LKL Round 24 (Regular Season): Rytas beat Wolves in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Vilnius: Rytas (#2) and Wolves (#3). Rytas (19-4) smashed visiting Wolves (16-8) by 16 points 99-83. Rytas outrebounded Wolves 34-20 including 23 on the defensive glass. 25 personal fouls committed by Wolves helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American guard Marcus Foster (191-1995, college: Creighton) who scored 31 points and 7 assists. The former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) chipped in 20 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Swedish-American forward Jeffery Taylor (201-1989, college: Vanderbilt) who recorded 22 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas maintains second position with 19-4 record behind leader Zalgiris. Wolves at the other side keeps the third place with eight games lost. Rytas are looking forward to face Lietkabelis (#5) in Panevezys in the next round. Wolves will play at home against Juventus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was played in Utena between seventh ranked Neptunas and 4th ranked Juventus where Neptunas (12-12) won against Juventus (14-9) on the road 96-83. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Juventus. It was a good game for center Martynas Pacevicius (206-1997) who led his team to a victory with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Azuolas Tubelis contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. American guard TJ Starks (188-1998, college: CSUN) replied with 22 points and 4 assists for Juventus. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Neptunas have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to sixth place. Juventus at the other side keeps the fourth position with nine games lost. Neptunas will play against Mazeikiai (#7) at home in the next round. Juventus will play against Wolves in Vilnius and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Leader Zalgiris delivered the twentieth victory on Sunday night. This time they crushed 10th ranked Siauliai (6-18) 92-69. Worth to mention a quality performance of Edmond Sumner who helped to win the game recording 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was LJ Thorpe with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 7 rebounds and 11 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. Zalgiris (20-2) have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position. Siauliai lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with 18 games lost. Zalgiris will meet Lietkabelis (#5) in the next round. Siauliai will play against Jonava (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 24 Nevezis defeated P.Zvaigzdes in Kedainiai 76-74. Lietkabelis beat Jonava at home 90-80.
The best stats of 24th round was 22 points and 5 rebounds by Strahinja Micovic of Jonava.



Juventus - Neptunas 83-96

Another exciting game was played in Utena between seventh ranked Neptunas and 4th ranked Juventus where Neptunas (12-12) won against Juventus (14-9) on the road 96-83. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Juventus. Neptunas made 32-of-41 charity shots (78.0 percent) during the game. Juventus was plagued by 30 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for center Martynas Pacevicius (206-1997) who led his team to a victory with 16 points and 8 rebounds. The former international forward Azuolas Tubelis (211-2002, college: Arizona) contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. American guard TJ Starks (188-1998, college: CSUN) replied with 22 points and 4 assists and his fellow American import guard Scoochie Smith (191-1994, college: Dayton) added 11 points and 7 assists in the effort for Juventus. Five Neptunas and four Juventus players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Neptunas have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to sixth place. Juventus at the other side keeps the fourth position with nine games lost. Neptunas will play against Mazeikiai (#7) at home in the next round. Juventus will play against Wolves in Vilnius and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: I.Sargiunas 16+2reb+2ast, M.Pacevicius 16+8reb+2ast, J.Newkirk 15+1reb+4ast, M.Girdziunas 14+2reb, A.Tubelis 13+9reb, T.Lambrecht 7+3reb
Juventus: T.Starks 22+2reb+4ast, A.Penava 13+2reb, Z.Skucas 13+6reb+2ast, S.Smith 11+4reb+7ast, S.Beniusis 7+6reb, R.Taylor 7

P.Zvaigzdes - Nevezis 74-76

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 11th ranked P.Zvaigzdes' (5-17) home loss to tenth ranked Nevezis (7-17) 74-76 on Saturday. Nevezis made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Zane Waterman (203-1995, college: Manhattan) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import guard Courtney Ramey (190-1999, college: Arizona) who added 21 points during the contest. Four Nevezis players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Trinidad and Tobago forward Kadeem Jack (206-1992, college: Rutgers) with 23 points and 6 rebounds and American guard Jordan Watson (189-1995, college: West Liberty) scored 20 points. P.Zvaigzdes' coach Aurimas Jasilionis rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Nevezis moved-up to ninth place. P.Zvaigzdes lost eighth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 17 games lost. Nevezis will meet at home league's second-placed Rytas in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. P.Zvaigzdes will play against Mazeikiai (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Nevezis: C.Ramey 21+1reb+2ast, Z.Waterman 17+10reb+2ast, A.Ebo 13+2reb+8ast, F.Okoro 10+8reb+1ast, S.McNeil 6+1reb, C.Jurgens 3+2reb+1ast
P.Zvaigzdes: K.Jack 23+6reb+1ast, J.Watson 20+3reb+1ast, A.Sidarevicius 9+2reb+3ast, A.Ate 6+3reb+1ast, S.Jarumbauskas 5+10reb+5ast, D.Johnson 4+2reb

