LKL Round 5 (Regular Season): Lietkabelis hand first loss to Rytas

There were just five rounds played in Regular Season of LKL and we can clearly see which teams will fight for top positions and which will try to avoid bottom places. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Rytas (3-1) in Panevezys on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by fifth ranked Lietkabelis (3-2) 89-84. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rytas. Lietkabelis looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American guard Jamel Morris (192-1992, college: Fairmont St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 29 points and 6 assists. Estonian point guard Kristian Kullamaee (193-1999) contributed with 14 points and 10 assists for the winners. American point guard Jordan Walker (180-1999, college: UAB) answered with 17 points and 4 assists for Rytas. Rytas' coach Giedrius Zibenas rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Lietkabelis moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Siauliai. Rytas at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with Neptunas. Lietkabelis is looking forward to face league's leader Zalgiris in Kaunas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rytas will play at home against the league's second-placed Neptunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another interesting game for Juventus (1-3) which hosted in Utena against 4th placed Siauliai (3-2). Eighth ranked Juventus had an easy win 86-73. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Siauliai. The former international guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) stepped up and scored 23 points and 4 assists for the winners and Ivan Vranes chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds. American swingman Cedric Henderson Jr. (198-2000, college: Arizona) responded with 22 points. Juventus left bottom position moving up to sixth place, which they share with Gargzdu. Siauliai at the other side keeps the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Lietkabelis. Juventus will play against Gargzdu (#6) in Gargzdai in the next round. Siauliai will play on the road against Nevezis in Kedainiai and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Jonava's fans can celebrate the first win of their team after four consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Nevezis (1-4) 86-82 on Sunday. Eimantas Stankevicius nailed 12 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Jonava's coach Paulius Juodis used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Tony Perkins came up with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for Nevezis in the defeat. Jonava left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with defeated Nevezis. It was Nevezis' third loss in a row. Jonava will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nevezis will play against Siauliai (#4) and hope to win that game.

In the last game of round 5 Gargzdu was smashed by Neptunas on the road 102-74.
The most impressive performance of 5th round was 15 points and 4 assists by Ben Krikke of Jonava.



Lietkabelis - Rytas 89-84

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Rytas (3-1) in Panevezys on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by fifth ranked Lietkabelis (3-2) 89-84. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Rytas. Lietkabelis looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American guard Jamel Morris (192-1992, college: Fairmont St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 29 points and 6 assists. Estonian point guard Kristian Kullamaee (193-1999) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 assists for the winners. American point guard Jordan Walker (180-1999, college: UAB) answered with 17 points and 4 assists and the former international center Arturas Gudaitis (211-1993) added 14 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Rytas. Four Rytas players scored in double figures. Rytas' coach Giedrius Zibenas rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Lietkabelis moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Siauliai. Rytas at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. They share it with Neptunas. Lietkabelis is looking forward to face league's leader Zalgiris in Kaunas in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Rytas will play at home against the league's second-placed Neptunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lietkabelis: J.Morris 29+2reb+6ast, K.Kullamaee 14+10ast, L.Mutic 12+8reb+2ast, P.Danusevicius 9+8reb, V.Lipkevicius 7+3reb, A.Rubit 7+2reb+6ast
Rytas: J.Walker 17+2reb+4ast, G.Radzevicius 16+2reb+1ast, A.Gudaitis 14+5reb+2ast, J.Wiley 13+5reb+2ast, I.Sargiunas 9+5reb+4ast, M.Paliukenas 6+5ast

Neptunas - Gargzdu 102-74

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Neptunas (3-1) crushed 6th ranked Gargzdu (1-3) in Klaipeda 102-74 on Saturday. Neptunas outrebounded Gargzdu 38-27 including 27 on the defensive glass. Neptunas looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Maltese-American forward Jordan Tucker (200-1998, college: Butler) nailed 19 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and American point guard Harrison Cleary (185-1997, college: UMC) accounted for 21 points and 4 assists. Five Neptunas players scored in double figures. American guard Josh Hagins (187-1994, college: UALR, agency: Haylett Sports) came up with 12 points and 9 assists and center Benas Griciunas (210-1994, college: EWU, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) added 16 points and 5 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively for Gargzdu 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. Neptunas moved-up to second place, which they share with Rytas. Loser Gargzdu keeps the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with Juventus. Neptunas will meet Rytas (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Gargzdu will play against Juventus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: H.Cleary 21+2reb+4ast, J.Tucker 19+6reb+2ast, D.Tarolis 12+6reb+2ast, Z.Waterman 11+8reb+2ast, A.Velicka 11+4reb+5ast, M.Girdziunas 11
Gargzdu: N.Mineikis 17+5reb, B.Griciunas 16+5reb+3ast, J.Hagins 12+4reb+9ast, T.Pulliam 8+3ast, V.Laurynas 6+3reb, J.Pipkins 6+1reb+1ast

Juventus - Siauliai 86-73

Another interesting game for Juventus (1-3) which hosted in Utena against 4th placed Siauliai (3-2). Eighth ranked Juventus had an easy win 86-73. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Siauliai. It was a great shooting night for Juventus especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 61.1 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. The former international guard Paulius Valinskas (191-1995) stepped up and scored 23 points and 4 assists for the winners and Croatian center Ivan Vranes (207-1996) chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds. American swingman Cedric Henderson Jr. (198-2000, college: Arizona) responded with 22 points and the other American import point guard Dayvion McKnight (183-2002, college: Xavier) scored 12 points and 7 assists. Five Juventus and four Siauliai players scored in double figures. Juventus left bottom position moving up to sixth place, which they share with Gargzdu. Siauliai at the other side keeps the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Lietkabelis. Juventus will play against Gargzdu (#6) in Gargzdai in the next round. Siauliai will play on the road against Nevezis in Kedainiai and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Juventus: P.Valinskas 23+1reb+4ast, I.Vranes 14+8reb+3ast, L.Uleckas 12+8reb+4ast, E.Sederevicius 11+3reb, D.Daniels 10+6reb+4ast, S.Beniusis 8+3reb
Siauliai: C.Henderson Jr. 22+3reb+1ast, O.Pleikys 12+4reb+2ast, D.McKnight 12+3reb+7ast, R.Cam 10+4reb, D.Romancenko 7+3reb, D.Baslyk 5+2reb+1ast

Jonava - Nevezis 86-82

Jonava's fans can celebrate the first win of their team after four consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Nevezis (1-4) 86-82 on Sunday. Eimantas Stankevicius (192-1998) nailed 12 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Canadian power forward Ben Krikke (206-2001, college: Iowa) accounted for 15 points and 4 assists. Four Jonava players scored in double figures. Jonava's coach Paulius Juodis used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Tony Perkins (193-2001, college: Missouri) came up with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import point guard Harrison Cleary (185-1997, college: UMC) added 16 points and 4 assists respectively for Nevezis in the defeat. Jonava left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with defeated Nevezis. It was Nevezis' third loss in a row. Jonava will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nevezis will play against Siauliai (#4) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Jonava: B.Krikke 15+3reb+4ast, R.Matas 12+6reb+1ast, E.Stankevicius 12+7reb+3ast, J.Henry 12+6reb+1ast, H.Henningsson 11+1reb+1ast, M.Ashton-Langford 9+2reb+6ast
Nevezis: T.Perkins 22+5reb+4ast, M.Trenton 16+1reb+4ast, J.Muila 11+8reb, T.Peterson 9+1reb+4ast, E.Chargois 7+4reb+2ast, Z.Jonas 7+5reb