Round 15 (Regular Season): Ventspils beat LU in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most interesting game of round 15 was a derby match between two teams from Latvia. The game took place in Riga where fifth ranked Ventspils outleveled host LU (2-14) 118-96. Ventspils made 27-of-28 free shots (96.4 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by LU's players. The best player for the winners was American guard Cameron Shelton (188-1999, college: LMU) who had a triple-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. point guard Renars Birkans (186-1997) chipped in 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Brody Fox (198-2002, college: Citadel) who recorded 31 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Ventspils (13-5) moved-up to fourth place. LU at the other side keeps the thirteenth position with 14 games lost. Ventspils are looking forward to face Parnu (#9) at home in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. LU's supporters also look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Riga VEF Riga.
One of the most interesting games of round 15 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Sixth ranked TalTech won against host Parnu (8-10) 83-76. It was a good game for Oliver Metsalu (196-1993) who led his team to a victory with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Siim-Markus Post contributed with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Hendrik Eelmae (199-2000) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds for Parnu. TalTech (13-6) moved-up to fifth place. Parnu at the other side keeps the ninth position with ten games lost. TalTech will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Parnu will play at home against Keila C. (#14) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
One of the most interesting games of round 15 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Seventh ranked Kalev/Cramo outleveled host Keila C. (2-16) 111-68. It was a great evening for Anrijs Miska who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was Ralf Kuttis with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 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. Kalev/Cramo have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Estonian champion (12-6) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Valmiera Glass. Keila C. lost thirteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Kalev/Cramo will meet at home Viimsi (#11) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Keila C. will play against Parnu and hope to secure a win.

Other games of round 15 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
TalTech was defeated by Valmiera Glass in a road game 96-78. Viimsi beat BK Ogre at home 78-77. Keila KK won against Liepaja on the opponent's court 86-82.



LU - Ventspils 96-118

The most interesting game of round 15 was a derby match between two teams from Latvia. The game took place in Riga where fifth ranked Ventspils outleveled host LU (2-14) 118-96. Ventspils made 27-of-28 free shots (96.4 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by LU's players. The best player for the winners was American guard Cameron Shelton (188-1999, college: LMU) who had a triple-double by scoring 22 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. point guard Renars Birkans (186-1997) chipped in 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Brody Fox (198-2002, college: Citadel) who recorded 31 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and point guard Francis Neilands (194-2005) added 24 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Ventspils (13-5) moved-up to fourth place. LU at the other side keeps the thirteenth position with 14 games lost. Ventspils are looking forward to face Parnu (#9) at home in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. LU's supporters also look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Riga VEF Riga.
Top scorers:
LU: F.Brody 31+9reb+6ast, N.Francis 24+3reb+3ast, M.Short 20+2reb, D.Rudis 10+9reb, K.Arturs 6+3reb+4ast, P.Martins 3+7reb+1ast
Ventspils: U.Amandas 23+8reb+1ast, B.Renars 23+5reb+5ast, T.Bryant 23+6reb+3ast, S.Cameron 22+10reb+13ast, A.Arturs 7+1reb+4ast, R.Berze 7+4reb

Valmiera Glass - TalTech 96-78

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 6th ranked Estonian TalTech (13-6) was defeated on the road by seventh ranked Latvian Valmiera Glass (12-6) 96-78 on Tuesday. Valmiera Glass outrebounded TalTech 40-29 including 25 on the defensive glass. It was a great evening for New Zealand swingman Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (198-2001, college: UCSD) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points and 8 rebounds. Bosnian center Omar Pajic (205-1999, agency: PEPI SPORT) helped adding 15 points and 9 rebounds. Five Valmiera Glass players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was point guard Kaarel Valb (192-2004) with 16 points and point guard Oliver Suurorg (195-2000) scored 17 points. Valmiera Glass have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Kalev/Cramo. Loser TalTech dropped to the fifth position with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
TalTech: S.Oliver 17+2reb+2ast, V.Kaarel 16+2reb+3ast, K.Kitsing 11+2reb+1ast, P.Ran Andre 9+5reb+1ast, M.Oliver 8+4reb+1ast, J.Taavi 7+7reb+1ast
Valmiera Glass: T.Aniwaniwa 18+8reb+2ast, P.Omar 15+9reb, D.Stenionis 15+2reb+4ast, H.Curtis 14+6reb, M.Rinalds 12+7reb+1ast, M.Vitols 11+1reb+2ast

