1st Division A Round 9 (Regular Season): Kipina edge HNMKY by three points

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 9 in the 1st Division A took place in Helsinki. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of 7th ranked HNMKY (4-4) to fifth ranked Kipina (6-2) 91-88 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of HNMKY. Kipina made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Jake Hilmer (180-2000, college: Upper Iowa) who scored 30 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. His fellow American import guard Joe Cookson (198, college: Pomona-Pitzer) chipped in 20 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was who recorded 19 points and 7 assists. HNMKY's coach Tuomas Oja tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Kipina moved-up to fourth place. HNMKY at the other side keeps the seventh position with four games lost. Kipina are looking forward to face league's leader ACO Basket in Oulun in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. HNMKY will play on the road against LrNMKY (#10) in Lappeenranta and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Leader ACO Basket delivered the eighth victory. This time they crushed 5th ranked RaPy (6-3) 102-78 in Oulun. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of RaPy. It was a good game for American forward Kyle Johnson (203-2000, college: Delaware St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists. Viljami Valkama contributed with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American point guard Jake Hilmer (180-2000, college: Upper Iowa) answered with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds for RaPy. RaPy's coach Jorgo Dakaj gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. ACO Basket maintains first place with 8-1 record. RaPy at the other side keeps the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with ToPo. ACO Basket will play against Kipina (#4) in Aanekoski in the next round. RaPy's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tampere Pyrinto Ak.A.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Tampere. Local Pyrinto Ak.A (2-7) was outscored by third ranked Karkkila (7-2) 109-79 on Thursday night. Joey Holifield stepped up with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field) for the winners. The best for the losing side was Eetu Honkaniemi with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 7 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. Karkkila moved-up to second place, which they share with JBA. Pyrinto Ak.A lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with seven games lost. They share it with LrNMKY. Karkkila will meet ToPo (#6) in the next round. Pyrinto Ak.A's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Tampere to the arena RaPy.

Other games of round 9 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
LrNMKY crushed Huima in Lappeenranta 100-77. JBA beat HBA-Marsky at home 95-80. Bottom-ranked Raiders Basket was destroyed by ToPo on the opponent's court 95-75.



Pyrinto Ak.A - Karkkila 79-109

The game with biggest result difference took place in Tampere. Local Pyrinto Ak.A (2-7) was outscored by third ranked Karkkila (7-2) 109-79 on Thursday night. Karkkila dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Pyrinto Ak.A's 32. Karkkila shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 53.8 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American guard Joey Holifield (191, college: Lourdes) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field) for the winners and Woeyram Bani chipped in 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. The best for the losing side was American forward Kyle Johnson (203-2000, college: Delaware St.) with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and Ville-Pekka Eskelinen scored 15 points. Five Karkkila and four Pyrinto Ak.A players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Karkkila moved-up to second place, which they share with JBA. Pyrinto Ak.A lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with seven games lost. They share it with LrNMKY. Karkkila will meet ToPo (#6) in the next round. Pyrinto Ak.A's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Tampere to the arena RaPy.
Top scorers:
Karkkila: H.Joey 31+10reb+5ast, M.Hyytiainen 19+6reb+1ast, N.Kivimaki 18+1reb+3ast, W.Bani 12+9reb+6ast, P.Poutiainen 12+3reb, M.Nyman 8+1reb+3ast
Pyrinto Ak.A: M.Aaron 17+4reb, E.Ville-Pekka 15+4reb+3ast, M.Kalle 12+4reb+2ast, H.Eetu 11+6reb+7ast, A.Aarre 8+4reb, R.Otto 6+4reb

Huima - LrNMKY 77-100

Everything could happen in Aanekoski at the game between two tied teams. Both eleventh ranked LrNMKY and 10th ranked Huima had identical 1-7 record. But Huima was not able to use a home court advantage and was crushed by the opponent from Lappeenranta 100-77 on Friday night. LrNMKY dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Huima's 42. LrNMKY forced 19 Huima turnovers and outrebounded them 38-26 including 29 on the defensive glass. LrNMKY looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. Darryl Jordan stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and Valtteri Heiskanen chipped in 30 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists (perfect from the field making all thirteen shots !!!). The best for the losing side was American forward Malachi Rhodes (203-2001, college: AUM) with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and Atte Metsala scored 12 points and 6 steals. 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. LrNMKY (2-7) moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Pyrinto Ak.A. Huima lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the eleventh position with eight games lost. They share it with Raiders Basket. LrNMKY will meet at home higher ranked HNMKY (#7) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Huima will play against HBA-Marsky (#8) in Helsinki and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
LrNMKY: V.Heiskanen 30+7reb+4ast, D.Jordan 25+13reb+3ast, N.Tammi 15+2reb+3ast, N.Ahola 7+3reb+1ast, D.Farin 6+2ast, A.Vanhainen 5
Huima: M.Rhodes 25+10reb+5ast, M.Atte 12+2reb+3ast, K.Aristote 10+5reb, N.Onni 9+2ast, J.Veeti 7+4ast, F.Julius 7+4reb+1ast

