LKL Round 25 (Regular Season): Wolves lose to Nevezis

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Wolves (14-11) and ninth ranked Nevezis (8-17) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Wolves was defeated by Nevezis in a tough game in Vilnius 94-99. Nevezis looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 27 personal fouls committed by Wolves helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Vitalijus Kozys (201-1999) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds. Israeli point guard Amit Ebo (184-1999) contributed with 15 points and 11 assists for the winners. Nevezis' coach Gediminas Petrauskas used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American point guard Anthony Cowan Jr (183-1997, college: Maryland) answered with 18 points and 5 assists for Wolves. Nevezis maintains ninth place with 8-17 record. Wolves lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the third position with 11 games lost. They share it with Jonava. Nevezis are looking forward to face higher ranked Lietkabelis (#5) in Panevezys in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Wolves will play on the road against Neptunas in Klaipeda and is hoping to win this game.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Rytas (19-6) against eighth ranked Neptunas (10-15) on Saturday night. Visiting Rytas was defeated by Neptunas in a tough game in Klaipeda 85-92. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rytas. American guard Desure Buie (182-1997, college: Hofstra) stepped up and scored 31 points and 6 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) for the winners and Martynas Pacevicius chipped in 19 points and 13 rebounds. At the losing side the former international forward Azuolas Tubelis (211-2002, college: Arizona) responded with 11 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Neptunas moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Siauliai. Defending champion Rytas keeps the second position with six games lost. Neptunas will play against higher ranked Wolves (#3) in Vilnius in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rytas will play at home against Juventus and hopes to get back on the winning track.
LKL top team - Zalgiris (23-2) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed tenth ranked Mazeikiai (3-22) 105-80. Laurynas Birutis nailed a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. Sukhmail Mathon came up with 24 points and 7 rebounds for Mazeikiai 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 have an impressive series of nineteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 23-2 record. Mazeikiai lost tenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 22 lost games. Zalgiris will meet at home Siauliai (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Mazeikiai will play against Jonava and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 25 Siauliai was smashed by Lietkabelis on the road 92-73. Juventus lost to Jonava on its own court 109-115.
The most impressive performance of 25th round was 30 points and 5 assists by Tookie Brown of Juventus.



Wolves - Nevezis 94-99

The game between third ranked Wolves (14-11) and ninth ranked Nevezis (8-17) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Wolves was defeated by Nevezis in a tough game in Vilnius 94-99. Nevezis looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 27 personal fouls committed by Wolves helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Vitalijus Kozys (201-1999) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds. Israeli point guard Amit Ebo (184-1999) contributed with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 assists for the winners. Nevezis' coach Gediminas Petrauskas used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American point guard Anthony Cowan Jr (183-1997, college: Maryland) answered with 18 points and 5 assists and the other American import center Garrison Brooks (208-1999, college: MSU) added 15 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Wolves. Five Nevezis and four Wolves players scored in double figures. Nevezis maintains ninth place with 8-17 record. Wolves lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the third position with 11 games lost. They share it with Jonava. Nevezis are looking forward to face higher ranked Lietkabelis (#5) in Panevezys in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Wolves will play on the road against Neptunas in Klaipeda and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Wolves: A.Cowan Jr. 18+3reb+5ast, G.Brooks 15+6reb+2ast, A.Kulboka 15+3reb, R.Miniotas 12+7reb+2ast, K.Zemaitis 9+2reb+5ast, T.Thurman 9+4reb+4ast
Nevezis: J.Girard III 23+1reb+3ast, V.Kozys 21+10reb+1ast, A.Ebo 15+3reb+11ast, E.Croswell 11+7reb+1ast, A.Mikalauskas 10+5reb, J.Zakas 5+2reb

Lietkabelis - Siauliai 92-73

No shocking result in a game when fifth ranked Lietkabelis (13-12) crushed 7th ranked Siauliai (10-15) in Panevezys 92-73 on Saturday. Lietkabelis made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Siauliai turnovers. Lietkabelis looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Ukrainian point guard Oleksandr Kovliar (191-2002) nailed 22 points and 7 assists for the winning side and the former international Paulius Danusevicius (205-2001) accounted for 10 points and 7 rebounds. Four Lietkabelis players scored in double figures. Swingman Lukas Uleckas (199-1999) came up with 13 points and 6 rebounds and Eimantas Stankevicius (192-1998, agency: Octagon Europe) added 9 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Siauliai in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Lietkabelis maintains fifth place with 13-12 record. Siauliai at the other side keeps the seventh position with 15 games lost. They share it with Neptunas. Lietkabelis will meet Nevezis (#9) in the next round. Siauliai will play against the league's leader Zalgiris in Kaunas and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Siauliai: L.Uleckas 13+6reb+2ast, M.Kupsas 11+5reb+1ast, E.Stankevicius 9+8reb+1ast, S.Kulvietis 8+5reb+3ast, M.Valinskas 7+1reb+1ast, D.Romancenko 7+1reb
Lietkabelis: O.Kovliar 22+1reb+7ast, M.Varnas 17+2reb, D.Lavrinovicius 12+3reb+1ast, P.Danusevicius 10+7reb+3ast, D.Bickauskis 8+1reb, G.Kalaitzakis 8+4reb+3ast

