LKL Round 3 (Regular Season): Rytas lose their first game against Gargzdai

LKL Regular Season is still in too early stage and there may be still significant changes in the standings. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Rytas (0-1) in Vilnius on Saturday night. Hosts were edged by Gargzdai (3-1) 105-102. Gargzdai looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was a great evening for American point guard Jaquan Carlos (183-2002, college: Syracuse) who led his team to a victory scoring 31 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Canadian power forward Ben Krikke (206-2001, college: Iowa) helped adding 21 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Augustas Marciulionis (193-2002, college: SMC) with 20 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Gargzdai are looking forward to face Taurages (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Rytas will play against Neptunas and hopes to get finally their first victory.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Kaunas. host Zalgiris (4-0) smashed Lietkabelis (2-2) 97-68. It was an exceptional evening for the former international center Jonas Valanciunas (211-1992) who led the winners and scored 15 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots). Marius Grigonis accounted for 17 points (perfect behind the arc making all five shots). Swiss-American guard Alex Schumacher (190-2001, college: Seattle) came up with 21 points and 4 steals for Lietkabelis in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Zalgiris will play against Nevezis (#10) in Kedainiai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Lietkabelis will play at home against Jonava (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Utena was also quite interesting. Taurages (1-2) played at the court of Juventus (2-2). Juventus defeated Taurages 93-77 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Justas Furmanavicius who scored 12 points and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Vaidas Kariniauskas who recorded 15 points and 5 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Juventus will meet Siauliai (#4) on the road in the next round. Taurages will play against Gargzdai and hope to win that game.

In the last two games of round 3 Nevezis was destroyed by Neptunas on the opponent's court 89-62. Jonava unfortunately lost to Siauliai in a home game 63-79.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 12 points and 5 rebounds by Sarunas Beniusis of Juventus.



Rytas - Gargzdai 102-105:
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Rytas (0-1) in Vilnius on Saturday night. Hosts were edged by Gargzdai (3-1) 105-102. Gargzdai looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was a great evening for American point guard Jaquan Carlos (183-2002, college: Syracuse) who led his team to a victory scoring 31 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Canadian power forward Ben Krikke (206-2001, college: Iowa) helped adding 21 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Augustas Marciulionis (193-2002, college: SMC) with 20 points and 4 assists and ex-international Matas Jogela (201-1998) scored 20 points and 5 rebounds. Four Gargzdai and five Rytas players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Gargzdai are looking forward to face Taurages (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Rytas will play against Neptunas and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Gargzdai: C.Jaquan 31+5reb+9ast, K.Ben 21+5reb+2ast, D.Stanley 19+1reb+3ast, W.Langston 16+5reb, L.Kristupas 8+2reb+1ast, M.Arunas 3+7reb+2ast
Rytas: M.Jogela 20+5reb+1ast, A.Gudaitis 20+5reb+1ast, A.Marciulionis 20+4reb+4ast, K.Bruhnke 12+4reb+5ast, G.Radzevicius 10+6reb+3ast, M.Paliukenas 8+2ast

Neptunas - Nevezis 89-62:
Very expected game in Klaipeda where Nevezis (0-3) was crushed by Neptunas (2-2) 89-62 on Saturday. Neptunas forced 20 Nevezis turnovers and outrebounded them 39-26 including 30 on the defensive glass. Neptunas looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Neptunas made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was Dutch swingman Yannick Franke (196-1996) who scored 25 points and 6 rebounds. Estonian forward Henri Drell (205-2000, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds. Four Neptunas players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Dylan Andrews (190-2002, college: Boise St.) who recorded 20 points and the other American import forward Aaron Gray (201-2000, college: Indiana St.) added 12 points respectively. 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. Neptunas will meet Rytas (#9) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Nevezis will play against Zalgiris and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: F.Yannick 25+6reb+3ast, D.Henri 14+8reb+2ast, T.Donatas 14+3reb+4ast, E.Martynas 10+6reb+1ast, F.Elvar 9+1reb+10ast, S.Raymond 8+2reb+1ast
Nevezis: A.Dylan 20+3reb+3ast, A.Gray 12+4reb+3ast, J.Hopkins 8+2reb+2ast, M.Kancleris 7+5reb, Z.Jonas 6+1reb+2ast, P.Petrilevicius 4+5reb+3ast

