Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Deividas Zukauskas

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it’s still very beginning of the Regular Season in U18 League. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Zalgiris I on the court of Panevezio on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by Panevezio 88-81. The hosts trailed by 7 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 3-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 88-81. Panevezio forced 22 Zalgiris I turnovers. Strangely Zalgiris I outrebounded Panevezio 43-27 including a 32-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Arnas Stankevicius (-2005) orchestrated the victory by scoring 32 points and 4 steals. Guard Arnas Strikulys (188-2005) contributed with 20 points and 4 assists for the winners. Tomas Stankevicius (-2005) replied with 26 points for Zalgiris I. Zalgiris I’s coach Remigijus Bardauskas rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn’t help. Panevezio is looking forward to face Tornado KM in Kaunas in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Zalgiris I will play at home against SKM I and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of Saule against Zalgiris II on Sunday night. Visiting Saule was crushed by Zalgiris II in Kaunas 89-52. Center Aleksas Bieliauskas (206-2005) scored 15 points and 9 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Liutauras Serkevicius chipped in 17 points during the contest. Auridas Urbonas (-2005) responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 assists. 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 II will play against Birzu in Birzai in the next round. Saule will play at home against VKKM to get more than just one victory in their record.
A very close game took place in Kaunas between VKKM and Tornado KM. VKKM got a very close victory on the road over Tornado KM. VKKM managed to escape with a 1-point win 84-83 on Tuesday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Kristupas Barauskas notched 25 points and 5 steals to lead the effort. Even a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists by Edvinas Bublys did not help to save the game for Tornado KM. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. VKKM will meet Saule in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Tornado KM will play against Panevezio and hope to win that game.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 2: winless Plunges lost to undefeated SKM I on the road 71-87. VKM destroyed Marijampoles on its own court 110-51. Winless Birzu unfortunately lost to Perkunas in Kaunas 92-95.
The most impressive performance of 2nd round was 27 points and 14 rebounds by Danielius Mulevicius of Birzu.

Panevezio – Zalgiris I 88-81

gschID: 1014394

Zalgiris II – Saule 89-52

Very important is a road loss of Saule against Zalgiris II on Sunday night. Visiting Saule was crushed by Zalgiris II in Kaunas 89-52. The game without a history. Zalgiris II led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Saule to just 5 points in fourth quarter. Zalgiris II forced 32 Saule turnovers and had a 23-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. Center Aleksas Bieliauskas (206-2005) scored 15 points and 9 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Liutauras Serkevicius (-2005) chipped in 17 points during the contest. Five Zalgiris II players scored in double figures. Auridas Urbonas (-2005) responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 assists and point guard Deividas Zukauskas (162-2005) scored 12 points and 8 rebounds. 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 II will play against Birzu in Birzai in the next round. Saule will play at home against VKKM to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris II: S.Liutauras 17+3reb+3ast, B.Aleksas 15+9reb+1ast, R.Elvinas 13+4reb+1ast, B.Arminas 11+1reb+2ast, N.Augustas 10+6reb+4ast, E.Ignas 6+2reb+1ast
Saule: Z.Deividas 12+8reb+2ast, U.Auridas 12+4reb+10ast, Z.Danas 9+8reb, S.Sarunas 8+4reb+1ast, K.Joris 4+8reb+2ast, P.Danilas 3+2reb

gschID: 1014395

SKM I – Plunges 87-71

No shocking result in a game when SKM I beat Plunges in Vilniaus 87-71 on Sunday. The hosts trailed by 4 points after first quarter, but they stormed back to get the 5-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 87-71. SKM I outrebounded Plunges 47-34 including 18 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Center Paulius Rapolis (206-2005) notched a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds to lead the effort and forward Ernestas Matulevic (200-2005) supported him with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Four SKM I players scored in double figures. Even 30 points and 5 assists by point guard Nojus Radzius (174-2005) did not help to save the game for Plunges. Swingman Justas Stonkus (192-2005) added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. SKM I will meet Zalgiris I in the next round. Plunges will play against VKM and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
SKM I: M.Ernestas 18+9reb+2ast, R.Paulius 15+15reb+2ast, K.Nojus 13+3reb+6ast, M.Mykolas 10+2reb+3ast, C.Kristupas 7+6reb+5ast, V.Robertas 6+3reb
Plunges: R.Nojus 30+4reb+5ast, S.Justas 13+10reb+2ast, D.Pijus 11+3reb+1ast, P.Vincas 6+11reb+1ast, P.Gvidas 6+1ast, V.Matas 5+4reb+1ast

