Superleague Round 3 (Regular Season): Cherkasy defeat Rivne

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Rivne (3-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Cherkasy (3-1) 72-68. Rivne was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cherkasy made 7 blocks. It was a good game for the former international center Andriy Agafonov (208-1986) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Nazar Kholod (203-2004, agency: BIG) contributed with 10 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Forward Maksym Mochalov (201-1995) answered with 12 points and 6 rebounds for Rivne. Cherkasy is looking forward to face Kyiv Basket (#4) at home in the next round. Rivne will have a break next round.
Another exciting game for Krivbas (2-2) which played on the court of Stariy Lutsk (1-3). Krivbas won 79-74. It was a great evening for guard Mykhaylo Bublyk (194-2003, agency: BIG) who led his team to a victory scoring 25 points and 6 rebounds. Braxton Lovings helped adding 22 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international center Stepan Lesyk (205-2002) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds. Stariy Lutsk's coach Vladimir Zhurzhiy tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Krivbas will play against Hoverla (#9) in Ivano-Frankivsk in the next round. Stariy Lutsk will have a break next round.
A very close game took place in Lutsk between Cherkasy and Stariy Lutsk. Cherkasy (3-1) got a very close victory on the road over Stariy Lutsk (1-3). Cherkasy managed to escape with a 3-point win 71-68 on Sunday evening. It was an exceptional evening for Andriy Agafonov who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Marquis Jackson came up with 18 points and 5 rebounds for Stariy Lutsk in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cherkasy will meet at home Kyiv Basket (#4) in the next round. Stariy Lutsk will have a break next round.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 3: bottom-ranked Zaporizhye was beaten by Kyiv Basket on the road 72-71. Winless Hoverla lost to Zaporizhye on its own court 58-67. Krivbas unfortunately lost to Rivne in a road game 60-69.



Kyiv Basket - Zaporizhye 72-71

No shocking result in a game when Kyiv Basket (2-1) edged at home Zaporizhye (1-3) 72-71 on Friday. However just one-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Zaporizhye won fourth quarter 17-15. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. It was an exceptional evening for the former international point guard Pavlo Burenko (184-1990, agency: BIG) who led the winners and scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Denys Klevzunyk (195-2000, agency: BIG) accounted for 21 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. Point guard Andriy Khokhonyk (188-1997) came up with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists and forward Maxim Nikitin (201-1989, agency: BIG) added 15 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Zaporizhye in the defeat. Kyiv Basket will meet Cherkasy on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Zaporizhye will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Zaporizhye: A.Khokhonyk 23+8reb+8ast, M.Nikitin 15+7reb, S.Skira 9+3reb, V.Nikolaichuk 7+6reb, R.Kabanov 6+1reb, A.Velychko 5+2ast
Kyiv Basket: P.Burenko 26+5reb+4ast, D.Klevzunyk 21+10reb, M.Sandul 10+14reb+1ast, M.Safonov 4+2reb+1ast, M.Zaitsev 4+1reb+1ast, Y.Sushkin 4+1reb+5ast

Hoverla - Zaporizhye 58-67

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when Hoverla (0-3) lost to Zaporizhye (1-3) in Ivano-Frankivsk 58-67 on Saturday. The guests were tied at the half but managed to speed up in last two quarters eventually winning the game. Zaporizhye forced 21 Hoverla turnovers. It was an exceptional evening for forward Maxim Nikitin (201-1989, agency: BIG) who led the winners and scored 31 points and 9 rebounds. Rostyslav Kabanov (195-2004) accounted for 17 points (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) for the winning side. Point guard Sergiy Startsev (190-1997, agency: BIG) came up with 24 points and power forward Ilya Chugunov (200-1997) added 14 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Hoverla in the defeat. Hoverla's coach Ievgen Murzin let to play ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Zaporizhye will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Hoverla will play against Krivbas (#5) in Kryvyi Rih and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Hoverla: S.Startsev 24+3reb+2ast, I.Chugunov 14+6reb+2ast, V.Drozdov 9+2reb, S.Kuznetsov 4+5reb+4ast, I.Starodub 3+4reb+3ast, O.Bretska 2+2reb+1ast
Zaporizhye: M.Nikitin 31+9reb+2ast, R.Kabanov 17+3reb+2ast, A.Velychko 5+4reb+2ast, I.Dmytrenko 5+3reb+1ast, A.Buts 5+7reb+2ast, A.Khokhonyk 2+1reb+9ast

