Round 20 (Regular Season): Tartu defeat Liepaja in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 20 in the Lat-Est BL took place in Tartu. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 7th ranked Latvian Liepaja (8-8) to fifth ranked Estonian Tartu (11-5) 81-80 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Liepaja. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Jalen Henry (203-1996, college: SIUE) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 rebounds and Egyptian power forward Omar El-Sheikh (203-1998, college: Arkansas St.) who added 13 points and 15 rebounds during the contest. point guard Edgars Lasenbergs (187-1995) responded with 21 points and 8 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Liepaja's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tartu maintains fifth position with 11-5 record. Liepaja at the other side keeps the seventh place with eight games lost. Tartu are looking forward to face TalTech (#10) in Tallinn in the next round where they are favorite. Liepaja will play on the road against Keila C. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
One of the most interesting games of round 20 was a derby match between two teams from Latvia. Second ranked VEF Riga outleveled host BK Ogre (10-7) 81-59. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of BK Ogre. The winners were led by American point guard Harrison Cleary (185-1997, college: UMC) who scored that evening 17 points and Jaquan Lawrence supported him with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Even 7 points and 10 rebounds by Latvian Kristaps Dargais (198-1990) did not help to save the game for BK Ogre. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending Latvian champion (15-2) keeps a position of league leader. BK Ogre at the other side keeps the sixth place with seven games lost. VEF Riga will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. BK Ogre will play at home against Keila KK (#15) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
One of the most interesting games of round 20 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Twelfth ranked Parnu won against host Viimsi (4-13) 80-70. The best player for the winners was Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Omar Pajic produced 20 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) for the hosts. Parnu (6-10) moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Ventspils. Loser Viimsi keeps the thirteenth position with 13 games lost. Parnu will meet higher ranked Keila C. (#8) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Viimsi will play against TalTech (#10) in Tallinn and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 20: Keila C. lost to LU on the opponent's court 69-71. Kalev/Cramo managed to outperform Rigas Z. in a home game 79-67. Ventspils recorded a loss to Valmiera Glass on the road 91-77.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 19 points and 11 rebounds by Rostyslav Novitskyi of Valmiera Glass.



Tartu - Liepaja 81-80

The most exciting game of round 20 in the Lat-Est BL took place in Tartu. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 7th ranked Latvian Liepaja (8-8) to fifth ranked Estonian Tartu (11-5) 81-80 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Liepaja. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Jalen Henry (203-1996, college: SIUE) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 rebounds and Egyptian power forward Omar El-Sheikh (203-1998, college: Arkansas St.) who added 13 points and 15 rebounds during the contest. Point guard Edgars Lasenbergs (187-1995) responded with 21 points and 8 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) and center Klavs Dubults (205-1996) scored 13 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Liepaja's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tartu maintains fifth position with 11-5 record. Liepaja at the other side keeps the seventh place with eight games lost. Tartu are looking forward to face TalTech (#10) in Tallinn in the next round where they are favorite. Liepaja will play on the road against Keila C. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tartu: M.Paasoja 22+1reb+2ast, J.Henry 19+13reb+1ast, J.Harris 15+1reb+4ast, O.El-Sheikh 13+15reb+1ast, R.Veideman 5+3reb+1ast, K.Lips 5+3reb+1ast
Liepaja: E.Lasenbergs 21+4reb+8ast, K.Dubults 13+7reb+2ast, R.Malmanis 12+7reb+3ast, R.Kuksiks 10+1reb+2ast, K.Kilps 8+2reb+2ast, R.Macoha 8+7reb

BK Ogre - VEF Riga 59-81

One of the most interesting games of round 20 was a derby match between two teams from Latvia. Second ranked VEF Riga outleveled host BK Ogre (10-7) 81-59. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of BK Ogre. VEF Riga dominated down low during the game scoring 44 of its points in the paint compared to BK Ogre's 24. VEF Riga forced 19 BK Ogre turnovers. The winners were led by American point guard Harrison Cleary (185-1997, college: UMC) who scored that evening 17 points and the other American import power forward Jaquan Lawrence (206-1999, college: LeMoyne-Owen) supported him with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Lawrence is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four VEF Riga players scored in double figures. Even 7 points and 10 rebounds by Latvian Kristaps Dargais (198-1990) did not help to save the game for BK Ogre. Latvian Karlis Apsitis (200-1992) added 14 points for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending Latvian champion (15-2) keeps a position of league leader. BK Ogre at the other side keeps the sixth place with seven games lost. VEF Riga will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. BK Ogre will play at home against Keila KK (#15) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
VEF Riga: H.Cleary 17+2reb+3ast, D.Bertans 14+4reb, J.Lawrence 13+6reb+1ast, V.Bobrov 11+5reb+1ast, P.Pinnis 9+7reb, R.Berkolds 8+2reb+3ast
BK Ogre: K.Apsitis 14+3reb+1ast, M.Rasnick 12+3reb, K.Mediss 9+3reb+2ast, K.Dargais 7+10reb+3ast, R.Avotins 7+2reb, K.Berzins 5+4reb

