1st Division A Round 23 (Regular Season): Honka keep a leadership position

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Honka as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Honka defeated 3rd placed ToPo Juniorit in Espoo 90-73. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of ToPo Juniorit. The hosts trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 51-32 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Honka dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to ToPo Juniorit's 20 and made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Honka forced 23 ToPo Juniorit turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by ToPo Juniorit helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for the former international Tuukka Kotti (205-1981, college: Providence) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international Carl Lindbom (206-1991, agency: BIG) helped adding 18 points and 5 rebounds. Forward Alvar Michelsen (197-2000) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Honka (19-2) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with JBA. ToPo Juniorit at the other side keeps the third place with five games lost.
1st Division A top team - JBA (19-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they beat sixth ranked Raiders Basket (10-11) in Jyvaskyla 91-73. It was a quality performance for forward Eino Pallijeff (198-2004) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds. Elias Sarkka accounted for 15 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals. JBA's coach Mikko Tupamaki used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Forward Rasmus Jaatinen (198) came up with 24 points for Raiders Basket in the defeat. The victory was the fifteenth consecutive win for JBA. They maintain first place with 19-2 record, which they share with Honka. Raiders Basket at the other side keeps the sixth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Huima.
Eleventh ranked HBA-Marsky (5-16) crushed at home 12th ranked TuNMKY (2-19) by 45 points 103-58, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. The best player for the winners was Emil Hirvonen who scored 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). HBA-Marsky's coach Antti Koskelainen felt very confident that he used 10 players saving starting five for next games. Verneri Virtanen produced 13 points for the guests. HBA-Marsky maintains eleventh place with 5-16 record. TuNMKY lost their ninth game in a row. They stay dead last with 19 lost games.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 23: Huima lost to RaPy on the opponent's court 91-108. Kipina managed to outperform Pyrinto Ak.A in a home game 108-99. Oulun Bball recorded a loss to HNMKY on the road 81-68.



RaPy - Huima 108-91

Rather expected game in Tampere where 7th ranked Huima (10-11) was defeated by fifth ranked RaPy (12-9) 108-91 on Sunday. The game was mostly controlled by RaPy. Huima managed to win fourth quarter 29-25. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. RaPy shot 61.2 percent from the field. RaPy outrebounded Huima 34-21 including a 26-11 advantage in defensive rebounds. RaPy looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Bulgarian guard Angel Mavrodiev (183-1991) who scored 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Forward Otso Knuutinen (202-2001) chipped in 21 points (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). Four RaPy players scored in double figures. American guard Duoth Gach (196, college: VCSU) produced 30 points and 5 steals and the other American import forward Isaiah Lewis (201-2001, college: NC-Wesleyan, agency: Blacktop Management) added 18 points and 7 rebounds respectively for the guests. Huima's coach Tommi Koskinen rotated ten players seeing no chance for a win. Newly promoted RaPy maintains fifth place with 12-9 record. Loser Huima dropped to the sixth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Raiders Basket.
Top scorers:
RaPy: A.Mavrodiev 25+8reb+5ast, H.Jussi 21+2reb+1ast, K.Otso 21+3reb+1ast, T.Savino 14+2reb+4ast, I.Severi 12+4reb+3ast, J.Niemi 6+2reb+3ast
Huima: D.Gach 30+2reb, C.Lott 18+3reb+4ast, I.Lewis 18+7reb, J.Lasarov 6+2reb+1ast, K.Hakkinen 5+1reb, G.Sokolov 5+2reb+2ast

Kipina - Pyrinto Ak.A 108-99

Rather predictable result in Aanekoski where fourth ranked Kipina (14-7) defeated 8th ranked Pyrinto Ak.A (7-14) 108-99 on Sunday. Pyrinto Ak.A trailed by 12 points at halftime and as many as 16 after three quarters before a 24-17 last quarter charge cut the deficit to 99-108 at the end of the game. Kipina shot the lights out from three sinking 19 long-distance shots on high 51.4 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward James Rojas (201-1999, college: Wichita St.) who had a double-double by scoring 26 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists. His fellow American import guard Mardrez McBride (188, college: Georgia) chipped in 25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Kipina's coach Joni Hautsalo used an eleven-player rotation saving starting five for next games. Forward Roni Ahvenjarvi (197) produced 31 points and 4 assists and guard Kion Williams (187-2003) added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists respectively for the guests. Four Kipina and five Pyrinto Ak.A players scored in double figures. Kipina maintains fourth place with 14-7 record. Loser Pyrinto Ak.A keeps the eighth position with 14 games lost.
Top scorers:
Kipina: J.Rojas 26+17reb+5ast, M.McBride 25+7reb+6ast, V.Ville 23+4reb+3ast, B.College 15+3reb+8ast, E.Laaksonen 8+1reb, J.Lauri 6+4reb+2ast
Pyrinto Ak.A: A.Roni 31+4reb+4ast, K.Pyry 19+5reb+2ast, T.Heikkila 18+8reb+2ast, W.Kion 12+7reb+13ast, P.Arttu 10+4reb+1ast, N.Aapeli 9+4reb

