European North Basketball League Round 7 (Regular Season): Weissenfels hand first loss to Kapfenberg

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Austrian Kapfenberg Bulls (2-1) at the home court on Wednesday night. Hosts were rolled over by German MBC (4-0) 107-87. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kapfenberg Bulls. Weissenfels made 25-of-31 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. Weissenfels looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by Kapfenberg helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Serbian Borisa Simanic (210-1998) who helped to win the game recording 25 points and 7 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). American-German Spencer Reaves (191-1995, college: Central Mo.) contributed with 16 points and 9 assists for the winners. Ukrainian point guard Vitaliy Zotov (188-1997, agency: BIG) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists for Kapfenberg. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. MBC have a solid series of four victories in a row. Weissenfels maintains first place with 4-0 record. Defending Austrian champion Kapfenberg keeps the third position with one game lost. They share it with Anwil. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Bottom-ranked Bosnian Zrinjski HT is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fourth consecutive match to fifteenth ranked Polish Anwil (2-1) 84-78. It was a great evening for American guard Sam Hines Jr (198-2002, college: SE Louisiana) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points and 7 rebounds. Deon Edwin helped adding 14 points and 8 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Trevante Anderson (185-2000, college: UIC) responded with 30 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Anwil moved-up to third place, which they share with Kapfenberg. Zrinjski HT at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Pully. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

Other games in round 7 were not that significant. TalTech lost to undefeated AEL on the road 67-74. Alkar lost to Groningen on its own court 80-92. Fyllingen unfortunately lost to Voluntari in a road game 93-106.



Kapfenberg - Weissenfels 87-107:
The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Austrian Kapfenberg Bulls (2-1) at the home court on Wednesday night. Hosts were rolled over by German MBC (4-0) 107-87. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kapfenberg Bulls. Weissenfels made 25-of-31 free shots (80.6 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. Weissenfels looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by Kapfenberg helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Serbian Borisa Simanic (210-1998) who helped to win the game recording 25 points and 7 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). American-German Spencer Reaves (191-1995, college: Central Mo.) contributed with 16 points and 9 assists for the winners. Ukrainian point guard Vitaliy Zotov (188-1997, agency: BIG) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists and Thailand forward Jalen Cooper (201-2001, college: EKU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) added 25 points and 7 rebounds (made all of his seven free throws) in the effort for Kapfenberg. Five Weissenfels and four Kapfenberg players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. MBC have a solid series of four victories in a row. Weissenfels maintains first place with 4-0 record. Defending Austrian champion Kapfenberg keeps the third position with one game lost. They share it with Anwil. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Kapfenberg: J.Cooper 25+7reb+2ast, M.Wilkinson 19+4reb+2ast, V.Zotov 18+6reb+12ast, D.Koeppel 11+4reb, D.Grgic 7+2reb+1ast, N.Krstic 5
Weissenfels: S.Borisa 25+7reb, R.Vuk 20+3reb+2ast, R.Spencer 16+2reb+9ast, W.Collin 11+2reb+1ast, G.Anthony 11+5reb+5ast, P.Jure 11+6reb+3ast

AEL - TalTech 74-67:
No shocking result in a game when leader Cypriot AEL (3-0) beat 13th ranked Estonian TalTech (2-2) in Limassol 74-67. AEL made 19-of-23 charity shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Strangely TalTech outrebounded AEL 40-28 including 26 on the defensive glass. TalTech was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for American guard Javonte Johnson (198, college: CBU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. His fellow American import guard Donte Clark (194-1994, college: Texas Southern) helped adding 13 points and 5 assists. AEL's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. At the losing side Oliver Metsalu (196-1993) responded with 14 points and 8 rebounds and point guard Siim-Markus Post (184-1997) scored 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. AEL have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Tindastoll. TalTech at the other side dropped to the fourteenth position with two games lost. They share it with Groningen. AEL will play against Groningen (#15) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. TalTech will play against Spartak Pleven and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
TalTech: O.Metsalu 14+8reb+2ast, S.Post 14+5reb+5ast, G.Ilves 10+11reb+1ast, T.Jurkatamm 10+1ast, J.Rikberg 7+2reb+1ast, O.Suurorg 5+1reb+4ast
AEL: J.Javonte 21+4reb, C.Sincere 14+2reb+1ast, C.Donte 13+4reb+5ast, B.Brendan 12+7reb, S.Pape 4+6reb, M.Kyran 4