gschID: 1014396

VKM – Marijampoles 110-51

There was a minor upset when Marijampoles was smashed by VKM in Vilniaus 110-51 on Sunday. The game without a history. VKM led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They held Marijampoles to an opponent 23.9 percent shooting from the field compared to 56.9 percent accuracy of the winners. VKM forced 19 Marijampoles turnovers and outrebounded them 53-29 including a 38-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 36 assists comparing to just 6 passes made by Marijampoles’ players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when VKM made 7 blocks. Swingman Arturas Vilutis (193-2005) notched a double-double by scoring 26 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and guard Erikas Vansevicius (188-2005) supported him with 23 points and 5 assists. Four VKM players scored in double figures. Even 23 points and 5 rebounds by Adrijus Janciauskas (-2005) did not help to save the game for Marijampoles. Emilis Laukaitis (-2005) added 7 points and 7 rebounds for the guests. Marijampoles’ coach Domas Krisciunas gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. VKM will meet Plunges on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Marijampoles will play against Perkunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
VKM: V.Arturas 26+14reb+4ast, V.Erikas 23+2reb+5ast, K.Emilis 18+3reb+6ast, P.Martynas 13+5reb+6ast, S.Aidas 10+7reb+1ast, P.Simas 6+1reb+1ast
Marijampoles: J.Adrijus 23+5reb+2ast, L.Emilis 7+7reb+1ast, Z.Dziugas 6+2reb+1ast, M.Edvinas 6+4reb, L.Mantas 3+1reb, J.Kasparas 3

gschID: 1014397

Tornado KM – VKKM 83-84

A very close game took place in Kaunas between VKKM and Tornado KM. VKKM got a very close victory on the road over Tornado KM. VKKM managed to escape with a 1-point win 84-83 on Tuesday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Tornado KM was trailing by 6 points at halftime but managed to get 11-point lead after three quarters before a 22-10 charge of VKKM, which allowed them to win the game. Kristupas Barauskas (-2005) notched 25 points and 5 steals to lead the effort and guard Kristupas Lesciauskas (190-2005) supported him with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Even a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists by point guard Edvinas Bublys (181-2005) did not help to save the game for Tornado KM. Armandas Bancevicius (-2006) added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts. Four Tornado KM players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. VKKM will meet Saule in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Tornado KM will play against Panevezio and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
VKKM: B.Kristupas 25+4reb+3ast, L.Kristupas 20+6reb+3ast, Z.Tomas 10+4reb+4ast, N.Paulius 9+8reb+3ast, Z.Justas 8+4reb+2ast, U.Aivaras 4
Tornado KM: B.Armandas 20+10reb+2ast, B.Edvinas 17+11reb+7ast, L.Kasparas 14+5reb+2ast, R.Jokubas 10+2reb, B.Emilis 8+6reb+2ast, K.Gustas 7+2reb+2ast

gschID: 1014398

Perkunas – Birzu 95-92

There was a small surprise when Perkunas edged Birzu in Kaunas 95-92 on Wednesday. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Birzu won third quarter 22-20. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Perkunas looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Martynas Mejaras (-2005) notched a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the effort and Simas Sliogeris (-2005) supported him with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Perkunas’ coach Modestas Bizys used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Even a double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds by swingman Danielius Mulevicius (195-2006) did not help to save the game for Birzu. Guard Domas Undzenas (186-2005) added 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Perkunas will meet Marijampoles on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Birzu will play against Zalgiris II and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Perkunas: M.Martynas 21+11reb+2ast, M.Kajus 18+4reb+4ast, P.Paulius 14+8reb+1ast, S.Justas 12+4reb+3ast, S.Simas 12+6reb+9ast, B.Haroldas 9+11reb+1ast
Birzu: M.Danielius 27+14reb+2ast, U.Domas 22+8reb+7ast, M.Deimantas 16+7reb, K.Dovydas 11+7reb+1ast, P.Tilius 8+7reb, V.Ervinas 5