LU - Keila C. 71-69

There was an upset in Riga where higher ranked Estonian Keila C. (7-8) was edged by fifteenth ranked Latvian LU (2-15) 71-69 on Saturday. LU forced 19 Keila C. turnovers. The best player for the winners was Rihards Aleksandrovs (201-2002) who had a double-double by scoring 25 points and 14 rebounds. Edvards Egle (190-2005) chipped in 19 points, 6 assists and 4 steals (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!). Ukrainian center Ihor Serheyev (210-2001) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds and guard Erik Makke (186-2005) added 19 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. LU moved-up to fourteenth place. Loser Keila C. keeps the eighth position with eight games lost. LU will meet higher ranked Ventspils (#11) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Keila C. will play against Parnu and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
LU: R.Aleksandrovs 25+14reb, E.Egle 19+6ast, D.Smirnovs 13+4reb+2ast, E.Lucis 4+1reb+1ast, R.Svitins 3+4reb, F.Neilands 2+5reb
Keila C.: E.Makke 19+3reb+2ast, I.Serheyev 16+13reb+1ast, T.Kupstas 10+3reb+4ast, A.Kovalov 7+8reb, S.Sutt 6+5reb+1ast, A.Myronenko 5+4reb+3ast

Kalev/Cramo - Rigas Z. 79-67

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams in Tallinn where third ranked Estonian Kalev/Cramo (12-3) defeated second-ranked Latvian Rigas Z. (15-4) 79-67 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was American-Ivorian forward Patrick Tape (208-1998, college: USF, agency: Players Group) who scored 21 points and 9 rebounds. Swedish guard Elijah Clarance (194-1998, college: Illinois St., agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Kalev/Cramo players scored in double figures. American forward Justin McKoy (203-2001, college: Hawaii) produced 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and point guard Juris Vitols (188-2005) added 11 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. Kalev/Cramo have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending Estonian champion maintains third position with 12-3 record having five points less than leader VEF Riga. Loser Rigas Z. keeps the second place with four games lost. Kalev/Cramo will meet bottom-ranked Keila KK (#15) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Rigas Z. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kalev/Cramo: P.Tape 21+9reb, E.Clarance 18+5reb+7ast, K.Hermet 11+6reb+2ast, S.Vaaks 10+5reb+1ast, L.Bockler 7+7reb+1ast, M.Dorbek 6+3reb+3ast
Rigas Z.: J.McKoy 20+8reb+4ast, R.Berzins 16+1reb+1ast, J.Vitols 11+6reb+3ast, D.Viksne 8+7reb, K.Helmanis 7+6reb+3ast, R.Sulcs 5+3reb

Viimsi - Parnu 70-80

One of the most interesting games of round 20 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Twelfth ranked Parnu won against host Viimsi (4-13) 80-70. The best player for the winners was Nigerian forward Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (203-1999, college: Rider) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Ivo-Van Tamm (202-1996) chipped in 15 points and 7 rebounds. Bosnian center Omar Pajic (205-1999, agency: PEPI SPORT) produced 20 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) and Mark-Andreas Jaakson (200-2000, college: Southern Miss) added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Parnu (6-10) moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Ventspils. Loser Viimsi keeps the thirteenth position with 13 games lost. Parnu will meet higher ranked Keila C. (#8) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Viimsi will play against TalTech (#10) in Tallinn and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Parnu: A.Ogemuno-Johnson 21+10reb+1ast, I.Tamm 15+7reb+1ast, R.Valge 13+1reb+4ast, C.Bradford 12+3reb+5ast, O.Suurorg 7+1ast, V.Shevchenko 6+7reb+1ast
Viimsi: O.Pajic 20+6reb+2ast, R.Laanemaa 10+2reb+5ast, K.Sund 10+2reb+3ast, A.Hint 10+4reb+1ast, K.Kokk 7+5reb, M.Jaakson 7+6reb+7ast

Valmiera Glass - Ventspils 91-77

Not a big story in a game when 11th ranked Ventspils (6-10) were defeated on the road by fifth ranked Valmiera Glass (12-6) 91-77 on Saturday. Valmiera Glass made 22-of-27 free shots (81.5 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Ukrainian Rostyslav Novitskyi (204-2000, college: Fordham) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds. Nigerian-Canadian guard Mike Nuga (188-1997, college: UNLV) chipped in 24 points and 4 assists. American guard MJ Randolph (193-1999, college: FAMU) produced 16 points and 6 rebounds and center Edvards Mezulis (202-2000) added 15 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Five Valmiera Glass and four Ventspils players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Valmiera Glass moved-up to fourth place. Ventspils lost third consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with ten games lost. They share it with Parnu. Valmiera Glass will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Ventspils will play against LU (#14) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Valmiera Glass: M.Nuga 24+1reb+4ast, R.Novitskyi 19+11reb+2ast, A.Ate 15+4reb+2ast, D.Smith 14+6reb+4ast, V.Kohs 14+3reb+1ast, O.Berzins 4+2reb+3ast
Ventspils: M.Randolph 16+6reb+2ast, E.Mezulis 15+5reb, A.Ausejs 13+5reb+2ast, P.Blomgren 13+3reb, Z.Watson 8+6reb+1ast, J.Censonis 6