LBBL Round 5 (Regular Season): Arantia is upset by Residence

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Arantia (3-2) and seventh ranked Residence (3-2) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Arantia was defeated by Residence in Bereldange 100-89. Residence looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Demarkus Stuckey Jr (183-1995, college: Goshen) who scored 27 points and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Desean Hampton (196-1998, college: IU Kokomo) chipped in 21 points and 12 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). American forward Michael Imariagbe (201-2002, college: Wright St.) produced 27 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the guests. Residence moved-up to third place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated Arantia. Residence is looking forward to face Soleuvre (#11) in Belvaux in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Arantia will play at home against the league's leader Sparta (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Leader Sparta delivered the fourth victory. This time they crushed 8th ranked Racing (2-3) 100-62 in Bertrange. American-Grenadian forward AJ John (202-1996, college: UC Davis, agency: MSG) orchestrated the victory by scoring 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Jarvis Williams contributed with 17 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Sparta's coach Karl Khalil felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Angelo Caruso (188-1994) answered with 17 points for Racing. Sparta have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 4-1 record, which they share with Etzella. Racing at the other side keeps the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Amicale and Grengewald. Sparta will play against Arantia (#3) in Larochette in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Racing will play at home against Esch (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Kordall S. (0-5) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 87-80 loss to seventh ranked Esch (3-2) in Esch on Sunday evening. Clancy Rugg stepped up and scored 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Jeff Early Jr. responded with 33 points (!!!) and 5 assists. Esch moved-up to third place, which they share with 4 other teams. Loser Kordall S. still closes the standings with five games lost. Esch will meet Racing (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Kordall S. will play against Grengewald (#9) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Other games of round 5 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Etzella defeated Grengewald in Ettelbruck 86-78. Musel Pikes beat Soleuvre at home 95-84. Amicale lost to T71 on the opponent's court 64-80.



Sparta - Racing 100-62:
Leader Sparta delivered the fourth victory. This time they crushed 8th ranked Racing (2-3) 100-62 in Bertrange. Sparta dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Racing's 28. Sparta forced 25 Racing turnovers and outrebounded them 40-27 including a 27-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. American-Grenadian forward AJ John (202-1996, college: UC Davis, agency: MSG) orchestrated the victory by scoring 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American swingman Jarvis Williams (198-1989, college: MSU, agency: BIG) contributed with 17 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Four Sparta players scored in double figures. Sparta's coach Karl Khalil felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Angelo Caruso (188-1994) answered with 17 points and guard Samuel Rehak (182-2008) added 11 points in the effort for Racing. Sparta have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 4-1 record, which they share with Etzella. Racing at the other side keeps the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Amicale and Grengewald. Sparta will play against Arantia (#3) in Larochette in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Racing will play at home against Esch (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Sparta: J.AJ 18+6reb+4ast, W.Jarvis 17+8reb+1ast, L.Max 13+2reb, T.Germeaux 11+4reb, A.Mathieu 11+1reb+1ast, Y.Verbeelen 9+2reb+3ast
Racing: C.Angelo 17+2reb+3ast, R.Samuel 11+3reb+2ast, A.Bivins 9+4reb+2ast, B.Jerome 6+1reb, K.Jeff 6+4reb+1ast, C.Kley 5+6reb

Esch - Kordall S. 87-80:
Bottom-ranked Kordall S. (0-5) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 87-80 loss to seventh ranked Esch (3-2) in Esch on Sunday evening. They made 25-of-28 free shots (89.3 percent) during the game. The former international power forward Clancy Rugg (204-1991, college: Vermont) stepped up and scored 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and American guard Quinn Nelson (190-1999, college: SW Baptist) chipped in 20 points. Four Esch players scored in double figures. American guard Jeff Early Jr. (190-1988, college: SIU, agency: Paris Global Sports) responded with 33 points (!!!) and 5 assists and Australian forward Blake Jones (208-2002, college: CS Monterey) scored 23 points and 9 rebounds. Esch moved-up to third place, which they share with 4 other teams. Loser Kordall S. still closes the standings with five games lost. Esch will meet Racing (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Kordall S. will play against Grengewald (#9) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Esch: H.Jordan 23, N.Quinn 20+2reb+3ast, R.Clancy 17+6reb+2ast, J.Emmanuel 13+7reb, D.Fonseca 8+12reb+1ast, D.Thill 3+4reb+8ast
Kordall S.: J.Early Jr. 33+4reb+5ast, B.Jones 23+9reb+3ast, M.Selmin 17+7reb+1ast, E.Dzenan 2+3reb, M.Axel 2+3reb, B.Ermin 2+2reb+1ast

