Higher League Round 18 (Regular Season): #1 Khmelnytskyi is defeated by Vinnitsky Zubry

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Khmelnytskyi (20-3) in Vinnytsia on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by fifth ranked Vinnitsky Zubry (10-16) 87-79. It ended at the same time the 18-game winning streak of Khmelnytskyi. The hosts trailed by 7 points at the halftime before their 45-30 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Vinnitsky Zubry made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Guard Yuriy Shkondya (188-1995) had a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 assists and 5 steals to lead the charge for the winners and center Oleksii Nemykin (201-1995) chipped in 9 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was forward Nikita Korotchenko (205-2005) with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Vinnitsky Zubry maintains fifth position with 10-16 record. Khmelnytskyi at the other side still keeps top place with three games lost.
Very significant was DiDiBao's (#2) 79-71 road victory against one of their biggest challengers Sambir. It ended at the same time the nine-game winning streak of Sambir. American guard Eric Butler (193-2001, college: Rio Grande) notched a double-double by scoring 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and Bogdan Riznychenko supported him with 14 points and 7 rebounds. DiDiBao's coach Mykola Polyulyak allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even 28 points and 5 rebounds by guard Vasyl Chyzh (185-1990) did not help to save the game for Sambir. DiDiBao maintains second position with 18-6 record having just one point less than leader Khmelnytskyi. Sambir at the other side keeps the third place with seven games lost.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Sambir. Third ranked host Sambir (17-7) defeated second-best DiDiBao (18-6) 70-60. The best player for the winners was Oleksii Adediran who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Eric Butler who recorded 19 points. Sambir have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 17-7 record having just two points less than leader Khmelnytskyi. Loser DiDiBao keeps the second place with six games lost.

In the last game of round 18 Khmelnytskyi destroyed Vinnitsky Zubry on the opponent's court 94-62.



Vinnitsky Zubry - Khmelnytskyi 62-94

Very expected game in Vinnytsia where 5th ranked Vinnitsky Zubry (10-16) was crushed by first ranked Khmelnytskyi (20-3) 94-62 on Saturday. The game without a history. Khmelnytskyi led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. Khmelnytskyi outrebounded Vinnitsky Zubry 45-31 including a 30-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Khmelnytskyi looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Vinnitsky Zubry's players. The best player for the winners was point guard Nikolay Bachurin (184-2003) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Dmitry Kachanov (177-2003) chipped in a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 assists. Five Khmelnytskyi players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Andriy Hutsaliuk (192-1996) who recorded 27 points and center Oleksii Nemykin (201-1995) added 9 points and 15 rebounds respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Khmelnytskyi have an impressive 18-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 20-3 record. Vinnitsky Zubry lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with 16 games lost.
Top scorers:
Khmelnytskyi: V.Melnyk 17+2reb+3ast, N.Bachurin 14+12reb+3ast, O.Bartolomeev 12+4reb, D.Kachanov 11+3reb+14ast, N.Korotchenko 11+6reb+1ast, C.Hines 9+4reb+1ast
Vinnitsky Zubry: H.Andriy 27+2reb, S.Sergiy 11+1reb+4ast, S.Yuriy 10+4reb+7ast, N.Oleksii 9+15reb, M.Serhii 3+2reb, S.Volodymyr 2+2reb

Sambir - DiDiBao 70-60

The game between Top Four teams took place in Sambir. Third ranked host Sambir (17-7) defeated second-best DiDiBao (18-6) 70-60. The game was mostly controlled by Sambir. DiDiBao managed to win fourth quarter 15-13. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The best player for the winners was naturalized Nigerian center Oleksii Adediran (206-1982, college: Binghamton, agency: BIG) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. Nikita Ruslov (195-1996, agency: BIG) chipped in 11 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Eric Butler (193-2001, college: Rio Grande) who recorded 19 points and center Yevgen Brechko (206-1992) added 12 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Sambir have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 17-7 record having just two points less than leader Khmelnytskyi. Loser DiDiBao keeps the second place with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Sambir: A.Oleksii 19+12reb+3ast, N.Beshetia 12+2reb+1ast, R.Nikita 11+5reb+1ast, O.Oleksii 8+3reb, O.Yuzefchuk 7+5reb+4ast, V.Chyzh 7+4reb
DiDiBao: B.Eric 19+4reb+3ast, B.Yevgen 12+8reb+3ast, R.Bogdan 11+5reb+1ast, V.Mykola 7+2reb, B.Mikita 4+7reb, V.Dmytro 3+1reb

Sambir - DiDiBao 71-79

Very significant was DiDiBao's (#2) 79-71 road victory against one of their biggest challengers Sambir. It ended at the same time the nine-game winning streak of Sambir. It looked good early as Sambir took a 10-point lead at the end of first quarter. But then DiDiBao took control and eventually winning the game that evening by 8 points. American guard Eric Butler (193-2001, college: Rio Grande) notched a double-double by scoring 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and forward Bogdan Riznychenko (197-2001) supported him with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Four DiDiBao players scored in double figures. DiDiBao's coach Mykola Polyulyak allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Even 28 points and 5 rebounds by guard Vasyl Chyzh (185-1990) did not help to save the game for Sambir. Naturalized Nigerian center Oleksii Adediran (206-1982, college: Binghamton, agency: BIG) added 10 points and 11 rebounds. DiDiBao maintains second position with 18-6 record having just one point less than leader Khmelnytskyi. Sambir at the other side keeps the third place with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
DiDiBao: M.Bibikov 22+1reb+1ast, E.Butler 15+12reb+4ast, B.Riznychenko 14+7reb+3ast, Y.Brechko 10+6reb+4ast, M.Bondarenko 8+5reb+2ast, B.Boiko 6+3ast
Sambir: C.Vasyl 28+5reb+2ast, Y.Oleh 16+4reb+2ast, O.Adediran 10+11reb+2ast, B.Nikita 8+2reb, O.Onufriyev 5+4reb+1ast, V.Gerasymchuk 2+2reb

Vinnitsky Zubry - Khmelnytskyi 87-79

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Khmelnytskyi (20-3) in Vinnytsia on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by fifth ranked Vinnitsky Zubry (10-16) 87-79. It ended at the same time the 18-game winning streak of Khmelnytskyi. The hosts trailed by 7 points at the halftime before their 45-30 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Vinnitsky Zubry made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Guard Yuriy Shkondya (188-1995) had a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 assists and 5 steals to lead the charge for the winners and center Oleksii Nemykin (201-1995) chipped in 9 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was forward Nikita Korotchenko (205-2005) with 14 points and 6 rebounds and guard Dmitry Kachanov (177-2003) scored 15 points and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Vinnitsky Zubry maintains fifth position with 10-16 record. Khmelnytskyi at the other side still keeps top place with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Vinnitsky Zubry: Y.Shkondya 23+4reb+11ast, S.Slobodyanyuk 17+5reb+4ast, A.Hutsaliuk 16+2reb+1ast, V.Serachov 13+2reb+2ast, O.Nemykin 9+17reb+6ast, S.Melnyk 8+1ast
Khmelnytskyi: K.Dmitry 15+2reb+5ast, K.Nikita 14+6reb+3ast, H.Maksym 12+6reb+1ast, B.Nikolay 12+5reb+2ast, H.Carlos 6+8reb+3ast, B.Oleksandr 6+2reb+2ast