LKL Round 21 (Regular Season): Rytas are upset by Lietkabelis

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked Rytas (16-5) and sixth ranked Lietkabelis (11-10) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Rytas was defeated by Lietkabelis in a tough game in Panevezys 75-82. Lietkabelis made 30-of-38 free shots (78.9 percent) during the game. 30 personal fouls committed by Rytas helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Dovis Bickauskis (191-1993) who scored 20 points. Swingman Martynas Varnas (196-1997) chipped in 14 points. At the other side the best for losing team was international Gytis Radzevicius (197-1995) who recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lietkabelis have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place. Defending champion Rytas keeps the second position with five games lost. Lietkabelis are looking forward to face Jonava (#6) on the road in the next round. Rytas will play against Mazeikiai (#10) and is hoping to win this game.
Leader Zalgiris delivered the nineteenth victory. This time they crushed 6th ranked Jonava (10-11) 89-62 in Kaunas. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Jonava. It was a good game for American guard Isaiah Wong (193-2001, college: Miami, FL) who led his team to a victory with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Alen Smailagic contributed with 13 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Zalgiris' coach Andrea Trinchieri felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American point guard Brandon Childress (183-1997, college: Wake Forest) answered with 21 points and 4 assists for Jonava. Zalgiris (19-2) have an impressive series of fifteen victories in a row. They maintain first place. Jonava at the other side dropped to the fifth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Juventus. Zalgiris will play against Nevezis (#9) in Kedainiai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Jonava will play at home against Lietkabelis (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
We should mention about the upset which took place in Kedainiai, where higher ranked Juventus (10-11) was outleveled in a road game by ninth ranked Nevezis (6-15) 105-74 on Sunday. Amit Ebo stepped up and scored 23 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. The best for the losing side was Karolis Lukosiunas with 15 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Nevezis maintains ninth place with 6-15 record. Juventus lost their third game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Jonava. Nevezis will meet at home league's leader Zalgiris in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Juventus will play against Wolves (#3) in Vilnius and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 21 Neptunas crushed Mazeikiai in Klaipeda 96-77. Wolves beat Siauliai at home 100-84.
The best stats of 21th round was 24 points by Gerry Blakes of Siauliai.



Mazeikiai - Neptunas 77-96

There was no surprise when 10th ranked Mazeikiai (3-18) was crushed at home by seventh ranked Neptunas (9-12) 96-77 on Saturday. Neptunas made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Neptunas outrebounded Mazeikiai 35-21 including 25 on the defensive glass. Neptunas looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American guard Desure Buie (182-1997, college: Hofstra) stepped up and scored 17 points and 7 assists for the winners and his fellow American import point guard Nate Johnson (193-1998, college: Xavier) chipped in 11 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was American center Sukhmail Mathon (208-1998, college: Boston U.) with 22 points and point guard Sarunas Valunta (192-2000) scored 9 points and 6 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players saving starting five for next games. Neptunas maintains seventh place with 9-12 record. Mazeikiai lost their sixth game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 18 games lost. Neptunas will meet Siauliai (#8) on the road in the next round. Mazeikiai will play against the league's second-placed Rytas where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: D.Buie 17+2reb+7ast, M.Girdziunas 15+1reb+2ast, M.Pacevicius 14+6reb, T.Pavelka 14+7reb+1ast, N.Johnson 11+5reb+6ast, M.Hesson 9+2reb+3ast
Mazeikiai: S.Mathon 22+4reb, J.Jogminas 12+2reb+1ast, N.Mineikis 11+3reb+1ast, C.Collins 10+2reb+5ast, S.Valunta 9+3reb+6ast, D.Fenner 6+3reb

Lietkabelis - Rytas 82-75

The game between second ranked Rytas (16-5) and sixth ranked Lietkabelis (11-10) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Rytas was defeated by Lietkabelis in a tough game in Panevezys 75-82. Lietkabelis made 30-of-38 free shots (78.9 percent) during the game. 30 personal fouls committed by Rytas helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Dovis Bickauskis (191-1993) who scored 20 points. Swingman Martynas Varnas (196-1997) chipped in 14 points. Four Lietkabelis players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was international Gytis Radzevicius (197-1995) who recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and 12 rebounds and American swingman Savion Flagg (201-1999, college: SHSU) added 9 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lietkabelis have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place. Defending champion Rytas keeps the second position with five games lost. Lietkabelis are looking forward to face Jonava (#6) on the road in the next round. Rytas will play against Mazeikiai (#10) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Lietkabelis: D.Bickauskis 20+3reb+3ast, M.Rubstavicius 15+4reb, M.Varnas 14+3reb+2ast, O.Kovliar 13+1reb+5ast, V.Lipkevicius 6+2reb+2ast, P.Danusevicius 5+5reb+2ast
Rytas: G.Radzevicius 22+12reb+1ast, R.Cole 12+3reb+1ast, S.Enoch 11+3reb, S.Flagg 9+5reb+2ast, M.Normantas 7+1reb+3ast, G.Masiulis 4