Grengewald - Etzella 78-86:
There was no surprise in Niederanven where 9th ranked Grengewald (2-3) was defeated by third ranked Etzella (4-1) 86-78 on Saturday. Etzella made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. The former international point guard Philippe Gutenkauf (183-1995) stepped up and scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and American Travis Henson (199-1999, college: CSUB) chipped in 24 points and 6 rebounds. Four Etzella players scored in double figures. Etzella's coach Gavin Love used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American swingman Raiquan Clark (198-1995, college: LIU Brooklyn) responded with 22 points and 9 rebounds and the other American import forward Alvin Tumblin (196-2002, college: PBA) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 14 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Defending champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Sparta. Newly promoted Grengewald dropped to the eighth place with three games lost. They share the position with Amicale and Racing. Etzella will meet at home T71 (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Grengewald will play against Kordall S. in Rodange and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Etzella: H.Travis 24+6reb, M.Delgado 15+8reb, G.DeAntoni 15+5reb+2ast, P.Gutenkauf 14+9reb+7ast, T.Schaaf 9+3reb, B.McDaniel 6+6reb
Grengewald: R.Clark 22+9reb+2ast, A.Tumblin 17+14reb+1ast, J.Ingram 14+6reb+1ast, S.Dorian 7+4reb+1ast, K.Gilles 6+7reb+4ast, B.Lex 6+5reb+3ast

Musel Pikes - Soleuvre 95-84:
No shocking result in a game in Stadrbredimus where eighth ranked Musel Pikes (3-2) defeated 11th ranked Soleuvre (1-4) 95-84 on Saturday. Musel Pikes outrebounded Soleuvre 50-35 including 37 on the defensive glass. American guard Julian Hammond III (188-2002, college: Colorado) stepped up and scored 43 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and his fellow American import forward Kyle Johnson (203-2000, college: Delaware St.) chipped in 19 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists. American forward Christian Parker (198, college: Mt.Union) responded with 36 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds and guard Gilles Weis (181-1994) scored 15 points and 7 rebounds. Musel Pikes moved-up to third place, which they share with 4 other teams. Newly promoted Soleuvre keeps the eleventh position with four games lost. Musel Pikes will meet Amicale (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Soleuvre will play against Residence and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Musel Pikes: H.Julian 43+9reb+7ast, J.Kyle 19+19reb+4ast, S.Streef 14+6reb+3ast, L.Steve 7+6reb+1ast, J.Bouttet 6+2reb+2ast, E.Sanna 6+8reb+3ast
Soleuvre: C.Parker 36+8reb+1ast, W.Gilles 15+7reb+3ast, G.Drumgoole Jr. 12+9reb+3ast, G.Davide 9+4reb+6ast, H.Max 6+1reb+1ast, S.Sandro Sana 4+5reb+1ast

T71 - Amicale 80-64:
Everything could happen in Dudelange at the game between two tied teams. Both sixth ranked T71 and 7th ranked Amicale had identical 2-2 record. This time T71 used a home court advantage and won against the opponent from Steinsel 80-64 on Saturday night. T71 made 22-of-28 free shots (78.6 percent) during the game. T71 outrebounded Amicale 46-29 including a 36-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. American forward Dom Sleva (198-1995, college: Shippensburg) stepped up and scored 20 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import guard Jimmie Taylor (193-1994, college: Rider) chipped in 21 points and 5 rebounds. Taylor is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four T71 players scored in double figures. American guard Trey Phipps (188-2000, college: Northeastern St.) responded with 31 points and 5 rebounds and forward Maid Adrovic (198-2007) scored 12 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. T71 have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with 4 other teams. Loser Amicale dropped to the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Racing and Grengewald. T71 will meet league's second-placed Etzella in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Amicale will play against Musel Pikes (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
T71: T.Jimmie 21+5reb+2ast, S.Dom 20+9reb+1ast, C.Jack 13+5reb+1ast, F.Reisdorffer 13+7reb, U.Malesevic 6+3reb+1ast, F.Agbodenou 3+9reb+1ast
Amicale: T.Phipps 31+5reb+3ast, A.Maid 12+6reb, M.Scott 8+3reb+1ast, T.Modou Fall 5+9reb+1ast, G.Munoz 3+3reb+1ast, M.Noah 3+1ast

Residence - Arantia 100-89:
The game between third ranked Arantia (3-2) and seventh ranked Residence (3-2) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Arantia was defeated by Residence in Bereldange 100-89. Residence looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Demarkus Stuckey Jr (183-1995, college: Goshen) who scored 27 points and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Desean Hampton (196-1998, college: IU Kokomo) chipped in a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). American forward Michael Imariagbe (201-2002, college: Wright St.) produced 27 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and ex-international guard Edson de Sousa (192-2006) added 12 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Residence moved-up to third place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated Arantia. Residence is looking forward to face Soleuvre (#11) in Belvaux in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Arantia will play at home against the league's leader Sparta (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Residence: S.Demarkus 27+4reb+7ast, M.Mykolas 22+4reb+2ast, H.Desean 21+12reb+1ast, O.Vujakovic 13+8reb+8ast, R.Ahmad 8+7reb, T.Schomer 7+6reb+4ast
Arantia: M.Imariagbe 27+9reb+4ast, M.Joshua 22+6reb, H.Vic 14+6reb, E.de Sousa 12+11reb+5ast, D.Wilson 9+9reb+5ast, T.Noe 3