Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Trae Bell-Haynes

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 7 in the ABA League took place in Zadar. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 5th ranked Croatian Zadar (4-3) to eighth ranked Montenegrin Buducnost (4-3) 104-103 in the game for the fifth place. Buducnost dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Zadar’s 30. They outrebounded Zadar 39-25 including 29 on the defensive glass. Canadian guard Trae Bell-Haynes (188-1995, college: Vermont, agency: BeoBasket) fired 28 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American Cameron Reynolds (201-1995, college: Tulane) chipped in 19 points and 9 rebounds. Buducnost’s coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Luka Bozic (200-1996) produced 34 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 6 assists for lost side. Defending Montenegrin champion moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Zadar and Igokea. Buducnost is looking forward to face Cibona (#9) in Zagreb in the next round. Zadar will play on the road against Cedevita Ol. (#4) in Ljubljana and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Serbian undefeated leader Partizan delivered the seventh consecutive victory. This time they crushed 11th ranked Croatian Split (2-5) 89-70 in Beograd. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Split. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward James Nunnally (201-1990, college: UCSB) who helped to win the game recording 13 points and 5 rebounds. Alen Smailagic contributed with 8 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) answered with 23 points for Split. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Partizan (7-0) have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with a perfect record of 7 victories in a row. Split at the other side keeps the eleventh position with five games lost. They share it with Mega BG. Partizan’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beograd to the arena Crvena Zvezda.
Bottom-ranked Serbian Borac CA (0-7) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 93-84 loss to tenth ranked Montenegrin SC Derby (3-4) in Podgorica on Friday evening. It was a great evening for Loren Jackson who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points and 5 assists (made all of his eight free throws). At the losing side Hunter Hale responded with 17 points and 5 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. SC Derby moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Mornar and Cibona. Borac CA lost their seventh game in a row. They still close the standings with seven games lost. SC Derby will meet Split (#12) on the road in the next round. Borac CA will play against Mornar and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Other games of round 7 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Cibona was crushed by Crvena Zvezda in Beograd 92-53. FMP BG beat MZT Skopje at home 101-97. Cedevita Ol. won against Igokea on the opponent’s court 85-74. Mornar unfortunately lost to Mega BG in a home game 85-101.

Crvena Zvezda – Cibona 92-53

There was no surprise in Beograd where 7th ranked Croatian Cibona (3-4) was crushed by third ranked Serbian Crvena Zvezda (5-1) 92-53 on Saturday. Crvena Zvezda made 21-of-27 free shots (77.8 percent) during the game. Crvena Zvezda outrebounded Cibona 35-22 including a 29-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Cibona’s players. It was a great evening for center Filip Petrusev (211-2000, college: Gonzaga, agency: BeoBasket) who led his team to a victory scoring 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Nemanja Nedovic (192-1991, agency: BeoBasket) helped adding 24 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). At the losing side Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) responded with 10 points and 6 rebounds and Ivan Majcunic (193-1996) scored 9 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. Defending Serbian champion maintains third place with 5-1 record having just three points less than leader Partizan. Defending Croatian champion Cibona dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. They share it with Mornar and SC Derby. Crvena Zvezda’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beograd Partizan.
Top scorers:
Crvena Zvezda: N.Nedovic 24+2ast, F.Petrusev 14+9reb+4ast, N.Ivanovic 10+3reb+6ast, L.Vildoza 8+1reb+4ast, L.Mitrovic 8+4reb+3ast, B.Bentil 7+4reb+5ast
Cibona: A.Aranitovic 10+6reb+3ast, F.Bundovic 9+2reb+1ast, I.Majcunic 9+4reb, L.Mazalin 9+4reb, B.Kapusta 7+1reb+4ast, K.Ljubicic 6+2reb+1ast

gschID: 990661

FMP BG – MZT Skopje 101-97

No shocking result in a game in Beograd where second ranked Serbian FMP BG (6-1) defeated 13th ranked North Macedonian MZT Skopje (1-6) 101-97 on Friday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. FMP BG made 29-of-36 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. FMP BG outrebounded MZT Skopje 37-22 including a 25-14 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. It was a great evening for Lithuanian guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) who led his team to a victory scoring 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. American guard Trent Frazier (188-1998, college: Illinois) helped adding 16 points and 9 assists. At the losing side American point guard Mike Caffey (183-1993, college: LBSU, agency: Players Group) responded with 18 points and 8 assists and Serbian Strahinja Micovic (205-1992) scored 18 points and 5 rebounds. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for FMP BG. They maintain second place with 6-1 record behind leader Partizan. MZT Skopje lost their third game in a row. Defending North Macedonian champion keeps the thirteenth position with six games lost. FMP BG will meet at home Igokea (#5) in the next round. MZT Skopje will play against Mega BG (#11) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
FMP BG: P.Valinskas 19+5reb+5ast, T.Frazier 16+3reb+9ast, E.Izundu 13+3reb+1ast, N.Jankovic 12+6reb+2ast, S.Nikola 11+2reb+1ast, C.Jenkins 10+4reb+1ast
MZT Skopje: M.Caffey 18+4reb+8ast, S.Micovic 18+5reb+2ast, Y.Samet 16+5reb+1ast, V.Stojanovski 15+1reb+1ast, B.Ivey 11+3reb+4ast, A.Magdevski 10+2reb+6ast

