BLNO Round 16 (Regular Season): #1 Gimle is defeated by Froya

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gimle (16-4) in Laksevag on Tuesday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Froya (14-5) 88-79. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Jamal Poplar (204-1996, college: Seward County) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds and the other American import guard Cedric Johnson (193, college: St.Xavier) who added 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. At the losing side international forward Hallvard Staff (203-2002, college: MVNU) responded with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Gimle's coach Audun Eskeland rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Froya have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Gimle at the other side still keeps top position with four games lost. Froya are looking forward to face Nidaros Jets (#8) in Tromdheim in the next round where they are favorite. Gimle will have a break next round.
BLNO top team - Gimle (16-4) had no problems winning another game. This time they beat eighth ranked Nidaros Jets (4-15) in Bergen 80-63. The winners were led by the former international swingman Jorgen Odfjell (197-2000) who scored that evening 6 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists and Hallvard Staff supported him with 15 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Gimle's coach Audun Eskeland used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 14 points and 4 assists by Latvian Ojars Berzins (191-2001) did not help to save the game for Nidaros Jets. Gimle maintains first position with 16-4 record. Nidaros Jets lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 15 games lost. Gimle will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nidaros Jets will play on the road against Froya (#3) in Laksevag and hope to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game took place in Bekkestua where 6th ranked Baerum (8-10) was upset on its own court by ninth ranked TNT Towers (4-16) 98-86 on Sunday. Babatunde Ajike fired a double-double by scoring 18 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Stian Mjos produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 assists (made all of his eight free throws) for lost side. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Newly promoted TNT Towers maintains ninth position with 4-16 record. Loser Baerum keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. TNT Towers will meet bottom-ranked Asker Aliens (#10) on the road in the next round. Baerum will play against Centrum (#5) in Oslo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 16: Ammerud was destroyed by Kongsberg on the opponent's court 117-76. Bottom-ranked Asker Aliens were outscored by Centrum in a home game 61-91. Nidaros Jets recorded a loss to Fyllingen on the road 97-81.



Kongsberg - Ammerud 117-76

Very expected game when 7th ranked Ammerud (6-13) was crushed on the road by second ranked Kongsberg (15-4) 117-76 on Sunday. Kongsberg shot 61.2 percent from the field and made 22-of-29 free shots (75.9 percent) during the game. Kongsberg had a 29-18 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American guard Austin Patterson (190-2002, college: Montana) fired 33 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 5 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. The other American import forward Edward Jones Jr (196, college: KWC) chipped in 29 points. Four Kongsberg players scored in double figures. Kongsberg's coach Stein Erik Rotegaard felt very confident that he used 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. American swingman Tedrick Wolfe (196-1997, college: Wayland Baptist) produced 32 points and 8 assists and forward Henrik Davidsen (201-1993, college: NYIT) added 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Kongsberg maintains second position with 15-4 record behind leader Gimle. Loser Ammerud keeps the seventh place with 13 games lost. Kongsberg will meet Fyllingen (#4) on the road in the next round. Ammerud will play against Baerum and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kongsberg: P.Austin 33+5reb+5ast, J.Edward 29+4reb+1ast, M.Mornar 15+3reb+2ast, S.Kristian 10+2reb+8ast, A.Rotegard 9, B.Sorensen 9+9reb
Ammerud: T.Wolfe 32+3reb+8ast, D.Henrik 18+9reb+4ast, W.Oluwateniola 10+1reb, S.Sigurd 8+4reb+3ast, V.Vuk 7+5reb+1ast, S.Ilyas 1

Asker Aliens - Centrum 61-91

Very predictable result when fifth ranked Centrum (11-8) smashed on the road bottom-ranked Asker Aliens (2-15) 91-61 on Saturday. International power forward Lars Larsson (209-1999, college: Lourdes) fired a double-double by scoring 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Forward Fredrik Kleivdal (202-2005) chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds. Oliver Bergstad (-2004) produced 18 points and 7 rebounds and point guard Ludvig Bergh (177-1998) added 11 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four Asker Aliens players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Centrum maintains fifth position with 11-8 record. Asker Aliens lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Centrum will meet at home Baerum (#6) in the next round. Asker Aliens will play against TNT Towers (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Centrum: L.Berbusmel 17+2reb+1ast, F.Kleivdal 12+7reb+2ast, L.Lars 12+12reb+6ast, M.Garcia 9+2ast, C.Watkins 9+1reb, U.Stranger-Johannessen 8+2reb+2ast
Asker Aliens: B.Oliver 18+7reb, T.Troussel 13+1reb, F.Ouzhan 11+5reb, B.Ludvig 11+6reb+2ast, L.Sebastian 6+5reb, A.Eldar 2+3reb