HBA-Marsky - TuNMKY 103-58

Eleventh ranked HBA-Marsky (5-16) crushed at home 12th ranked TuNMKY (2-19) by 45 points 103-58, which is the biggest margin this round on Sunday night. The game without a history. HBA-Marsky led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 86 of its points in the paint compared to TuNMKY's 30. HBA-Marsky forced 21 TuNMKY turnovers and outrebounded them 54-22 including a 21-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was center Emil Hirvonen (206-2005) who scored 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). Center Kalle Kuhalampi (199-2006) chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. Five HBA-Marsky players scored in double figures. HBA-Marsky's coach Antti Koskelainen felt very confident that he used 10 players saving starting five for next games. Polish guard Verneri Virtanen (188-2007) produced 13 points and swingman Wille Nordell (197) added 9 points respectively for the guests. HBA-Marsky maintains eleventh place with 5-16 record. TuNMKY lost their ninth game in a row. They stay dead last with 19 lost games.
Top scorers:
HBA-Marsky: H.Emil 18+9reb+2ast, K.Kalle 18+8reb+2ast, T.Jelani 13+3reb+1ast, S.Olavi 12+7reb, A.Julius 12+7reb+1ast, A.Samu 10+7reb+4ast
TuNMKY: V.Verneri 13+2reb+1ast, J.Saku 9+2reb, N.Wille 9+4reb+2ast, J.Airenne 8+2reb+2ast, S.Matias 7+3reb+4ast, V.Franz 6+4reb+1ast

HNMKY - Oulun Bball 81-68

There was a minor upset in Helsinki where their close opponent Oulun Bball (6-15) was defeated by ninth ranked HNMKY (6-15) 81-68 on Sunday. Oulun Bball was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. HNMKY forced 24 Oulun Bball turnovers and had a 20-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. HNMKY looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Oulun Bball's players. The best player for the winners was forward Elias Leskinen (199) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Point guard Lenni Hervola (179-2003) chipped in 14 points, 6 assists and 5 steals. HNMKY's coach Tuomas Oja used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to get some rest. American forward Jeameril Wilson (203, college: Loyola, IL) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import forward Justin Brown (208-1998, college: Dominican, CA) added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the guests. HNMKY maintains ninth place with 6-15 record, which they share with defeated Oulun Bball. Oulun Bball lost their third game in a row.
Top scorers:
HNMKY: E.Leskinen 16+12reb+4ast, H.Lenni 14+1reb+6ast, E.Leo 13+2ast, K.Arttu 9+3reb+3ast, H.Tuukka 9+4reb+4ast, V.Roni 8+10reb
Oulun Bball: J.Wilson 19+10reb+3ast, V.Viljami 17+4reb+1ast, J.Brown 12+6reb+5ast, K.Miro 8+1reb+1ast, R.Johannes 7+7reb, J.Eskola 3+3reb+1ast

Honka - ToPo Juniorit 90-73

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Honka as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Honka defeated 3rd placed ToPo Juniorit in Espoo 90-73. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of ToPo Juniorit. The hosts trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 51-32 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Honka dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to ToPo Juniorit's 20 and made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Honka forced 23 ToPo Juniorit turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by ToPo Juniorit helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for the former international Tuukka Kotti (205-1981, college: Providence) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international Carl Lindbom (206-1991, agency: BIG) helped adding 18 points and 5 rebounds. Forward Alvar Michelsen (197-2000) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Eldar Skamo (198-1986) scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Five Honka and four ToPo Juniorit players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Honka (19-2) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with JBA. ToPo Juniorit at the other side keeps the third place with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Honka: C.Lindbom 18+5reb, T.Kotti 17+9reb+4ast, T.Iiro 12+4reb, D.Gonzalvez 12+3reb+5ast, E.Eerikinharju 10+2reb+3ast, H.Markus 7+1reb+1ast
ToPo Juniorit: A.Michelsen 18+11reb+5ast, E.Skamo 14+9reb+8ast, M.Laitinen 10+1reb, T.Halme 10+3reb+1ast, K.Kalle 7, M.Rautasalo 7+3reb+6ast

JBA - Raiders Basket 91-73

1st Division A top team - JBA (19-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they beat sixth ranked Raiders Basket (10-11) in Jyvaskyla 91-73. It looked good early as Raiders Basket took a 1-point small lead at the end of first quarter. But then JBA had a 23-13 second period charge getting the lead and Raiders Basket was not able to take back game control losing it eventually 73-91. JBA forced 27 Raiders Basket turnovers and had a 19-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. JBA players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. It was a quality performance for forward Eino Pallijeff (198-2004) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Elias Sarkka (188) accounted for 15 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals for the winning side. Four JBA players scored in double figures. JBA's coach Mikko Tupamaki used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Forward Rasmus Jaatinen (198) came up with 24 points and Kosovan guard Albatrit Syla (202-2003) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Raiders Basket in the defeat. The victory was the fifteenth consecutive win for JBA. They maintain first place with 19-2 record, which they share with Honka. Raiders Basket at the other side keeps the sixth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Huima.
Top scorers:
JBA: S.Abokar 24+2reb+2ast, P.Eino 19+11reb+1ast, S.Elias 15+9reb+6ast, N.Karkkainen 13+3reb+2ast, F.Roope 9+6reb+3ast, T.Flinck 6+4reb+6ast
Raiders Basket: J.Rasmus 24+1reb+2ast, S.Albatrit 12+9reb+2ast, R.Otto 10+3reb+4ast, H.Veeti 8+13reb, A.Ahola 7+7reb+5ast, V.Jimi 5+5reb+7ast