NKL Round 7 (Regular Season): Neptunas-Akv. beats Palanga by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 7 in the NKL took place in Klaipeda. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 4th placed Palanga (5-2) to eighth ranked Neptunas-Akv. (4-3) 78-77 on Thursday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Palanga. Neptunas-Akv. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Ernestas Jonkus (187-1999, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. point guard Rytis Sakaitis (193-2004) contributed with 13 points and 7 assists for the winners. Neptunas-Akv.'s coach Tomas Gaidamavicius used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Power forward Antanas Udras (204-1992, agency: Bell Basketball) answered with 15 points and 8 rebounds for Palanga. Neptunas-Akv. moved-up to seventh place. Palanga at the other side dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Omega-Tauras. Neptunas-Akv. are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Rytas 2 (#18) in Vilnius in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Palanga will play at home against Vilkaviskis (#10) and is hoping to win this game.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Omega-Tauras (5-2) against eleventh ranked Vilkaviskis (3-3) on Thursday night. Visiting Omega-Tauras was defeated by Vilkaviskis in a tough game in Vilkaviskis 73-82. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Omega-Tauras. It was a great evening for forward Emilis Bartninkas (206-2004, agency: Players Group) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. Justinas Marcinkevicius helped adding 21 points and 7 rebounds. At the losing side American forward Jaden Flournoy (198, college: Rockhurst) responded with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Omega-Tauras' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Vilkaviskis moved-up to tenth place. Omega-Tauras at the other side keeps the third position with two games lost. They share it with Palanga. Vilkaviskis will play against higher ranked Palanga (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Omega-Tauras will play against Alytus and hopes to get back on the winning track.
NKL top team - Jurbarkas (7-0) managed to deliver another win on Thursday. This time they beat tenth ranked Zalgiris II (3-4) in Kaunas 93-79. It was a quality performance for Adas Juskevicius who led the winners and scored 18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Dominykas Grunkis came up with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for Zalgiris II in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Jurbarkas have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-0 record, which they share with Telsiai. Loser Zalgiris II dropped to the eleventh position with four games lost. They share it with Kedainiai and Alytus. Jurbarkas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Zalgiris II will play against Kretinga (#15) and hope to secure a win.

Other games in round 7 were not that significant. Kretinga was smashed by Alytus on the road 90-70. Mazeikiai lost to P.Olimpas on its own court 72-80. Winless Atletas unfortunately lost to Vytis in Sakiai 85-97. Telsiai rolled over Stekas at home 104-70. Winless Rytas 2 was defeated by Kedainiai on the opponent's court 83-69.
The most impressive performance of 7th round was 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists by Mantas Liutkevicius of Rytas 2.



Alytus - Kretinga 90-70:
No shocking result in a game when twelfth ranked Alytus (3-4) crushed at home 15th ranked Kretinga (1-6) 90-70 on Thursday. Alytus dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Kretinga's 28. It was an exceptional evening for point guard Sarunas Valunta (192-2000) who led the winners and scored 14 points and 8 assists. American guard CJ Hall (188-2002, college: SIUE) accounted for 16 points for the winning side. Ernestas Bruzas (183-1996) came up with 15 points (made all of his eight free throws) and Klaidas Metrikis (204-2000, agency: Bell Basketball) added 15 points respectively for Kretinga in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Alytus moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Zalgiris II and Kedainiai. Loser Kretinga keeps the fifteenth position with six games lost. Alytus will meet higher ranked Omega-Tauras (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kretinga will play against Zalgiris II (#11) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Alytus: W.Scooter 21+2reb, H.CJ 16+4reb+3ast, V.Sarunas 14+4reb+8ast, G.Karolis 9+10reb+2ast, P.Knyza 8+3reb, V.Edas 8+6reb
Kretinga: B.Ernestas 15+4reb, K.Metrikis 15+4reb, J.Ziubrys 8+2reb+1ast, D.Edgaras 7+1reb+3ast, J.Warren 6+3reb+1ast, D.Sarauskas 6+3reb+3ast

