Lithuania – LKL Round 7: Lietuvos ryas overcome Siauliai

Drew Gordon There were just 7 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. The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Lietuvos rytas as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Lietuvos rytas defeated bottom-ranked Siauliai in Vilnius 83-74. The hosts trailed by 2 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 7-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 83-74. Lietuvos rytas forced 21 Siauliai turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Drew Gordon (205-90, college: N.Mexico) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Power forward Arturas Gudaitis (211-93) contributed with 10 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. point guard Darius Gvezdauskas (191-88) answered with 17 points for Siauliai. Siauliai’s coach Vaidas Pauliukenas rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Siauliai at the other side still closes the standings with seven games lost. Siauliai will play next round against strong Nevezis trying to get back on the winning streak. Lietuvos rytas will try to continue on its current victory against ninth ranked Juventus in Utena. Important game to mention about took place in Alytus. Seventh ranked Dzukija (3-3) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 8th ranked Juventus (2-5) 75-73 on Wednesday evening. It was a great evening for Spanish guard Alejandro Hernandez (189-90) who led his team to a victory scoring 12 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Julius Kazakauskas helped adding 15 points and 7 rebounds. Dzukija’s coach Andrej Urlep allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. At the losing side guard Vytautas Sulskis (200-88, college: Youngstown St., agency: Octagon Europe) responded with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds (made all of his ten free throws !!!). Dzukija moved-up to fifth place. Juventus lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with five games lost. Dzukija will play against higher ranked Lietkabelis (#3) in Panevezys in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Juventus will play at home against the league’s leader Lietuvos rytas (#1) and hopes to get back on the winning track. Bottom-ranked Siauliai is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their seventh consecutive match to ninth ranked Neptunas (3-4) 95-67 on Wednesday evening. It was an exceptional evening for Jimmy Baron who led the winners and scored 22 points and 5 rebounds. Tre Bowman came up with 10 points for Siauliai 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 have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Vytautas and P.Zvaigzdes. Loser Siauliai still closes the standings with seven games lost. Neptunas will meet league’s second-placed Zalgiris in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Siauliai will play against Nevezis (#4) and hopes to get finally their first victory.The game in Kedainiai was also worth to mention about. 5th ranked P.Zvaigzdes (3-4) played at the court of sixth ranked Nevezis (4-3). Nevezis managed to secure a 4-point victory 77-73. Karolis Petrukonis fired 17 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Nevezis moved-up to fourth place. P.Zvaigzdes at the other side dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. Nevezis’ next round opponent will be bottom-ranked Siauliai (#10) on the road which should be theoretically an easy game. P.Zvaigzdes will play against Vytautas (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals. The game in Prienai was also quite interesting. Third ranked Lietkabelis (5-2) played at the court of 5th ranked Vytautas (3-4). Lietkabelis defeated Vytautas 85-75 on Saturday. It was a very good performance for Ksistof Lavrinovic who helped to win the game recording 25 points and 9 rebounds. Vytautas’ coach Virginijus Seskus tested ten players, but that didn’t help to avoid defeat in this game. Lietkabelis maintains third place with 5-2 record behind leader Lietuvos rytas. Loser Vytautas dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. Lietkabelis will face Dzukija (#5) in Alytus in the next round. Vytautas will play on the road against P.Zvaigzdes in Pasvalys and it may be a tough game between close rivals. In the last two games of round 7 Dzukija was beaten by Zalgiris on the road 79-64. Neptunas won against Juventus on its own court 75-60. Zalgiris – Dzukija 79-64No shocking result in a game when third ranked Zalgiris (5-1) beat 7th ranked Dzukija (3-3) in Kaunas 79-64 on Monday. The game was mostly controlled by Zalgiris. Dzukija was better in fourth quarter 23-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Zalgiris forced 19 Dzukija turnovers. It was a very good performance for Canadian-Slovenia point guard Kevin Pangos (188-93, college: Gonzaga) who helped to win the game recording 12 points and 5 assists. German Isaiah Hartenstein (211-98) contributed with 9 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Russia center Anatoly Kashirov (215-87) answered with 7 points and 8 rebounds and forward Julius Kazakauskas (197-90) added 9 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Dzukija. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zalgiris have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to second place. Loser Dzukija dropped to the fifth position with three games lost. Zalgiris will face Neptunas (#8) in Klaipeda in the next round …

continue reading in source www.eurobasket.com