Viimsi - BK Ogre 78-77

There was a surprise result when twelfth ranked Estonian Viimsi (4-14) edged at home higher ranked Latvian BK Ogre (9-10) 78-77 on Wednesday. It was a great evening for American forward Kevin Baker (205-1998, college: LC State, agency: Starting 5) who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points and 8 rebounds. Kaspar Kuusmaa (185-2004) helped adding 16 points and 10 assists. The best for the losing side was Gustavs Kampuss (188-1999) with 22 points and 5 assists and American point guard Anders Nelson (185-1999, college: William & Mary) scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Four BK Ogre players scored in double figures. Viimsi moved-up to tenth place, which they share with Keila KK. Loser BK Ogre keeps the eighth position with ten games lost. Viimsi will meet higher ranked Kalev/Cramo (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. BK Ogre will play against the league's leader Tartu where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
BK Ogre: K.Gustavs 22+3reb+5ast, A.Nelson 15+6reb+7ast, A.Reinis 11+1reb+1ast, J.Ndjock-Tadjore 11+9reb, P.Volodymyr 8+3reb, K.Dargais 6+9reb+2ast
Viimsi: B.Kevin 22+8reb, J.Rikberg 20+1reb+3ast, K.Kaspar 16+3reb+10ast, K.Reinart 7+4reb, E.Urvik 7+2reb+1ast, S.Gert 4+5reb

Liepaja - Keila KK 82-86

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 10th ranked Latvian Liepaja (3-14) was defeated at home by eleventh ranked Estonian Keila KK (4-14) 86-82 on Wednesday. It was a great evening for American guard Quion Burns (198-2002, college: Maine) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Jeremiah Paige (190-1996, college: Colorado St.) helped adding 23 points and 9 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American guard Xavier DuSell (196-2001, college: Nevada) with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and point guard Emils Krumins (185-2001) scored 16 points and 7 assists. Five Liepaja players scored in double figures. Keila KK moved-up to tenth place, which they share with Viimsi. Liepaja lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth position with 14 games lost. Keila KK will meet at home league's second-placed Rigas Z. in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Liepaja will play against Keila C. (#14) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Liepaja: X.DuSell 21+7reb+4ast, E.Krumins 16+7ast, K.Sulcs 12+4reb+2ast, S.Vitalii 11+7reb, K.Feierbergs 11+10reb+1ast, I.Kurucs 9+8reb
Keila KK: B.Quion 30+8reb, J.Paige 23+9reb+2ast, P.Patrik 20+5reb, R.Eke 7+4reb+1ast, R.Sats 4+5reb+2ast, M.Gilbert 2+8reb

Parnu - TalTech 76-83

One of the most interesting games of round 15 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Sixth ranked TalTech won against host Parnu (8-10) 83-76. It was a good game for Oliver Metsalu (196-1993) who led his team to a victory with 20 points and 5 rebounds. point guard Siim-Markus Post (184-1997) contributed with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Hendrik Eelmae (199-2000) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds and American point guard Devin Harris (182-1992, college: OKWU) added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in the effort for Parnu. Five TalTech and four Parnu players scored in double figures. TalTech (13-6) moved-up to fifth place. Parnu at the other side keeps the ninth position with ten games lost. TalTech will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Parnu will play at home against Keila C. (#14) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Parnu: H.Eelmae 20+11reb+2ast, D.Harris 18+5reb+8ast, H.Aleksander 13+7reb+2ast, G.Ilves 13+2reb+6ast, A.Ogemuno-Johnson 6+5reb, T.Jarrett 3+3reb
TalTech: O.Metsalu 20+5reb+3ast, O.Suurorg 14+4reb, T.Jurkatamm 14+10reb+1ast, P.Siim-Markus 14+8reb+4ast, K.Valb 11+2reb+2ast, S.Saimon 6+4reb+4ast

Keila C. - Kalev/Cramo 68-111

One of the most interesting games of round 15 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. Seventh ranked Kalev/Cramo outleveled host Keila C. (2-16) 111-68. Kalev/Cramo dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Keila C.'s 40. Kalev/Cramo forced 19 Keila C. turnovers and outrebounded them 40-24 including a 29-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kalev/Cramo looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. It was a great evening for Latvian Anrijs Miska (208-2000) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Hugo Toom (200-2002) helped adding 21 points and 6 assists (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Four Kalev/Cramo players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Ralf Kuttis (197-2002) with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Canadian guard Marko Maletic (198, college: W.Illinois, agency: Starting 5) scored 13 points and 5 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kalev/Cramo have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Estonian champion (12-6) moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Valmiera Glass. Keila C. lost thirteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Kalev/Cramo will meet at home Viimsi (#11) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Keila C. will play against Parnu and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Keila C.: K.Ralf 15+5reb+5ast, M.Maletic 13+5reb+3ast, I.Thompson 8+3reb, P.Margus 7+1reb+1ast, K.Nazari 7+4reb+1ast, S.Patrik 6+1reb+2ast
Kalev/Cramo: T.Hugo 21+2reb+6ast, M.Anrijs 20+11reb+4ast, K.Gregor 15+7reb, R.Tommy 13+3reb+1ast, E.Makke 11+1reb+1ast, R.Mart 10+1reb+4ast