Korisliiga Round 6 (Second Stage): #1 Vilpas are defeated by Korihait

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Vilpas (20-8) in Salo on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Korihait (16-12) 90-75. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Vilpas. Korihait made 16-of-16 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. American forward Frank Champion (201-2002, college: Chattanooga) scored 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international guard Ville Tahvanainen (193-2000, college: Bradley) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Jalen Brooks (196-1999, college: LSUS, agency: Players Group) with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Korihait maintains fourth position with 16-12 record, which they share with KTP-Basket. Vilpas at the other side still keeps top place with eight games lost. Korihait is looking forward to face Seagulls (#6) in Helsinki in the next round. Vilpas will play at home against the league's second-placed Karhubasket (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Honka (17-11) against sixth ranked Seagulls (14-14) on Friday night. Host Honka was defeated by Seagulls in a tough game in Espoo 98-107. American power forward Jalen Henry (203-1996, college: SIUE) notched 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and Rene Rougeau supported him with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. Even 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) by forward Alvar Peltoniemi (197-2001, college: Fresno Pacific) did not help to save the game for Honka. Honka's coach Aapo Heinonen rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains sixth position with 14-14 record. Honka at the other side keeps the third place with 11 games lost. Seagulls will play against higher ranked Korihait (#4) in Uusikaupunki in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Honka will play on the road against KTP-Basket in Kotka and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Karhubasket (19-9) against fifth ranked KTP-Basket (16-12) on Saturday night. Host Karhubasket was crushed by KTP-Basket in Kauhajoki 86-61. The best player for the winners was Jayden Taylor who scored 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Ike Nweke who recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Karhubasket's coach Janne Koskimies gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. KTP-Basket moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Korihait. Loser Karhubasket keeps the second position with nine games lost. KTP-Basket will meet at home higher ranked Honka (#3) in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Karhubasket will play against the league's leader Vilpas in Salo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 6: Bisons was destroyed by Pyrinto on the opponent's court 98-79. Kataja outscored Kobrat in a home game 103-73. Kouvot managed to beat Lahti on the road 96-80.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists by Wesley Cardet Jr of Kouvot.



Honka - Seagulls 98-107

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Honka (17-11) against sixth ranked Seagulls (14-14) on Friday night. Host Honka was defeated by Seagulls in a tough game in Espoo 98-107. Seagulls made 26-of-30 charity shots (86.7 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Honka was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. American power forward Jalen Henry (203-1996, college: SIUE) notched 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and the other American import center Rene Rougeau (198-1986, college: UNLV) supported him with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. Even 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) by forward Alvar Peltoniemi (197-2001, college: Fresno Pacific) did not help to save the game for Honka. American guard AJ Ferguson (201-2003, college: Murray St.) added 17 points and 8 rebounds. Five Seagulls and four Honka players scored in double figures. Honka's coach Aapo Heinonen rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains sixth position with 14-14 record. Honka at the other side keeps the third place with 11 games lost. Seagulls will play against higher ranked Korihait (#4) in Uusikaupunki in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Honka will play on the road against KTP-Basket in Kotka and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Honka: P.Alvar 21+8reb+4ast, I.Kelly 18+6reb+3ast, A.Ferguson 17+8reb+2ast, T.Donald 17+6reb+4ast, K.Riku 9+2reb+2ast, D.Gonzalvez 5+4ast
Seagulls: N.Trey 25+5reb+1ast, H.Jalen 21+8reb+4ast, K.Christian 15+1reb+5ast, R.Rene 14+10reb+9ast, W.Ricky 11+4reb, C.Chrysostom 10+9reb+3ast

Vilpas - Korihait 75-90

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Vilpas (20-8) in Salo on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Korihait (16-12) 90-75. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Vilpas. Korihait made 16-of-16 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. American forward Frank Champion (201-2002, college: Chattanooga) scored 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international guard Ville Tahvanainen (193-2000, college: Bradley) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Jalen Brooks (196-1999, college: LSUS, agency: Players Group) with 17 points and 5 rebounds and international guard Samu Adler (198-2007) scored 16 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Korihait maintains fourth position with 16-12 record, which they share with KTP-Basket. Vilpas at the other side still keeps top place with eight games lost. Korihait is looking forward to face Seagulls (#6) in Helsinki in the next round. Vilpas will play at home against the league's second-placed Karhubasket (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Vilpas: J.Brooks 17+5reb+2ast, S.Adler 16+2reb+6ast, J.Forrest 14+3reb+2ast, A.Almonor 13+2reb+2ast, Z.Onyema 9+7reb+2ast, L.Vaara 4+1reb+2ast
Korihait: T.Ville 18+4reb+4ast, C.Frank 18+9reb+5ast, J.Jalen 15+3reb+5ast, A.Mikael 12+6reb+1ast, H.Jamir 9+1ast, S.Bojan 8+2reb+3ast

