LKL Round 26 (Regular Season): Rytas keep a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Rytas as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Rytas defeated 5th ranked Lietkabelis in Vilnius 113-100. Rytas made 25-of-32 free shots (78.1 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. Rytas looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. 28 personal fouls committed by Lietkabelis helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international Margiris Normantas (194-1996) scored 27 points to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Justin Gorham (201-1998, college: Houston) chipped in 14 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Rytas' coach Giedrius Zibenas used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Serbian center Djordje Gagic (210-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Rytas have a solid four-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Lietkabelis lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth place with 11 games lost. Lietkabelis will play next round against P.Zvaigzdes trying to get back on the winning streak. Rytas will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked Zalgiris in Kaunas.
Important game to mention about took place in Mazeikiai. Seventh ranked Mazeikiai (13-12) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th ranked Juventus (14-11) 73-71 on Saturday evening. Martynas Paliukenas (191-1993) notched a double-double by scoring 16 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the effort and Giedrius Staniulis supported him with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Mazeikiai's coach Nikola Vasilev allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 14 points and 6 assists by American guard Scoochie Smith (191-1994, college: Dayton) did not help to save the game for Juventus. Newly promoted Mazeikiai maintains seventh position with 13-12 record. Juventus lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth place with 11 games lost. Mazeikiai will play against higher ranked Wolves (#3) in Vilnius in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Juventus will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes in Pasvalys and hopes to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Jonava between Neptunas and Jonava. Seventh ranked Neptunas (14-12) got a very close victory on the road over 8th ranked Jonava (10-16). Neptunas managed to escape with a 3-point win 81-78 on Monday evening. The best player for the winners was Azuolas Tubelis who had a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Neptunas' coach Giorgos Vovoras used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Justas Furmanavicius produced 23 points and 7 rebounds for the hosts. Neptunas have an impressive six-game winning streak. They moved-up to fifth place. Jonava at the other side keeps the eighth position with 16 games lost. Neptunas will meet at home Lietkabelis (#6) in the next round. Jonava will play against Mazeikiai and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 26 Nevezis was destroyed by Wolves on the opponent's court 102-83. Siauliai managed to outperform P.Zvaigzdes in a home game 98-89.



Wolves - Nevezis 102-83

Very expected game in Vilnius where 9th ranked Nevezis (7-19) was crushed by third ranked Wolves (18-8) 102-83 on Saturday. Wolves made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Nevezis' players. The best player for the winners was Nigerian-American Rasheed Sulaimon (193-1994, college: Maryland) who scored 30 points and 4 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). American forward Garrison Brooks (208-1999, college: MSU) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Four Wolves players scored in double figures. Israeli point guard Amit Ebo (180-1999) produced 23 points and 4 assists and American guard Sean McNeil (193-1998, college: Ohio St.) added 21 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Wolves maintains third position with 18-8 record having four points less than leader Rytas. Nevezis at the other side keeps the ninth place with 19 games lost. They share the position with Siauliai. Wolves will meet at home Mazeikiai (#7) in the next round. Nevezis will play against Siauliai and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nevezis: A.Ebo 23+2reb+4ast, S.McNeil 21+3reb+2ast, I.Vaitkus 11+4reb+3ast, Z.Waterman 9+5reb, C.Ramey 9+2reb+1ast, F.Okoro 6+8reb
Wolves: R.Sulaimon 30+1reb+4ast, G.Brooks 16+8reb, J.Taylor 16+2reb+5ast, R.Miniotas 10+10reb+1ast, V.Kozys 9+9reb+1ast, E.Zukauskas 8+1reb+3ast

Mazeikiai - Juventus 73-71

Important game to mention about took place in Mazeikiai. Seventh ranked Mazeikiai (13-12) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 4th ranked Juventus (14-11) 73-71 on Saturday evening. Martynas Paliukenas (191-1993) notched a double-double by scoring 16 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the effort and Giedrius Staniulis (206-1991) supported him with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Mazeikiai's coach Nikola Vasilev allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 14 points and 6 assists by American guard Scoochie Smith (191-1994, college: Dayton) did not help to save the game for Juventus. His fellow American import guard TJ Starks (188-1998, college: CSUN) added 16 points for the guests. Newly promoted Mazeikiai maintains seventh position with 13-12 record. Juventus lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth place with 11 games lost. Mazeikiai will play against higher ranked Wolves (#3) in Vilnius in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Juventus will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes in Pasvalys and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Juventus: T.Starks 16+4reb+2ast, S.Smith 14+2reb+6ast, A.Penava 9+9reb, Z.Skucas 9+1reb, S.Beniusis 9+6reb, E.Saulys 6
Mazeikiai: M.Paliukenas 16+9reb+12ast, G.Staniulis 13+6reb+1ast, A.Antetokounmpo 11+1reb, K.Stokes 9+1reb+2ast, M.Gecevicius 8+1ast, R.Jokubas 6+1reb

