEF Riga will meet at home Viimsi in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Kalev/Cramo will play against LU and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
In the last game of round 1 Valmiera Glass destroyed LU on the opponent’s court 92-72.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists by Kahliel Spear of Valmiera Glass.
Ventspils – Rigas Z. 85-84
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Rigas Z. on the court of Ventspils. Visitors were edged by Ventspils 85-84. Ventspils forced 21 Rigas Z. turnovers. Arturs Ausejs (192-1990) nailed 35 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Lamar Norman Jr. (185-2000, college: W.Michigan) accounted for 25 points. Ventspils’ coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Kriss Helmanis (209-2002) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds and American forward Justin McKoy (203-2001, college: Hawaii) added 14 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Rigas Z. in the defeat. Four Rigas Z. players scored in double figures. Ventspils will play against Keila at home in the next round. Rigas Z. will play against Liepaja to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Rigas Z.: R.Berzins 15+2reb, A.Kot 15+1reb+2ast, J.McKoy 14+9reb+2ast, K.Helmanis 12+14reb, J.Vitols 9+3reb+1ast, D.Viksne 9+5reb+3ast
Ventspils: A.Ausejs 35+5reb+1ast, L.Norman Jr. 25+2reb+2ast, E.Mezulis 6+6reb+3ast, J.Censonis 5+3reb+2ast, M.Miseailo 4+4reb, Z.Watson 3+5reb+3ast
gschID: 1211097
Kalev/Cramo – VEF Riga 63-84
Quite upsetting was Estonian Kalev/Cramo‘s 21-point home defeat in a game versus Latvian VEF Riga who smashed hosts It was a great shooting night for VEF Riga especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 53.3 percentage. American guard Gage Davis-McMurrin (195-1995, college: St.Cloud St.) fired 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Ukrainian forward Vyacheslav Bobrov (203-1992, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 17 points and 6 rebounds. Four VEF Riga players scored in double figures. Finnish point guard Severi Kaukiainen (185-1998, agency: Blacktop Management) produced 10 points and 7 assists and guard Kasper Suurorg (200-2002, college: SFC) added 9 points and 4 assists (made all of his seven free throws) respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. VEF Riga will meet at home Viimsi in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Kalev/Cramo will play against LU and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kalev/Cramo: S.Kaukiainen 10+3reb+7ast, P.Tape 9+5reb, K.Suurorg 9+2reb+4ast, G.Kuuba 8+4reb+1ast, A.Smith 8+1reb+2ast, A.Miska 5+4reb
VEF Riga: G.Davis-McMurrin 18+8reb+5ast, V.Bobrov 17+6reb, H.Cleary 14+4reb+4ast, I.Sanon 10+3reb+1ast, R.Berkolds 6+2reb, D.Bertans 6+4ast
gschID: 1211098
Liepaja – BK Ogre 80-75
Liepaja defeated BK Ogre at home 80-75. Kristaps Kilps (195-2001) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and point guard Edgars Lasenbergs (187-1995) chipped in 21 points and 4 assists. Four Liepaja players scored in double figures. At the losing side Latvian Kristaps Dargais (198-1990) responded with 9 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists and American guard Myles Rasnick (185-1999, college: Maryville, TN, agency: Worldwide SM) scored 19 points and 6 rebounds. BK Ogre will play next round against strong Ventspils trying to get back on the winning streak. Liepaja will try to continue on its current victory against Rigas Z. at home.
Top scorers:
BK Ogre: M.Rasnick 19+6reb+3ast, K.Mediss 13, G.Sipolins 11+9reb, K.Dargais 9+15reb+7ast, K.Zunda 8+2reb+2ast, R.Avotins 6+6reb+1ast
Liepaja: E.Lasenbergs 21+1reb+4ast, K.Kilps 15+10reb+2ast, R.Macoha 12+10reb+1ast, R.Malmanis 10+9reb+1ast, R.Vitolskis 8+3reb+3ast, K.Dubults 6+7reb+3ast
gschID: 1211099
LU – Valmiera Glass 72-92
But LU was not able to use a home court advantage and was crushed by the opponent from Valmiera 92-72 on Saturday night. Valmiera Glass outrebounded LU 35-23 including 25 on the defensive glass. Valmiera Glass looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American Kahliel Spear (200-2000, college: RMU) fired 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. His fellow American import DaQuan Smith (185-1999, college: Radford) chipped in 20 points and 4 assists. Four Valmiera Glass players scored in double figures. Rihards Aleksandrovs (201-2002) produced 23 points and 8 rebounds and point guard Valters Briedis (184-2003) added 11 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Valmiera Glass will meet at home VEF Riga in the next round, which may be the game of the day. LU will play against Kalev/Cramo in Tallinn and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
LU: R.Aleksandrovs 23+8reb+1ast, A.Helmanis 13+1reb, V.Briedis 11+2reb+4ast, E.Egle 9+3reb+4ast, F.Neilands 5+2reb+2ast, A.Bikovs 3+3reb
Valmiera Glass: D.Smith 20+3reb+4ast, K.Spear 20+8reb+4ast, R.Novitskyi 16+7reb+2ast, J.Watson 12+3reb+1ast, A.Ate 7+4reb+4ast, M.Zeliznak 6+3reb
gschID: 1211100