Rivne - Cherkasy 68-72

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Rivne (3-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Cherkasy (3-1) 72-68. Rivne was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cherkasy made 7 blocks. It was a good game for the former international center Andriy Agafonov (208-1986) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Nazar Kholod (203-2004, agency: BIG) contributed with 10 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Forward Maksym Mochalov (201-1995) answered with 12 points and 6 rebounds and guard Dmytro Tymoshchuk (189-1995) added 10 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Rivne. Cherkasy is looking forward to face Kyiv Basket (#4) at home in the next round. Rivne will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Rivne: M.Mochalov 12+6reb, O.Soloviov 12+1reb+1ast, D.Tymoshchuk 10+5reb+2ast, I.Fuller 10+3reb+2ast, O.Ponosov 10+1ast, M.Beasley 6+9reb
Cherkasy: A.Agafonov 14+12reb+6ast, L.Koshevatskyi 11+3reb+5ast, N.Kholod 10+8reb+3ast, K.Marchenko 9+6reb+1ast, I.Klimov 8+1reb+2ast, D.Kleban 7+8reb

Stariy Lutsk - Krivbas 74-79

Another exciting game for Krivbas (2-2) which played on the court of Stariy Lutsk (1-3). Krivbas won 79-74. Stariy Lutsk was tied at the half but could not keep up in last two quarters eventually losing the game. Stariy Lutsk was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for guard Mykhaylo Bublyk (194-2003, agency: BIG) who led his team to a victory scoring 25 points and 6 rebounds. American point guard Braxton Lovings (183, college: Huston-Tillotson) helped adding 22 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was the former international center Stepan Lesyk (205-2002) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds and American forward Aaron Ridley III (197, college: Cumberland) scored 16 points and 8 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Stariy Lutsk's coach Vladimir Zhurzhiy tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Krivbas will play against Hoverla (#9) in Ivano-Frankivsk in the next round. Stariy Lutsk will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Stariy Lutsk: S.Lesyk 16+11reb, A.Ridley III 16+8reb+2ast, M.Jackson 13+4reb+4ast, O.Prozapas 10, D.Lypovtsev 9+2reb+2ast, O.Diupin 3+1reb
Krivbas: M.Bublyk 25+6reb+3ast, B.Lovings 22+5reb+2ast, E.Hunt 16+10reb+1ast, V.Bykov 10+2reb+2ast, A.Vodolazsky 2+3reb, S.Tovkach 2+5reb

Rivne - Krivbas 69-60

Rivne used a home court advantage and won against the opponent from Kryvyi Rih 69-60 on Sunday night. Krivbas trailed by 13 points after 3 quarters before a 17-13 run in the last quarter cut the deficit to 60-69 at the end of the game. Rivne dominated on the defensive end, holding Krivbas to just 7 points in first quarter. They also forced 20 Krivbas turnovers and outrebounded them 47-34 including 19 on the offensive glass. It was an exceptional evening for forward Maksym Mochalov (201-1995) who led the winners and scored 15 points and 8 rebounds. American forward Roderick Brown (201, college: Tarleton St.) accounted for 14 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. Guard Mykhaylo Bublyk (194-2003, agency: BIG) came up with 19 points and 5 rebounds and American center Eddie Hunt (201-1996, college: Limestone) added 6 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Krivbas in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rivne will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Krivbas will play against Hoverla (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Krivbas: M.Bublyk 19+5reb+3ast, A.Vodolazsky 11+3reb, B.Lovings 10+4reb+2ast, S.Tovkach 9+5reb, E.Hunt 6+11reb+1ast, V.Bykov 5+5reb+3ast
Rivne: M.Mochalov 15+8reb+2ast, R.Brown 14+8reb, M.Beasley 10+8reb+1ast, O.Soloviov 9+6reb+2ast, I.Fuller 9+6reb+4ast, D.Tymoshchuk 5+3reb+1ast

Stariy Lutsk - Cherkasy 68-71

A very close game took place in Lutsk between Cherkasy and Stariy Lutsk. Cherkasy (3-1) got a very close victory on the road over Stariy Lutsk (1-3). Cherkasy managed to escape with a 3-point win 71-68 on Sunday evening. Stariy Lutsk cut a 13-point halftime deficit to three at the end of the game. Cherkasy looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Stariy Lutsk's players. It was an exceptional evening for the former international center Andriy Agafonov (208-1986) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. The former international swingman Kyrylo Marchenko (196-1997) accounted for 14 points for the winning side. American point guard Marquis Jackson (183-1998, college: North Park) came up with 18 points and 5 rebounds and the former international center Stepan Lesyk (205-2002) added 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks respectively for Stariy Lutsk in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Cherkasy will meet at home Kyiv Basket (#4) in the next round. Stariy Lutsk will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Stariy Lutsk: M.Jackson 18+5reb+2ast, A.Ridley III 14+2reb+2ast, S.Lesyk 13+7reb+1ast, P.Horobchenko 8+3reb+2ast, I.Turner 7+8reb, O.Prozapas 4+1reb
Cherkasy: A.Agafonov 16+10reb+8ast, K.Marchenko 14+3reb+2ast, N.Kholod 11+3reb+1ast, L.Koshevatskyi 8+1reb+4ast, I.Upyr 7+5reb+1ast, D.Kleban 6+9reb+2ast