gschID: 990662

Igokea – Cedevita Ol. 74-85

There was a minor upset in Aleksandrovac where 4th placed Bosnian Igokea (4-3) was defeated by sixth ranked Slovenian Cedevita Ol. (4-2) 85-74 on Saturday. It was a great evening for American point guard Yogi Ferrell (183-1993, college: Indiana) who led his team to a victory scoring 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Center Alen Omic (216-1992, agency: BeoBasket) helped adding 16 points and 10 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Four Cedevita Ol. players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Bryant Crawford (191-1997, college: Wake Forest) responded with 22 points, 5 assists and 5 steals and the other American import guard Kendrick Ray (188-1994, college: KSU) scored 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Defending Slovenian champion moved-up to fourth place. Defending Bosnian champion Igokea dropped to the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Zadar and Buducnost. Cedevita Ol. will meet at home Zadar (#7) in the next round. Igokea will play against the league’s second-placed FMP BG in Beograd and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Cedevita Ol.: Y.Ferrell 20+5reb+4ast, J.Adams 17+7reb+3ast, A.Omic 16+10reb+2ast, A.Alibegovic 12+4reb+2ast, E.Muric 9+2reb+1ast, M.Rebec 6+2reb+5ast
Igokea: B.Crawford 22+1reb+5ast, A.Waller 13+3reb+3ast, K.Ray 11+6reb+4ast, N.Tanaskovic 9+7reb+1ast, N.Maric 8+8reb, S.Djordjevic 6+8reb

gschID: 990663

Mornar – Mega BG 85-101

There was a surprise result in Bar where twelfth ranked Serbian Mega BG (2-5) beat higher ranked Montenegrin Mornar (3-4) 101-85 on Sunday. Mega BG dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Mornar’s 40 and made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for Dragan Milosavljevic (198-1989, agency: BeoBasket) who led his team to a victory scoring 20 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Montenegrin forward Andrija Grbovic (207-2003) helped adding 13 points and 7 rebounds. Four Mega BG players scored in double figures. At the losing side point guard Vladimir Mihailovic (193-1990) responded with 26 points and 4 assists and Serbian power forward Marko Pecarski (208-2000) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Mega BG moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Split. Loser Mornar keeps the eighth position with four games lost. They share it with Cibona and SC Derby. Mega BG will meet MZT Skopje (#13) on the road in the next round. Mornar will play against Borac CA (#14) in Cacak and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Mega BG: D.Milosavljevic 20+6reb+7ast, A.Rorie 14+5ast, G.Andrija 13+7reb, D.Brankovic 13+3reb, M.Cazalon 12+4reb, M.Rudan 10+6reb+1ast
Mornar: V.Mihailovic 26+4reb+4ast, D.Russell 19+5ast, M.Pecarski 14+10reb+3ast, C.Diong 9+6reb+1ast, N.Vranjes 5+2reb, A.Vrankovic 4+4reb+2ast

gschID: 990664

Partizan – Split 89-70

Serbian undefeated leader Partizan delivered the seventh consecutive victory. This time they crushed 11th ranked Croatian Split (2-5) 89-70 in Beograd. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Split. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward James Nunnally (201-1990, college: UCSB) who helped to win the game recording 13 points and 5 rebounds. Power forward Alen Smailagic (208-2000) contributed with 8 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Four Partizan players scored in double figures. American Shannon Shorter (193-1989, college: N.Texas) answered with 23 points and guard Dominik Mavra (195-1994) added 18 points in the effort for Split. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Partizan (7-0) have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with a perfect record of 7 victories in a row. Split at the other side keeps the eleventh position with five games lost. They share it with Mega BG. Partizan’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beograd to the arena Crvena Zvezda.
Top scorers:
Partizan: Z.LeDay 14+4reb, J.Nunnally 13+5reb+2ast, U.Trifunovic 11+3reb+1ast, D.Andjusic 11+2reb+1ast, M.Yam 10+1ast, I.Papapetrou 10+1reb+3ast
Split: S.Shorter 23+2reb+1ast, D.Mavra 18+4reb+3ast, T.Nelson 10+5reb, L.Runjic 6+2reb, V.Saric 4+7reb, A.Perkusic 3+1reb

gschID: 990665

SC Derby – Borac CA 93-84

Bottom-ranked Serbian Borac CA (0-7) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 93-84 loss to tenth ranked Montenegrin SC Derby (3-4) in Podgorica on Friday evening. They made 19-of-19 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. It was a great evening for American point guard Loren Jackson (173-1996, college: Akron) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points and 5 assists (made all of his eight free throws). Serbian forward Danilo Tasic (207-1993, agency: BeoBasket) helped adding 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. At the losing side American guard Hunter Hale (192-1997, college: Winthrop) responded with 17 points and 5 assists and forward Aleksa Novakovic (200-1996, college: EIU) scored 13 points and 8 rebounds. Five SC Derby and four Borac CA players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. SC Derby moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Mornar and Cibona. Borac CA lost their seventh game in a row. They still close the standings with seven games lost. SC Derby will meet Split (#12) on the road in the next round. Borac CA will play against Mornar and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
SC Derby: L.Jackson 21+5ast, D.Tasic 15+6reb+5ast, M.Dreznjak 15+5reb+5ast, F.Magee 13+6reb+1ast, A.Slavkovic 13+6reb+1ast, N.Pavlicevic 5+1reb
Borac CA: H.Hale 17+4reb+5ast, S.Lesic 17+3reb, A.Novakovic 13+8reb+1ast, B.Tomasevic 10+2reb, M.Milovanovic 9+8reb, P.Mihailo 7+1reb+1ast