Round 14 (Regular Season): BK Ogre edge Tartu by two points

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 14 in the Lat-Est BL took place in Tartu. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 4th ranked Estonian Tartu (8-4) to seventh ranked Latvian BK Ogre (7-6) 68-66 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Tartu. The best player for the winners was American guard Myles Rasnick (185-1999, college: Maryville, TN, agency: Worldwide SM) who scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. Latvian Kristaps Dargais (198-1990) chipped in 7 points and 15 rebounds. BK Ogre's coach used entire bench in such tough game. Egyptian power forward Omar El-Sheikh (203-1998, college: Arkansas St.) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds for the hosts. BK Ogre moved-up to sixth place. Tartu at the other side keeps the fourth position with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
One of the most interesting games of round 14 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Ninth ranked Rapla edged host Parnu (3-6) 80-78. American forward Jalyn McCreary (203-2000, college: Mercer) orchestrated the victory by scoring 24 points and 9 rebounds. Hendrik Eelmae contributed with 17 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Rapla's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Nigerian forward Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (203-1999, college: Rider) replied with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for Parnu. Rapla (6-5) moved-up to seventh place. Parnu lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with six games lost. Rapla will play against league's second-placed Rigas Z. on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Parnu will play against TalTech (#8) in Tallinn and hopes to get back on the winning track.
One of the most interesting games of round 14 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Fourth ranked Tartu won against visiting Keila KK (0-10) 89-85. Omar El-Sheikh had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Tartu's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Egert Haller responded with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Tartu (8-4) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position. Loser Keila KK still closes the standings with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

Rest of the games of round 14 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
TalTech was crushed by Valmiera Glass in a road game 78-48. VEF Riga beat LU at home 85-67. Liepaja was destroyed by Ventspils on the opponent's court 101-81.
The best stats of 14th round was 27 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists by Arturs Ausejs of Ventspils.



Parnu - Rapla 78-80

One of the most interesting games of round 14 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Ninth ranked Rapla edged host Parnu (3-6) 80-78. American forward Jalyn McCreary (203-2000, college: Mercer) orchestrated the victory by scoring 24 points and 9 rebounds. Hendrik Eelmae (199-2000) contributed with 17 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Rapla's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Nigerian forward Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (203-1999, college: Rider) replied with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds and American point guard Christian Bradford (185-1995, college: Radford) added 17 points and 6 assists in the effort for Parnu. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Rapla (6-5) moved-up to seventh place. Parnu lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with six games lost. Rapla will play against league's second-placed Rigas Z. on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Parnu will play against TalTech (#8) in Tallinn and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rapla: J.McCreary 24+9reb+1ast, H.Eelmae 17+9reb+2ast, T.Niits 13+9reb+5ast, E.Krumins 10+2reb+4ast, I.Kajupank 5, M.Ruubel 4+1reb
Parnu: A.Ogemuno-Johnson 20+14reb, C.Bradford 17+2reb+6ast, I.Tamm 12+4reb+1ast, O.Jarvi 11+6reb+4ast, O.Suurorg 5+1ast, S.Aav 5+1ast

Tartu - Keila KK 89-85

One of the most interesting games of round 14 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Fourth ranked Tartu won against visiting Keila KK (0-10) 89-85. Tartu made 25-of-30 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. Tartu outrebounded Keila KK 50-27 including a 23-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Egyptian power forward Omar El-Sheikh (203-1998, college: Arkansas St.) had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and guard Martin Paasoja (191-1993, agency: Helping Ballers) chipped in 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals during the contest. Tartu's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Egert Haller (193-1995) responded with 20 points and 5 rebounds and Estonian Sven Kaldre (197-1991) scored 20 points and 4 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Tartu (8-4) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position. Loser Keila KK still closes the standings with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Tartu: O.El-Sheikh 17+11reb+1ast, R.Veideman 14+3reb, M.Paasoja 13+7reb+5ast, J.Henry 13+7reb+3ast, K.Lips 12+7reb+1ast, J.Harris 10+3reb+1ast
Keila KK: S.Kaldre 20+2reb+4ast, E.Haller 20+5reb+2ast, P.Peemot 16+4reb+5ast, V.Shymanskyi 13+6reb+3ast, O.Iyekekpolor 10+6reb+1ast, R.Sats 6+1ast