Rytas - Wolves 99-83

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Vilnius: Rytas (#2) and Wolves (#3). Rytas (19-4) smashed visiting Wolves (16-8) by 16 points 99-83. Rytas outrebounded Wolves 34-20 including 23 on the defensive glass. 25 personal fouls committed by Wolves helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American guard Marcus Foster (191-1995, college: Creighton) who scored 31 points and 7 assists. The former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Swedish-American forward Jeffery Taylor (201-1989, college: Vanderbilt) who recorded 22 points and the former international forward Eigirdas Zukauskas (202-1992) added 10 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas maintains second position with 19-4 record behind leader Zalgiris. Wolves at the other side keeps the third place with eight games lost. Rytas are looking forward to face Lietkabelis (#5) in Panevezys in the next round. Wolves will play at home against Juventus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rytas: M.Foster 31+4reb+7ast, M.Echodas 20+10reb, A.Velicka 12+4reb+6ast, L.Uleckas 10+2reb+2ast, G.Radzevicius 10+7reb, J.DeLaurier 8+2reb
Wolves: J.Taylor 22+2reb+3ast, R.Sulaimon 12+1reb+2ast, C.Mekowulu 12+3reb, T.Thurman 11+2reb, E.Zukauskas 10+6reb+1ast, G.Brooks 6

Siauliai - Zalgiris 69-92

Leader Zalgiris delivered the twentieth victory on Sunday night. This time they crushed 10th ranked Siauliai (6-18) 92-69. Zalgiris shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of American guard Edmond Sumner (198-1995, college: Xavier) who helped to win the game recording 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international center Laurynas Birutis (213-1997) who added 13 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Five Zalgiris players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard LJ Thorpe (196-1999, college: UNC Asheville, agency: Worldwide SM) with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists and Paulius Danusevicius (205-2001) scored 8 points and 9 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. Zalgiris (20-2) have an impressive 11-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position. Siauliai lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with 18 games lost. Zalgiris will meet Lietkabelis (#5) in the next round. Siauliai will play against Jonava (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: B.Manek 14+3reb+2ast, E.Sumner 14+5reb+4ast, L.Birutis 13+5reb+1ast, K.Evans 11+4ast, K.Hayes 10+5reb+1ast, T.Dimsa 9+4reb+1ast
Siauliai: L.Thorpe 14+7reb+11ast, T.Pavelka 12+1ast, D.Romancenko 10+3reb, D.Paulius 8+9reb+1ast, N.Mineikis 8+4reb, S.Keith 8

Lietkabelis - Jonava 90-80

No shocking result in a game in Panevezys where fifth ranked Lietkabelis (13-8) defeated 8th ranked Jonava (9-15) 90-80 on Sunday. Lietkabelis looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) who helped to win the game recording 17 points and 4 assists and Bosnian-Serbian power forward Nikola Popovic (211-1997, college: Boston Coll.) who added 14 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Lietkabelis' coach Nenad Canak used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to get some rest. The best for the losing side was Serbian Strahinja Micovic (204-1992) with 22 points and 5 rebounds and forward Tauras Jogela (203-1993, agency: 011 Sports) scored 13 points and 4 assists. Lietkabelis maintains fifth position with 13-8 record. Loser Jonava keeps the eighth place with 15 games lost. Lietkabelis will meet at home league's second-placed Rytas in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Jonava will play against Siauliai (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lietkabelis: P.Valinskas 17+1reb+4ast, G.Orelik 15+1reb+2ast, N.Popovic 14+5reb+3ast, G.Maldunas 9+3reb, M.Varnas 9+2reb+2ast, D.Slavinskas 6+4reb+2ast
Jonava: S.Micovic 22+5reb+2ast, T.Jogela 13+4reb+4ast, D.Garrett 11+1reb+5ast, L.Kreismontas 9+4reb+3ast, I.Marinkovic 8+5reb+3ast, E.Seskus 7+2reb+3ast