Jonava - Siauliai 63-79:
There was a small surprise when Siauliai (2-2) defeated on the road Jonava (1-2) 79-63 on Saturday. Siauliai looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was forward Tauras Jogela (203-1993, agency: Players Group) who scored 16 points. Swiss guard Selim Fofana (193-1999) chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds. Siauliai's coach Darius Songaila used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Nick Johnson (193-2001, college: Winthrop) who recorded 15 points and the other American import point guard Reggie Mesidor (183-2001, college: Southeastern) added 13 points respectively. Siauliai will meet at home Juventus (#6) in the next round. Jonava will play against Lietkabelis in Panevezys and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Siauliai: J.Tauras 16+4reb+1ast, R.Dovydas 12+2reb+2ast, F.Selim 9+5reb+3ast, H.Cedric 8+3reb+1ast, J.Simas 7+3reb, V.Erikas 6+5reb+3ast
Jonava: N.Johnson 15+2reb+2ast, R.Mesidor 13+3reb+1ast, T.Lambrecht 11+5reb, C.Brown Jr 9+6reb, D.Sabeckis 6+2reb+7ast, M.Repsys 4+2reb

Zalgiris - Lietkabelis 97-68:
The game between Top Four teams took place in Kaunas. host Zalgiris (4-0) smashed Lietkabelis (2-2) 97-68. Zalgiris well out of reach of Lietkabelis shooting 73.9 percent from the field and made 17-of-21 charity shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Lietkabelis 33-13 including a 29-7 advantage in defensive rebounds. Zalgiris shot the lights out from three nailing 12 long-distance shots on high 60.0 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Lietkabelis' players. It was an exceptional evening for the former international center Jonas Valanciunas (211-1992) who led the winners and scored 15 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots). ex-international guard Marius Grigonis (198-1994) accounted for 17 points (perfect behind the arc making all five shots) for the winning side. Five Zalgiris players scored in double figures. Swiss-American guard Alex Schumacher (190-2001, college: Seattle) came up with 21 points and 4 steals and French forward Ivan Fevrier (202-1999) added 11 points respectively for Lietkabelis in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Zalgiris will play against Nevezis (#10) in Kedainiai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Lietkabelis will play at home against Jonava (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: G.Marius 17+3ast, V.Jonas 15+7reb, S.Deividas 14+2reb+4ast, E.Carsen 11+6ast, S.Dustin 11+4reb+2ast, B.Sterling 7+1reb+3ast
Lietkabelis: A.Schumacher 21+3ast, I.Fevrier 11+2reb+2ast, K.Kennedy 11+3reb, M.Ilic 7+1ast, M.Valinskas 6+1reb+1ast, D.Baslyk 5

Juventus - Taurages 93-77:
The game in Utena was also quite interesting. Taurages (1-2) played at the court of Juventus (2-2). Juventus defeated Taurages 93-77 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was the former international forward Justas Furmanavicius (199-1994, college: Ole Miss) who scored 12 points and 5 assists. American Cameron Reynolds (201-1995, college: Tulane) chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international Vaidas Kariniauskas (199-1993) who recorded 15 points and 5 assists and Vitalijus Kozys (201-1999) added 11 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Five Juventus and four Taurages players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Juventus will meet Siauliai (#4) on the road in the next round. Taurages will play against Gargzdai and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Juventus: J.Tevian 18+2reb, R.Cameron 14+6reb, F.Justas 12+4reb+5ast, B.Sarunas 12+5reb+1ast, P.Jack 12+1reb+4ast, H.Chase 10+1reb+1ast
Taurages: V.Kariniauskas 15+1reb+5ast, V.Kozys 11+5reb, C.Hayes 10+3reb+3ast, J.Blackmon Jr. 10+3reb, A.Voinalovych 9+4reb, D.Jackson 9+1ast