Alkar - Groningen 80-92:
There was a minor upset when 14th ranked Croatian Alkar (1-2) lost to sixteenth ranked Dutch Groningen (2-2) in Sinj 80-92. Groningen outrebounded Alkar 42-25 including a 27-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a great evening for Georgian forward Aleksandre Merkviladze (204-2002, college: LMU, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points and 7 rebounds. American guard Kevon Godwin (188-2000, college: Angelo St.) helped adding 17 points and 6 assists. Merkviladze is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Groningen players scored in double figures. At the losing side forward Ante Brzovic (208-2000, college: Charleston) responded with 23 points and American point guard Terrell Burden (178-2000, college: KSU) scored 12 points and 8 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Groningen moved-up to fourteenth place, which they share with TalTech. Alkar at the other side dropped to the sixth position with two games lost. They share it with Bristol Flyers and Kavkasia. Groningen will play against higher ranked AEL (#10) in Limassol in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Alkar will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Alkar: A.Brzovic 23+3reb+2ast, T.Burden 12+2reb+8ast, P.Marcinkovic 11+4reb+1ast, J.Gaffney 7+5reb, V.Granic 6+2reb+2ast, F.Sisko 6+4reb+2ast
Groningen: M.Aleksandre 17+7reb+2ast, G.Kevon 17+3reb+6ast, A.Bryan 15+3reb+1ast, M.Michael 13+7reb+2ast, D.Jalen 11+7reb+1ast, A.Dola 8+5reb

Voluntari - Fyllingen 106-93:
Very predictable result when twelfth ranked Romanian Voluntari (3-1) won against at home 17th ranked Norwegian Fyllingen (1-4) 106-93. Voluntari dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to Fyllingen's 38 and made 21-of-23 charity shots (91.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Fyllingen 38-20 including a 17-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Voluntari players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Fyllingen's players. It was a great evening for American forward Lewis Sullivan (201-1995, college: UAB, agency: BIG) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds. Bosnian power forward Ibrahim Durmo (202-1997) helped adding 17 points and 8 rebounds. Voluntari's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. At the losing side American Troy Barnies (201-1989, college: Maine) responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import guard Davonte Davis (190-2001, college: OK State) scored 21 points, 7 assists and 6 steals. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Voluntari moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Spartak Pleven. Defending Norwegian champion Fyllingen keeps the seventeenth position with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Fyllingen: K.Dixon 21+5reb, D.Davis 21+2reb+7ast, T.Barnies 20+10reb+2ast, K.Ledoux 17+1reb+2ast, L.Nilsen 12+2reb+2ast, P.Canadell 2+3ast
Voluntari: S.Lewis 21+14reb+3ast, R.Damion 20+4ast, J.Kodi 19+2reb+6ast, D.Ibrahim 17+8reb+2ast, A.Marcus 11+6reb+5ast, O.Alexandru 7+4reb+5ast

Zrinjski HT - Anwil 78-84:
Bottom-ranked Bosnian Zrinjski HT is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fourth consecutive match to fifteenth ranked Polish Anwil (2-1) 84-78. Zrinjski HT was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for American guard Sam Hines Jr (198-2002, college: SE Louisiana) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points and 7 rebounds. U.S. Virgin Islands guard Deon Edwin (192-1992, college: Kent St.) helped adding 14 points and 8 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Trevante Anderson (185-2000, college: UIC) responded with 30 points, 7 assists and 4 steals and Serbian forward Matija Milivojevic (203-2001, college: Harding, agency: Octagon Europe) scored 13 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Anwil moved-up to third place, which they share with Kapfenberg. Zrinjski HT at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Pully. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Zrinjski HT: T.Anderson 30+1reb+7ast, B.Mikavica 14+3reb+2ast, M.Milivojevic 13+9reb+1ast, V.Aleksandar 8+1reb+1ast, M.Protrka 4+3reb, M.Tomasevic 4+7reb
Anwil: H.Sam 29+7reb+2ast, E.Deon 14+8reb+2ast, L.Emmanuel 11+2reb+5ast, W.Szymon 9+7reb, V.Hans 6+3reb, B.Adam 5+1ast