Gimle - Nidaros Jets 80-63

BLNO top team - Gimle (16-4) had no problems winning another game. This time they beat eighth ranked Nidaros Jets (4-15) in Bergen 80-63. Gimle outrebounded Nidaros Jets 41-25 including a 17-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. Gimle players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Nidaros Jets' players. The winners were led by the former international swingman Jorgen Odfjell (197-2000) who scored that evening 6 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists and international forward Hallvard Staff (203-2002, college: MVNU) supported him with 15 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Gimle's coach Audun Eskeland used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 14 points and 4 assists by Latvian Ojars Berzins (191-2001) did not help to save the game for Nidaros Jets. American forward Warner Bryan (201, college: Camp-Harrodsburg) added 10 points and 10 rebounds for lost side. Four Nidaros Jets players scored in double figures. Gimle maintains first position with 16-4 record. Nidaros Jets lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 15 games lost. Gimle will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nidaros Jets will play on the road against Froya (#3) in Laksevag and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Gimle: H.Staff 15+4reb+5ast, J.Radulovic 11+7reb+1ast, M.Ferno 9+1reb+1ast, H.Ullrich 8+4reb+3ast, O.Jorgen 6+11reb+9ast, A.Yousuf 6+1reb+2ast
Nidaros Jets: O.Berzins 14+4reb+4ast, B.Mats 13+1reb+3ast, R.Skesters 11+6reb, B.Warner 10+10reb, L.Kevin 9+2reb+2ast, O.Oliver 3

Baerum - TNT Towers 86-98

An interesting game took place in Bekkestua where 6th ranked Baerum (8-10) was upset on its own court by ninth ranked TNT Towers (4-16) 98-86 on Sunday. TNT Towers dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Baerum's 24 and made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Baerum 52-23 including a 38-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. TNT Towers looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American forward Babatunde Ajike (198, college: NGU) fired a double-double by scoring 18 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Valen Tejada (-2000) chipped in 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Four TNT Towers players scored in double figures. The former international guard Stian Mjos (183-1989) produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 assists (made all of his eight free throws) and guard Johannes Wangensteen (187-2006) added 24 points respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Newly promoted TNT Towers maintains ninth position with 4-16 record. Loser Baerum keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. TNT Towers will meet bottom-ranked Asker Aliens (#10) on the road in the next round. Baerum will play against Centrum (#5) in Oslo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
TNT Towers: V.Tejada 24+5reb+5ast, J.Roysland 19+4reb+1ast, B.Ajike 18+19reb+4ast, A.Hudgins 16+11reb+4ast, J.Naess 6+1reb+3ast, F.Klemmetsby 4+3reb
Baerum: M.Stian 24+3reb+11ast, W.Johannes 24+3reb+2ast, L.Harald 18+4reb+1ast, O.Gabriel 6+3reb+2ast, M.Marius 6+1reb, T.Fredrik 4+8reb+2ast

Froya - Gimle 88-79

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Gimle (16-4) in Laksevag on Tuesday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Froya (14-5) 88-79. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Jamal Poplar (204-1996, college: Seward County) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds and the other American import guard Cedric Johnson (193, college: St.Xavier) who added 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. Poplar is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Froya players scored in double figures. At the losing side international forward Hallvard Staff (203-2002, college: MVNU) responded with 25 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Javonte Johnson (198, college: CBU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) scored 20 points. Gimle's coach Audun Eskeland rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Froya have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Gimle at the other side still keeps top position with four games lost. Froya are looking forward to face Nidaros Jets (#8) in Tromdheim in the next round where they are favorite. Gimle will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Froya: J.Poplar 21+18reb+2ast, J.Cedric 20+6reb+5ast, C.Dalland 15+3reb+3ast, A.Borg 11+7reb+3ast, T.Omar 10+5reb+3ast, J.Bjornevog 6+1reb+2ast
Gimle: S.Hallvard 25+9reb+1ast, J.Johnson 20+1ast, L.Jorgen 10+2reb, R.Greve 9+2reb+4ast, J.Odfjell 6+7reb+3ast, S.Milovan 5+8reb+2ast

Fyllingen - Nidaros Jets 97-81

Not a big story in a game when 8th ranked Nidaros Jets (4-15) were defeated on the road by fourth ranked Fyllingen (13-3) 97-81 on Saturday. Fyllingen dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Nidaros Jets' 28. They outrebounded Nidaros Jets 35-22 including a 26-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Fyllingen looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. American forward Joshua Keyes (201-1995, college: Muskingum) fired a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds for the winners (made all of his nine free throws !!!). Ukrainian center Bogdan Brinyuk (205-2003, agency: BIG) chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). Keyes is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top summer league for players who want to play basketball overseas. Guard Kevin Leraand (191-2008) produced 23 points and American forward Warner Bryan (201, college: Camp-Harrodsburg) added 15 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Fyllingen and four Nidaros Jets players scored in double figures. Fyllingen have an impressive six-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains fourth position with 13-3 record. Nidaros Jets lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 15 games lost. Fyllingen will meet at home league's second-placed Kongsberg in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Nidaros Jets will play against Froya (#3) in Laksevag and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Fyllingen: K.Joshua 29+10reb+3ast, L.William 17+4ast, B.Bogdan 16+7reb+2ast, E.Fongue 12+5reb+1ast, I.Ethan 11+4reb+7ast, S.Nikolas 6+3reb+6ast
Nidaros Jets: L.Kevin 23+4reb+2ast, O.Berzins 16+2reb+6ast, B.Warner 15+9reb+2ast, B.Mats 14+3reb+3ast, O.Oliver 6+3reb+3ast, O.Tobias 3