Nevezis - Juventus 105-74

We should mention about the upset which took place in Kedainiai, where higher ranked Juventus (10-11) was outleveled in a road game by ninth ranked Nevezis (6-15) 105-74 on Sunday. Nevezis shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Israeli point guard Amit Ebo (180-1999) stepped up and scored 23 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners and American guard Joseph Girard III (185-2000, college: Clemson) chipped in 33 points (!!!). Four Nevezis players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was the former international forward Karolis Lukosiunas (195-1997) with 15 points and the former international center Sarunas Beniusis (206-1993, agency: BIG) scored 14 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Nevezis maintains ninth place with 6-15 record. Juventus lost their third game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Jonava. Nevezis will meet at home league's leader Zalgiris in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Juventus will play against Wolves (#3) in Vilnius and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nevezis: J.Girard III 33+2ast, A.Ebo 23+5reb+8ast, V.Kozys 16+6reb+4ast, D.Doualla 12+2reb+2ast, E.Croswell 6+5reb+2ast, I.Vaitkus 6+3reb
Juventus: K.Lukosiunas 15+1reb+3ast, S.Beniusis 14+3reb+2ast, L.Beliauskas 11+3reb+3ast, D.Green 8+3reb+3ast, E.Sederevicius 6+3reb, T.Brown 6+1reb+1ast

Zalgiris - Jonava 89-62

Leader Zalgiris delivered the nineteenth victory. This time they crushed 6th ranked Jonava (10-11) 89-62 in Kaunas. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Jonava. Zalgiris dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Jonava's 32. They outrebounded Jonava 41-28 including a 31-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Zalgiris players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. It was a good game for American guard Isaiah Wong (193-2001, college: Miami, FL) who led his team to a victory with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Serbian power forward Alen Smailagic (208-2000) contributed with 13 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Five Zalgiris players scored in double figures. Zalgiris' coach Andrea Trinchieri felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American point guard Brandon Childress (183-1997, college: Wake Forest) answered with 21 points and 4 assists and Estonian Mihkel Kirves (200-1996) added 9 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Jonava. Zalgiris (19-2) have an impressive series of fifteen victories in a row. They maintain first place. Jonava at the other side dropped to the fifth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Juventus. Zalgiris will play against Nevezis (#9) in Kedainiai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Jonava will play at home against Lietkabelis (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: A.Smailagic 13+6reb, I.Wong 13+9reb+1ast, L.Birutis 12+2reb+2ast, D.Sirvydis 11+4reb+3ast, S.Francisco 10+1reb+5ast, I.Brazdeikis 8+2reb+2ast
Jonava: B.Childress 21+2reb+4ast, M.Kirves 9+5reb+1ast, S.Jarumbauskas 9+5reb+1ast, D.Brewton 7+5reb+2ast, L.Kreismontas 6+4reb+1ast, E.Venskus 4+3reb+1ast

Wolves - Siauliai 100-84

No shocking result in a game in Vilnius where third ranked Wolves (13-7) defeated 8th ranked Siauliai (7-13) 100-84 on Monday. Wolves made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Wolves outrebounded Siauliai 37-24 including 27 on the defensive glass. Wolves looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The former international forward Arnoldas Kulboka (208-1998) stepped up and scored 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and American center Garrison Brooks (208-1999, college: MSU) chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Five Wolves players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American Gerry Blakes (193-1993, college: Arizona St., agency: BIG) with 24 points (perfect from the field making all nine shots !!!) and swingman Lukas Uleckas (199-1999) scored 16 points and 5 rebounds. Wolves maintains third place with 13-7 record having seven points less than leader Zalgiris. Loser Siauliai keeps the eighth position with 13 games lost. Wolves will meet at home Juventus (#5) in the next round. Siauliai will play against Neptunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Wolves: A.Kulboka 17+9reb+5ast, G.Brooks 17+10reb+2ast, A.Cowan Jr. 16+3reb+4ast, A.Andrews 15+6ast, J.Taylor 14+7reb+3ast, K.Zemaitis 8+4reb+3ast
Siauliai: G.Blakes 24+4reb+3ast, L.Uleckas 16+5reb+2ast, M.Kupsas 12+3reb, S.Kulvietis 9+3reb+2ast, D.Romancenko 8+1ast, E.Stankevicius 6+5reb+1ast