Pyrinto - Bisons 98-79

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 10th ranked Bisons' (12-16) road loss to ninth ranked Pyrinto (13-14) 79-98 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was the former international Topias Palmi (196-1994) who scored 24 points. Forward Riku Laine (197-1997) chipped in 16 points. Four Pyrinto players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American center Dean Keeler (211-2001, college: UC Irvine, agency: One Motive Sports) who recorded 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and his fellow American import point guard Jalin Anderson (190-2002, college: UIW, agency: MSG) added 17 points and 4 assists respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Pyrinto have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to eighth place. Bisons lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with 16 games lost. Pyrinto will meet bottom-ranked Kobrat (#12) in the next round. Bisons will play against Kouvot in Kouvola and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bisons: D.Keeler 17+7reb+5ast, J.Anderson 17+4reb+4ast, T.Kokko 13+4reb+2ast, R.Hall III 10+1reb+1ast, T.Pihlajamaki 8+2reb+2ast, V.Heinonen 7+4reb+2ast
Pyrinto: P.Topias 24+2ast, R.Laine 16+4reb+2ast, B.Jared 11+7reb+3ast, R.Beon 11+3reb+3ast, W.Kaleb 10+2reb, E.Muhonen 9+7reb+1ast

Karhubasket - KTP-Basket 61-86

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Karhubasket (19-9) against fifth ranked KTP-Basket (16-12) on Saturday night. Host Karhubasket was crushed by KTP-Basket in Kauhajoki 86-61. KTP-Basket outrebounded Karhubasket 53-29 including a 19-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American guard Jayden Taylor (193-2003, college: NC State) who scored 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international forward Remu Raitanen (206-1997, college: USF) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points and 17 rebounds. Four KTP-Basket players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Nigerian power forward Ike Nweke (201-2000, college: Quinnipiac) who recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and American guard Ty Berry (190-2001, college: Northwestern) added 10 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Karhubasket's coach Janne Koskimies gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. KTP-Basket moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Korihait. Loser Karhubasket keeps the second position with nine games lost. KTP-Basket will meet at home higher ranked Honka (#3) in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Karhubasket will play against the league's leader Vilpas in Salo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Karhubasket: I.Nweke 13+7reb+5ast, T.Berry 10+5reb+1ast, S.Flatten 7+1reb+1ast, E.Luukkonen 6+1reb+1ast, S.Juuso 6+4reb+2ast, L.Aamos 5+1reb
KTP-Basket: T.Jayden 24+7reb+5ast, P.Hannes 22+10reb+2ast, R.Remu 16+17reb+3ast, S.Koen 11+3reb+2ast, C.Aaron 6+9reb, G.Jesper 5+6reb

Kataja - Kobrat 103-73

Very predictable result in Joensuu where seventh ranked Kataja (14-14) smashed bottom-ranked Kobrat (5-23) 103-73 on Sunday. Kataja looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Kobrat's players. The best player for the winners was American guard DeVion Harmon (188-2001, college: Texas Tech) who scored 28 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The other American import forward Jermaine Marshall (198-2000, college: Samford) chipped in 5 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. Kataja's coach Petri Virtanen felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Cameroonian forward Tamenang Choh (196-1998, college: Brown, agency: Helping Ballers) who recorded 32 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and American forward Bobby Planutis (203-1997, college: PFW, agency: One Motive Sports) added 16 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Kataja moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Seagulls. Loser Kobrat stay dead last with 23 lost games. Kataja will meet Pyrinto (#8) in the next round. Kobrat will play against Pyrinto (#8) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kobrat: T.Choh 32+8reb+4ast, B.Planutis 16+5reb, T.Jussi 8+1reb+1ast, S.Simeon 7+2reb+6ast, M.Miikka 5+5reb, L.Juho-Matti 3+4reb
Kataja: H.De'Vion 28+7reb+4ast, P.Henri 15+1reb, H.Rahlir 12+6reb+1ast, T.Thomas 11+3reb+1ast, K.Antti 11+1reb, K.Henri 8+2reb+5ast

Lahti - Kouvot 80-96

There was a minor upset when 9th ranked Lahti (13-16) was defeated at home by eleventh ranked Kouvot (9-19) 96-80 on Sunday. Kouvot forced 20 Lahti turnovers. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was guard Brandon Stroud (198-2002, college: S.Florida) who had a double-double by scoring 22 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Guard Wesley Cardet Jr (198, college: Providence) chipped in 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Stroud is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Kouvot players scored in double figures. Kouvot's coach Tom Cooman used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Lue Williams (196-2001, college: Tarleton St.) who recorded 26 points and 5 rebounds and guard Sebastian Thomas (185, college: URI) added 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Kouvot maintains eleventh position with 9-19 record. Newly promoted Lahti keeps the ninth place with 16 games lost. Kouvot will meet at home higher ranked Bisons (#10) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Lahti will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Lahti: L.Williams 26+5reb+1ast, S.Thomas 19+7reb+4ast, M.Brooks 14+11reb+3ast, J.James 7+5reb+1ast, K.Topias 6+2reb+2ast, V.Nyman 6+8reb+3ast
Kouvot: C.Wesley 24+6reb+5ast, S.Brandon 22+11reb+8ast, B.Devontae 16+9reb, J.Heinonen 14+7reb+3ast, K.Aarni 11+4reb+3ast, R.Tobias 8+3reb+1ast