Mazeikiai - P.Olimpas 72-80:
Very expected game when 16th ranked Mazeikiai (1-7) lost at home to seventh ranked P.Olimpas (5-3) 80-72 on Thursday. P.Olimpas made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American center Emmanuel Byrd (206-2004, college: Truman St.) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. Center Matas Macijauskas (210-2002) accounted for 13 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side. American guard Royce Williams (185, college: NW Missouri St.) came up with 13 points, 9 assists and 4 steals and guard Tautvydas Kupstas (193-2000, college: UWF) added 19 points respectively for Mazeikiai in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. P.Olimpas have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place. Mazeikiai lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the sixteenth position with seven games lost. P.Olimpas will meet at home Kedainiai (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mazeikiai will play against Stekas (#14) in Vilnius and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
P.Olimpas: B.Emmanuel 17+10reb, M.Najeeb 16+2reb+5ast, M.Macijauskas 13+11reb+2ast, M.Vladyslav 13+4reb, I.Razutis 9+4reb+6ast, M.Thomas 7+2reb+1ast
Mazeikiai: T.Kupstas 19+4reb+1ast, A.Lopukhov 14+7reb+2ast, A.Kone 13+11reb, R.Williams 13+4reb+9ast, E.Preibys 6+2reb+1ast, K.Laurynas 3+1reb+1ast

Neptunas-Akv. - Palanga 78-77:
The most exciting game of round 7 in the NKL took place in Klaipeda. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 4th placed Palanga (5-2) to eighth ranked Neptunas-Akv. (4-3) 78-77 on Thursday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Palanga. Neptunas-Akv. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Ernestas Jonkus (187-1999, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. point guard Rytis Sakaitis (193-2004) contributed with 13 points and 7 assists for the winners. Neptunas-Akv.'s coach Tomas Gaidamavicius used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Power forward Antanas Udras (204-1992, agency: Bell Basketball) answered with 15 points and 8 rebounds and American forward William Jenkins III (203-1996, college: Virginia Union, agency: BIG) added 13 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Palanga. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Neptunas-Akv. moved-up to seventh place. Palanga at the other side dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Omega-Tauras. Neptunas-Akv. are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Rytas 2 (#18) in Vilnius in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Palanga will play at home against Vilkaviskis (#10) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Neptunas-Akv.: R.Dziugas 16+1reb+5ast, Z.Eimantas 14+2reb+1ast, S.Rytis 13+4reb+7ast, J.Ernestas 12+8reb+4ast, R.Maciulis 11+5reb+2ast, Z.Aironas 5+4reb
Palanga: A.Udras 15+8reb+1ast, W.Jenkins III 13+10reb, T.Janusevicius 11+4reb+7ast, L.Gediminas 11+4reb+3ast, A.Cane 10+6reb+3ast, R.Uzas 9+5reb+1ast

Vytis - Atletas 97-85:
Very predictable result when eighth ranked Vytis (3-1) won against bottom-ranked Atletas (0-5) in Sakiai 97-85 on Thursday. Vytis forced 19 Atletas turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for forward Kajus Leliukas (204-2004) who led the winners and scored 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Paulius Velutis (191-2004) accounted for 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side. point guard Arnas Vaistaras (198) came up with 21 points and forward Augustas Navickas (203-2005) added 10 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Atletas in the defeat. Atletas' coach Tomas Kersis tested eleven players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Vytis maintains eighth place with 3-1 record, which they share with Suduva-Mantinga. Newly promoted Atletas still closes the standings with five games lost. Vytis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Atletas will play against Silute (#6) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Vytis: P.Velutis 17+6reb+2ast, K.Leliukas 17+6reb+4ast, R.Arunas 14+5reb+1ast, A.Tadas 12+3ast, N.Rokas 9+5reb+2ast, T.Rudys 8+3reb+1ast
Atletas: V.Arnas 21+3reb+1ast, D.Titas 14+2reb+2ast, N.Augustas 10+11reb+3ast, L.Neidas 9+2reb+1ast, M.Vytautas 8+6reb+5ast, K.Pavle 8+1ast

Telsiai - Stekas 104-70:
Not a big story in a game when 14th ranked Stekas (2-5) was outscored on the road by leader Telsiai (7-0) 104-70 on Thursday. Telsiai dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Stekas' 28. Telsiai looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for center Tadas Budrys (205-2002) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists. Forward Julius Kazakauskas (196-1990) accounted for 8 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Telsiai's coach Marius Kiltinavicius felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The former international swingman Edvinas Seskus (196-1995, agency: BIG) came up with 16 points and 5 assists and American forward James Claar (205-1996, college: W.Illinois) added 13 points respectively for Stekas in the defeat. Four Telsiai and five Stekas players scored in double figures. Telsiai have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Jurbarkas. Stekas lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourteenth place with five games lost. Telsiai will meet Suduva-Mantinga (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Stekas will play against Mazeikiai (#16) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Telsiai: B.Tadas 20+15reb+4ast, D.Keishawn 16+1reb+1ast, R.Tomas 15+1reb, M.Quinton 11+2reb+6ast, V.Kevon 9+2reb+2ast, M.Ignas 8+1reb+1ast
Stekas: E.Seskus 16+3reb+5ast, S.Webster 14+3reb+1ast, J.Claar 13+3reb+3ast, B.Dominykas 11+5reb+1ast, D.Tarvydas 10+1reb+6ast, D.Morkunas 4+2reb+4ast