ACO Basket - RaPy 102-78

Leader ACO Basket delivered the eighth victory. This time they crushed 5th ranked RaPy (6-3) 102-78 in Oulun. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of RaPy. ACO Basket made 18-of-22 charity shots (81.8 percent) during the game. They outrebounded RaPy 44-26 including a 30-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. ACO Basket players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. It was a good game for American forward Kyle Johnson (203-2000, college: Delaware St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists. Viljami Valkama contributed with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Five ACO Basket players scored in double figures. American point guard Jake Hilmer (180-2000, college: Upper Iowa) answered with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds and his fellow the other American import import guard Joe Cookson (198, college: Pomona-Pitzer) added 19 points in the effort for RaPy. RaPy's coach Jorgo Dakaj gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. ACO Basket maintains first place with 8-1 record. RaPy at the other side keeps the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with ToPo. ACO Basket will play against Kipina (#4) in Aanekoski in the next round. RaPy's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tampere Pyrinto Ak.A.
Top scorers:
ACO Basket: V.Valkama 21+7reb+4ast, J.Kyle 19+19reb+6ast, H.Tyler 17+6reb+3ast, S.De 12+2reb+1ast, H.Boyd 11+2reb+5ast, J.Rainto 8+2reb+2ast
RaPy: P.Panu 22+10reb+2ast, M.Samppa 19+4reb+3ast, N.Veikko 18+2reb+1ast, M.Angel 7+1reb+1ast, K.Miro 6+2reb+5ast, H.Manu 4+2reb

JBA - HBA-Marsky 95-80

No shocking result in a game in Jyvaskyla where third ranked JBA (7-2) defeated 8th ranked HBA-Marsky (3-6) 95-80 on Friday. JBA forced 23 HBA-Marsky turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Santeri Manninen stepped up and scored 20 points and 4 assists for the winners and Leon Ounap chipped in 20 points and 4 steals. Five JBA players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Jonas Kaivos with 16 points and 5 assists and Valtter Varila scored 15 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. JBA have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Karkkila. Loser HBA-Marsky keeps the eighth position with six games lost. JBA will meet bottom-ranked Raiders Basket (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. HBA-Marsky will play against Huima (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
JBA: S.Manninen 20+3reb+4ast, L.Ounap 20+3reb+3ast, T.Rautiainen 13+5reb, M.Koskela 12+4reb+3ast, E.Sarkka 12+4reb+2ast, V.Valtonen 8+3reb+1ast
HBA-Marsky: K.Jonas 16+2reb+5ast, V.Valtter 15+2reb+1ast, P.Benjamin 11+1reb, H.Matias 10+6reb, P.Aarne 8+2reb, K.Eelis 7+6reb+4ast

ToPo - Raiders Basket 95-75

Very expected game in Helsinki where 12th ranked Raiders Basket (1-8) was rolled over by sixth ranked ToPo (6-3) 95-75 on Friday. ToPo outrebounded Raiders Basket 49-29 including a 38-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. ToPo looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Eldar Skamo stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and Alvar Michelsen chipped in 10 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was American forward Shawn Montague (199, college: SNHU) with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Otso Hayrinen scored 13 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. ToPo have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with RaPy. Raiders Basket lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. They share it with Huima. ToPo will meet at home league's second-placed Karkkila in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Raiders Basket will play against JBA (#3) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
ToPo: E.Skamo 22+14reb+6ast, R.Avist 15+1reb+3ast, M.Rautasalo 12+3reb+5ast, A.Michelsen 10+16reb+4ast, A.Sufuentes 8+6reb+2ast, V.Likombo 8+3reb+1ast
Raiders Basket: S.Montague 16+7reb+5ast, H.Otso 13+2reb+2ast, R.Oliver 10+3reb+2ast, T.Sami 10+3reb+1ast, A.Aleksanteri 6+3reb+3ast, S.Lauri 6+2reb

HNMKY - Kipina 88-91

The most exciting game of round 9 in the 1st Division A took place in Helsinki. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of 7th ranked HNMKY (4-4) to fifth ranked Kipina (6-2) 91-88 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of HNMKY. Kipina made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Jake Hilmer (180-2000, college: Upper Iowa) who scored 30 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. His fellow American import guard Joe Cookson (198, college: Pomona-Pitzer) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was who recorded 19 points and 7 assists and added 15 points and 12 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. HNMKY's coach Tuomas Oja tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Kipina moved-up to fourth place. HNMKY at the other side keeps the seventh position with four games lost. Kipina are looking forward to face league's leader ACO Basket in Oulun in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. HNMKY will play on the road against LrNMKY (#10) in Lappeenranta and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Kipina: H.Jake 30+8reb+9ast, C.Joe 20+14reb+5ast, E.Laaksonen 15+2reb+2ast, S.Mantymaa 15+4reb, S.Salmenkivi 6+7reb+1ast, N.Karkkainen 5+7reb+6ast
HNMKY: P.Olli 19+2reb+7ast, V.Roni 15+12reb, H.Lenni 11+2reb+5ast, K.Nikolas 10+3reb+4ast, S.Eetu 8+1reb, H.Ami 8+3reb