Neptunas - Rytas 92-85

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Rytas (19-6) against eighth ranked Neptunas (10-15) on Saturday night. Visiting Rytas was defeated by Neptunas in a tough game in Klaipeda 85-92. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rytas. Neptunas made 20-of-24 charity shots (83.3 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Rytas 33-14 including a 21-8 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rytas was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Desure Buie (182-1997, college: Hofstra) stepped up and scored 31 points and 6 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) for the winners and center Martynas Pacevicius (206-1997) chipped in 19 points and 13 rebounds. Five Neptunas players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international forward Azuolas Tubelis (211-2002, college: Arizona) responded with 11 points and American point guard RJ Cole (182-1999, college: UConn) scored 12 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Neptunas moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Siauliai. Defending champion Rytas keeps the second position with six games lost. Neptunas will play against higher ranked Wolves (#3) in Vilnius in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rytas will play at home against Juventus and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rytas: R.Cole 12+3ast, A.Tubelis 11+2reb+3ast, S.Flagg 9+2reb+3ast, I.Sargiunas 9+1reb+2ast, G.Radzevicius 9+2reb+2ast, S.Enoch 8+3reb+3ast
Neptunas: D.Buie 31+4reb+6ast, M.Pacevicius 19+13reb+2ast, M.Hesson 12+1reb+1ast, N.Johnson 10+3reb+5ast, A.Berucka 10+6reb+2ast, D.Gailius 5+1ast

Mazeikiai - Zalgiris 80-105

LKL top team - Zalgiris (23-2) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed tenth ranked Mazeikiai (3-22) 105-80. Zalgiris outrebounded Mazeikiai 41-21 including a 18-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. Zalgiris looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Mazeikiai's players. The former international center Laurynas Birutis (213-1997) nailed a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side and the former international Edgaras Ulanovas (199-1992) accounted for 15 points and 5 assists. Four Zalgiris players scored in double figures. American center Sukhmail Mathon (208-1998, college: Boston U.) came up with 24 points and 7 rebounds (made all of his nine free throws !!!) and the former international guard Vytenis Cizauskas (187-1992) added 13 points and 6 assists respectively for Mazeikiai 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 have an impressive series of nineteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 23-2 record. Mazeikiai lost tenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 22 lost games. Zalgiris will meet at home Siauliai (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Mazeikiai will play against Jonava and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Mazeikiai: S.Mathon 24+7reb+2ast, A.Urkis 13+1reb, V.Cizauskas 13+3reb+6ast, J.Jogminas 9+3reb, K.Lesciauskas 8+1ast, S.Valunta 6+1reb+4ast
Zalgiris: D.Sirvydis 17+3reb+3ast, E.Ulanovas 15+3reb+5ast, I.Wong 14+3reb+4ast, M.Mitchell 12+3reb, D.Buika 12+2reb, L.Birutis 10+10reb+3ast

Juventus - Jonava 109-115

Rather expected game when 6th ranked Juventus (11-14) lost to fourth ranked Jonava (14-11) in Utena 109-115 on Sunday. Jonava made 37-of-47 free shots (78.7 percent) during the game, while Juventus only scored fourteen points from the stripe. American point guard Brandon Childress (183-1997, college: Wake Forest) nailed 24 points for the winning side and Ukrainian swingman Bogdan Bliznyuk (198-1995, college: EWU, agency: Octagon Europe) accounted for 21 points. American point guard Tookie Brown (180-1995, college: Georgia South) came up with 30 points and 5 assists and Belgian Vincent Kesteloot (198-1995) added 15 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Juventus in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Juventus' coach Vytautas Buzas rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Jonava. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Wolves. Juventus at the other side keeps the sixth position with 14 games lost. Jonava will meet at home bottom-ranked Mazeikiai (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Juventus will play against the league's second-placed Rytas (#2) in Vilnius and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Juventus: T.Brown 30+2reb+5ast, L.Beliauskas 21+2reb+1ast, V.Kesteloot 15+9reb+2ast, D.Green 15+2reb+2ast, L.Thorpe 14+2reb+1ast, S.Beniusis 8+2reb
Jonava: B.Childress 24+1reb+2ast, B.Bliznyuk 21+2reb+2ast, V.Zotov 13+6reb+2ast, O.Pleikys 12+3reb+2ast, M.Arlauskas 11+2ast, M.Kirves 11+3reb+1ast