Valmiera Glass - TalTech 78-48

There was no surprise when 7th ranked Estonian TalTech (6-7) was crushed on the road by third ranked Latvian Valmiera Glass (9-4) 78-48 on Tuesday. Valmiera Glass dominated down low during the game scoring 46 of its points in the paint compared to TalTech's 24 and made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded TalTech 44-25 including a 31-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. American Kahliel Spear (200-2000, college: RMU) had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Ukrainian Rostyslav Novitskyi (204-2000, college: Fordham) chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Four Valmiera Glass players scored in double figures. Taavi Jurkatamm (204-1997, college: USF) responded with 14 points and 7 rebounds and Patrik Saal (206-2000) scored 14 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. Valmiera Glass maintains third position with 9-4 record having just three points less than leader VEF Riga. TalTech lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the eighth place with seven games lost. Valmiera Glass will meet at home Kalev/Cramo (#5) in the next round. TalTech will play against Parnu and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Valmiera Glass: K.Spear 13+12reb+2ast, R.Novitskyi 12+10reb, V.Kohs 11+4reb+1ast, J.Wilson 11+1reb, K.Karlsons 10+2reb+2ast, D.Smith 7+5reb+5ast
TalTech: P.Saal 14+2reb, T.Jurkatamm 14+7reb, C.Jurgens 10+3reb+2ast, A.Tassa 3+2reb+1ast, S.Post 3+2reb+4ast, O.Metsalu 2+7reb+2ast

VEF Riga - LU 85-67

No shocking result in a game when first ranked VEF Riga (12-1) defeated at home 14th ranked LU (1-12) 85-67 on Tuesday. Ukrainian point guard Illya Sydorov (186-1996, agency: Octagon Europe) had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the charge for the winners and center Peteris Pinnis (214-2004) chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Four VEF Riga players scored in double figures. Rihards Aleksandrovs (201-2002) responded with 14 points and 9 rebounds and Elvijs Fridenbergs (191-2005) scored 11 points and 4 steals. LU's coach rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. VEF Riga have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending Latvian champion maintains first position with 12-1 record. Loser LU keeps the fourteenth place with 12 games lost. VEF Riga will meet at home Keila C. (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. LU will play against Viimsi (#13) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
VEF Riga: H.Cleary 18+1ast, V.Bobrov 15+3reb+1ast, P.Pinnis 14+10reb+1ast, I.Sydorov 14+7reb+11ast, J.Lawrence 8+4reb+1ast, I.Sanon 7+1reb+3ast
LU: R.Aleksandrovs 14+9reb, E.Fridenbergs 11+4reb+1ast, E.Lucis 10+1reb+1ast, A.Bikovs 9+2reb, D.Smirnovs 8+2reb, E.Egle 5+2reb+1ast

Tartu - BK Ogre 66-68

The most exciting game of round 14 in the Lat-Est BL took place in Tartu. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 4th ranked Estonian Tartu (8-4) to seventh ranked Latvian BK Ogre (7-6) 68-66 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Tartu. The best player for the winners was American guard Myles Rasnick (185-1999, college: Maryville, TN, agency: Worldwide SM) who scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. Latvian Kristaps Dargais (198-1990) chipped in 7 points and 15 rebounds. BK Ogre's coach used entire bench in such tough game. Egyptian power forward Omar El-Sheikh (203-1998, college: Arkansas St.) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 11 rebounds and Canadian guard Mason Bourcier (190-1999, college: TWU) added 18 points and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. Four Tartu players scored in double figures. BK Ogre moved-up to sixth place. Tartu at the other side keeps the fourth position with four games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
BK Ogre: M.Rasnick 23+6reb+3ast, K.Zunda 13+2reb+4ast, R.Zebergs 9+1reb+1ast, K.Dargais 7+15reb+2ast, R.Avotins 5+8reb+1ast, A.Shundel 3+1reb+1ast
Tartu: M.Bourcier 18+1reb+4ast, K.Lips 15+4reb+1ast, J.Henry 11+3reb+4ast, O.El-Sheikh 10+11reb+2ast, R.Nurger 6+5reb+1ast, M.Paasoja 6+8reb+4ast

Ventspils - Liepaja 101-81

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 10th ranked Liepaja (5-7) was rolled over on the road by eleventh ranked Ventspils (5-7) 101-81 on Friday. Ventspils made 29-of-38 free shots (76.3 percent) during the game. Arturs Ausejs (192-1990) scored 27 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American guard MJ Randolph (193-1999, college: FAMU) chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. Randolph is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Point guard Edgars Lasenbergs (187-1995) responded with 19 points and 8 assists and Kristaps Kilps (195-2001) scored 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Ventspils and four Liepaja players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Ventspils moved-up to tenth place, which they share with defeated Liepaja. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Ventspils: A.Ausejs 27+7reb+8ast, R.Berze 15+3reb+2ast, R.Zakis 14+7reb+2ast, M.Randolph 14+6reb+6ast, Z.Watson 13+1reb, E.Mezulis 6+1reb
Liepaja: E.Lasenbergs 19+2reb+8ast, K.Kilps 17+5reb+4ast, K.Dubults 14+9reb+2ast, K.Miglinieks 13+2reb, R.Freimanis 8+5reb, R.Macoha 8+3reb+2ast