Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in OPAP Basket League. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked AEL (15-7) and fifth ranked APOEL (13-10) was the most important one in the last round on Tuesday night. AEL was crushed by APOEL in Nicosia 87-60. APOEL dominated on the defensive end, holding AEL to just 7 points in third quarter. American point guard Grant Singleton (183-2000, college: FDU, agency: Octagon Europe) fired 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. International Aeneas Jung (202-2002, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 8 points and 12 rebounds. American forward TJ Bickerstaff (206, college: JMU) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds 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. APOEL moved-up to fourth place. AEL at the other side keeps the third position with seven games lost. APOEL’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Nicosia to the arena Anorthosis.
Leader AEK Larnaca delivered the twenty first victory. This time they beat 7th ranked Apollon (7-15) 85-76 in Limassol. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Apollon. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of forward Ray Spalding (208-1997, college: Louisville) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 8 rebounds. Taveion Hollingsworth contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. AEK Larnaca’s coach Christophoros Livadiotis allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Guard Dhashon Dyson (185, college: BCU) answered with 17 points and 7 assists for Apollon. AEK Larnaca have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 21-1 record. Apollon at the other side keeps the seventh position with 15 games lost. AEK Larnaca will play against Etha (#8) in Nicosia in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Apollon will play on the road against the league’s second-placed Keravnos in Nicosia and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Paralimni supposed to be also quite interesting. Second ranked Keravnos (18-4) played at the court of 6th ranked Paralimni (9-13). Keravnos smashed Paralimni 87-62 on Tuesday. Josh Hagins stepped up and scored 18 points and 4 assists for the winners. At the losing side Dusan Mahorcic responded with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Keravnos have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 18-4 record having just three points less than leader AEK Larnaca. Paralimni lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 13 games lost. Keravnos will meet at home Apollon (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Paralimni will play against AEL in Limassol and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 25 bottom-ranked Achilleas was defeated by Etha in Nicosia 84-70.
The best stats of 25th round was 13 points and 11 rebounds by Michalis Koumis of Keravnos.

APOEL – AEL 87-60

gschID: 1253018

Apollon – AEK Larnaca 76-85

Leader AEK Larnaca delivered the twenty first victory. This time they beat 7th ranked Apollon (7-15) 85-76 in Limassol. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Apollon. Apollon was ahead by 7 points at the halftime before a 43-27 second half run of AEK Larnaca. They dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Apollon‘s 30. They outrebounded Apollon 47-32 including a 13-2 advantage in offensive rebounds. AEK Larnaca players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Apollon‘s players. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of forward Ray Spalding (208-1997, college: Louisville) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 8 rebounds. Guard Taveion Hollingsworth (188-1999, college: WKU) contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Four AEK Larnaca players scored in double figures. AEK Larnaca’s coach Christophoros Livadiotis allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Guard Dhashon Dyson (185, college: BCU) answered with 17 points and 7 assists and forward Markedric Bell (203-1999, college: PVAMU) added 18 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Apollon. AEK Larnaca have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 21-1 record. Apollon at the other side keeps the seventh position with 15 games lost. AEK Larnaca will play against Etha (#8) in Nicosia in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Apollon will play on the road against the league’s second-placed Keravnos in Nicosia and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
AEK Larnaca: R.Spalding 19+8reb+1ast, K.Simitzis 14+4reb+1ast, R.Nottage 11+6reb+1ast, T.Hollingsworth 10+7reb+3ast, I.Giannaras 7+3reb+1ast, C.Loizides 6+5reb
Apollon: N.Honor 22+1reb+1ast, M.Bell 18+7reb+2ast, D.Dyson 17+3reb+7ast, A.Tompazos 6+1reb, N.Papademetriou 5+6reb, J.Petrakis 5+11reb+1ast

gschID: 1253019

Paralimni – Keravnos 62-87

The game in Paralimni supposed to be also quite interesting. Second ranked Keravnos (18-4) played at the court of 6th ranked Paralimni (9-13). Keravnos smashed Paralimni 87-62 on Tuesday. The game was mostly controlled by Keravnos. Paralimni managed to win third quarter 18-17. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They outrebounded Paralimni 45-31 including 16 on the offensive glass. American guard Josh Hagins (187-1994, college: UALR, agency: Haylett Sports) stepped up and scored 18 points and 4 assists for the winners and the former international center Michalis Koumis (204-1996) chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds. Four Keravnos players scored in double figures. At the losing side Serbian forward Dusan Mahorcic (208-1998, college: Duquesne) responded with 11 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Tyrell Jones (188-1999, college: USA) scored 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Keravnos have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 18-4 record having just three points less than leader AEK Larnaca. Paralimni lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 13 games lost. Keravnos will meet at home Apollon (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Paralimni will play against AEL in Limassol and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Keravnos: J.Hagins 18+4reb+4ast, M.Koumis 13+11reb, N.Stylianou 13+5reb, L.Horton 10+1reb+3ast, F.Tigkas 9+2ast, S.Michail 7+2reb+2ast
Paralimni: J.Wilson 14+2reb+1ast, D.Mahorcic 11+9reb, T.Jones 9+7reb+4ast, B.Davis 9+4reb+2ast, S.Solomou 8+1reb+1ast, A.Mikheev 4+3reb

gschID: 1253021

Etha – Achilleas K. 84-70

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 9th ranked Achilleas‘ (2-21) road loss to eighth ranked Etha (3-19) 70-84 on Wednesday. Achilleas was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Etha dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Achilleas K.‘ 30. They outrebounded Achilleas 45-33 including a 22-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Etha looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Etha made 7 blocks. American forward Jarrett Henderson (198-1996, college: UWF) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and his fellow American import forward Vatangoe Donzo (202-2000, college: BMCU) chipped in 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks. At the losing side American point guard Cam Hamilton (180-1999, college: Valdosta St.) responded with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and center Emilios Vasiliou (195-1995) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Etha maintains eighth place with 3-19 record. Loser Achilleas K. stay dead last with 21 lost games. Etha will meet league’s leader AEK Larnaca on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Achilleas will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Etha: V.Donzo 19+11reb+2ast, J.Henderson 19+12reb+4ast, A.Deloney 18+2reb+8ast, N.Louca 16+8reb+2ast, S.Allen 8+8reb+10ast, C.Karampatakis 4+3reb+1ast
Achilleas K.: C.Hamilton 20+6reb+5ast, E.Vasiliou 17+11reb+2ast, J.Rucker 14+9reb+1ast, B.Tolefree 10+1reb+4ast, A.Kyriakou 5+3reb+1ast, A.Antreou 4+1reb+2ast