Siauliai - P.Zvaigzdes 98-89

The game between closely ranked teams ended with tenth ranked Siauliai's (7-19) home victory over 11th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (5-19) 98-89 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American guard LJ Thorpe (196-1999, college: UNC Asheville, agency: Worldwide SM) who scored 20 points and 5 assists. Paulius Danusevicius (205-2001) chipped in 20 points and 5 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American guard Jordan Watson (189-1995, college: West Liberty) produced 20 points and Trinidad and Tobago forward Kadeem Jack (206-1992, college: Rutgers) added 12 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Siauliai moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Nevezis. P.Zvaigzdes lost tenth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 19 games lost. Siauliai will meet Nevezis (#10) in the next round. P.Zvaigzdes will play against Lietkabelis in Panevezys and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
P.Zvaigzdes: J.Watson 20+2ast, D.Johnson 14+3reb+1ast, K.Jack 12+6reb+1ast, M.Arlauskas 11+4reb+4ast, A.Ate 8+3reb+4ast, T.Lekunas 7+2reb+4ast
Siauliai: D.Paulius 20+5reb, L.Thorpe 20+3reb+5ast, S.Keith 16+1reb+1ast, B.Vander Plas 11+6reb+2ast, B.Daniel 10+2reb+1ast, S.Armand 9+2reb+7ast

Rytas - Lietkabelis 113-100

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Rytas as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Rytas defeated 5th ranked Lietkabelis in Vilnius 113-100. Rytas made 25-of-32 free shots (78.1 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 14 long-distance shots on high 51.9 percentage. Rytas looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. 28 personal fouls committed by Lietkabelis helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international Margiris Normantas (194-1996) scored 27 points to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Justin Gorham (201-1998, college: Houston) chipped in 14 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Rytas' coach Giedrius Zibenas used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Serbian center Djordje Gagic (210-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with 13 points and 7 rebounds and the former international guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) scored 17 points. Five Rytas and four Lietkabelis players scored in double figures. Rytas have a solid four-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Lietkabelis lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth place with 11 games lost. Lietkabelis will play next round against P.Zvaigzdes trying to get back on the winning streak. Rytas will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked Zalgiris in Kaunas.
Top scorers:
Lietkabelis: P.Valinskas 17+1reb+3ast, D.Sirvydis 16+4reb+1ast, M.Varnas 15+1reb+2ast, D.Gagic 13+7reb+2ast, D.Baldwin 10+4reb+4ast, G.Maldunas 9+6reb+3ast
Rytas: M.Normantas 27+2reb+3ast, R.Cole 14+2reb+3ast, J.Gorham 14+9reb+3ast, J.DeLaurier 14+3reb, M.Echodas 10+5reb, G.Radzevicius 10+5reb+4ast

Jonava - Neptunas 78-81

A very close game took place in Jonava between Neptunas and Jonava. Seventh ranked Neptunas (14-12) got a very close victory on the road over 8th ranked Jonava (10-16). Neptunas managed to escape with a 3-point win 81-78 on Monday evening. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Neptunas made 10 blocks. The best player for the winners was the former international forward Azuolas Tubelis (211-2002, college: Arizona) who had a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. The former international forward Deividas Gailius (200-1988, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 9 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Neptunas' coach Giorgos Vovoras used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Forward Justas Furmanavicius (199-1994, college: Ole Miss) produced 23 points and 7 rebounds and Slovenian-Serbian center Ivan Marinkovic (207-1993, agency: 011 Sports) added 12 points and 7 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Neptunas have an impressive six-game winning streak. They moved-up to fifth place. Jonava at the other side keeps the eighth position with 16 games lost. Neptunas will meet at home Lietkabelis (#6) in the next round. Jonava will play against Mazeikiai and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Jonava: J.Furmanavicius 23+7reb+3ast, R.Larson 12+2reb+2ast, I.Marinkovic 12+7reb+2ast, L.Kreismontas 7+5reb+2ast, O.Drame 7+3reb, S.Micovic 7+9reb+1ast
Neptunas: A.Tubelis 34+13reb+1ast, M.Girdziunas 11+1reb+1ast, M.Pacevicius 11+5reb, D.Gailius 9+9reb+4ast, I.Sargiunas 6+2reb+3ast, J.Newkirk 5+2ast