Vilkaviskis - Omega-Tauras 82-73:
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Omega-Tauras (5-2) against eleventh ranked Vilkaviskis (3-3) on Thursday night. Visiting Omega-Tauras was defeated by Vilkaviskis in a tough game in Vilkaviskis 73-82. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Omega-Tauras. It was a great evening for forward Emilis Bartninkas (206-2004, agency: Players Group) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Justinas Marcinkevicius (202-1998, college: Barry) helped adding 21 points and 7 rebounds. At the losing side American forward Jaden Flournoy (198, college: Rockhurst) responded with 14 points and 7 rebounds and Canadian guard Kyle Duke-Simpson (188-2002, college: Cumberlands) scored 18 points. Omega-Tauras' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Vilkaviskis moved-up to tenth place. Omega-Tauras at the other side keeps the third position with two games lost. They share it with Palanga. Vilkaviskis will play against higher ranked Palanga (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Omega-Tauras will play against Alytus and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Vilkaviskis: B.Emilis 23+10reb+1ast, J.Marcinkevicius 21+7reb+1ast, S.Jordan 19+6reb+4ast, D.Paulius 7+2reb+4ast, P.Titas 4+2reb+3ast, M.Zukauskas 4+3reb+2ast
Omega-Tauras: K.Duke-Simpson 18+2reb, J.Flournoy 14+7reb+1ast, S.Sliogeris 10+4reb+2ast, J.Levickas 7+3reb, G.Stankevicius 7+6reb, J.Cook 4+3reb

Zalgiris II - Jurbarkas 79-93:
NKL top team - Jurbarkas (7-0) managed to deliver another win on Thursday. This time they beat tenth ranked Zalgiris II (3-4) in Kaunas 93-79. Jurbarkas made 25-of-32 free shots (78.1 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a quality performance for the former international guard Adas Juskevicius (193-1989) who led the winners and scored 18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Tomas Zdanavicius (204-1996) accounted for 17 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Five Jurbarkas players scored in double figures. point guard Dominykas Grunkis (164-2007) came up with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and guard Majus Bulanovas (195-2007) added 20 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Zalgiris II in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Jurbarkas have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-0 record, which they share with Telsiai. Loser Zalgiris II dropped to the eleventh position with four games lost. They share it with Kedainiai and Alytus. Jurbarkas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Zalgiris II will play against Kretinga (#15) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Jurbarkas: J.Adas 18+5reb+7ast, L.Vytenis 17+7reb+2ast, Z.Tomas 17+7reb+3ast, M.Stasys 11+2reb+4ast, K.Kokoska 11+6reb+1ast, N.Justas 7+1reb+3ast
Zalgiris II: M.Bulanovas 20+5reb+1ast, D.Jakstonis 17+6reb+1ast, D.Grunkis 14+8reb+7ast, G.Krivas 8+1reb+1ast, B.Martynas 5+3reb+1ast, M.Nojus 4+1reb+1ast

Kedainiai - Rytas 2 83-69:
Everything went according to plan when thirteenth ranked Kedainiai (3-4) defeated bottom-ranked Rytas 2 (0-7) in Kedainiu 83-69 on Thursday. Kedainiai looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for point guard Vainius Steponavicius (186-1998) who led the winners and scored 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Medas Kuprijanovas (197-1996) accounted for 12 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. Five Kedainiai players scored in double figures. Guard Mantas Liutkevicius (186-2007) came up with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Adomas Pocius (200) added 17 points respectively for Rytas 2 in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kedainiai moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Zalgiris II and Alytus. Rytas 2 lost their seventh game in a row. They still close the standings with seven games lost. Kedainiai will meet higher ranked P.Olimpas (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rytas 2 will play against Neptunas-Akv. (#7) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Kedainiai: V.Steponavicius 16+6reb+4ast, L.Danielius 14+3reb+6ast, P.Semaska 14+1reb+8ast, K.Medas 12+8reb+3ast, M.Ginas 11+8reb, L.Ignas 6+5reb+2ast
Rytas 2: M.Liutkevicius 23+5reb+4ast, A.Pocius 17, R.Simas 7+5reb, B.Kaloyan 6+2reb+1ast, K.Martynas 6+5reb, B.Armandas 4+2reb+2ast