Basketball Champions League – Overview of Round 9

TeemuRannikkoGroup ABakken – Aris 78-92No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Greek Aris (6-3) beat bottom-ranked Danish Bakken (1-8) in Aarhus 92-78 on Tuesday. The guests trailed by 2 points after first quarter, but they stormed back to get the 3-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 92-78. Aris made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a good game for Serbian power forward Tadija Dragicevic (206-86) who led his team to a victory with 18 points. Point guard Vasilis Xanthopoulos (188-84, agency: Octagon Europe) contributed with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American-Trinidad and Tobago guard Devaughn Akoon-Purcell (196-93, college: Illinois St.) answered with 21 points and 8 rebounds and American guard Mike Gesell (188-93, college: Iowa) added 12 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Bakken. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Aris moved-up to third place in Group A, which they share with CEZ Nymburk. Bakken lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Aris will face Ironi Nahariya (#5) at home in the next round. Bakken will play against the league’s second-placed Monaco and hope to win that game. Top scorers:Aris: W.Cummings 19+1reb+4ast, T.Dragicevic 18+4reb+3ast, M.Jenkins 14+4reb+4ast, V.Xanthopoulos 12+7reb+5ast, M.Tsairelis 9+4reb, T.Zaras 9Bakken: D.Akoon-Purcell 21+8reb+3ast, T.Laerke 15+3ast, A.Darboe 14+2reb+2ast, M.Gesell 12+6reb+1ast, K.Kitsing 5+1reb, C.Christoffersen 4+6rebgschID: 510312Banvit BK – Fraport SKY 86-71Very expected game when 6th ranked German Deutsche Bank Skyliners (3-6) lost to first ranked Turkish Banvit (8-1) in Balikesir 71-86 on Tuesday. The game without a history. Banvit led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. Banvit shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 59.1 percentage. It was a good game for Polish power forward Damian Kulig (205-87, agency: BeoBasket) who led his team to a victory with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Lithuanian swingman Gediminas Orelik (199-90) contributed with 16 points for the winners. Five Banvit players scored in double figures. Banvit’s coach used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. American guard Kwame Vaughn (190-90, college: CS Fullerton) answered with 19 points and 8 assists and Danish guard Shavon Shields (201-94, college: Nebraska) added 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Deutsche Bank Skyliners. They have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Banvit maintains first place in Group A with 8-1 record, which they share with Monaco. Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth position with six games lost. Banvit will face CEZ Nymburk (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Deutsche Bank Skyliners will play against Helios and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Top scorers:Banvit BK: G.Orelik 16+4reb+2ast, D.Kulig 15+9reb+1ast, E.Muric 13+4reb+1ast, J.Theodore 12+2reb+8ast, C.Mutaf 11+4reb+3ast, J.Chappell 7+2reb+1astFraport SKY: K.Vaughn 19+4reb+8ast, S.Shields 16+8reb+5ast, M.Morrison 11+4reb, A.Graves 9+6ast, E.Ibekwe 8+3reb, Q.Robertson 8+2reb+1astgschID: 510317Ironi Nahariya – CEZ Nymburk 83-86A very interesting game took place in Nahariya. It ended with only three-point home defeat of 5th ranked Israeli Ironi Nahariya (3-6) to third ranked Czech CEZ Nymburk (6-3) 86-83 on Tuesday evening. Ironi Nahariya was ahead by 1 point at the halftime before a 20-15 third quarter run of CEZ Nymburk. They also forced 19 Ironi Nahariya turnovers. The best player for the winners was Cuban forward Howard Sant-Roos (200-91) who scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American point guard Eugene Lawrence (184-86, college: St.John’s) chipped in 15 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Derwin Kitchen (194-86, college: Florida St.) who recorded 9 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import forward Gilbert Brown (198-87, college: Pittsburgh) added 14 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. CEZ Nymburk have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Czech champion maintains third place in Group A with 6-3 record having just two points less than leader Banvit BK, which they share with Aris. Ironi Nahariya at the other side keeps the fifth position with six games lost. CEZ Nymburk’s next round opponent will be league’s leader Banvit in Balikesir and it will be for sure the game of the week. Ironi Nahariya will play on the road against Aris (#4) in Thessaloniki and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Top scorers:CEZ Nymburk: H.Sant-Roos 15+6reb+4ast, E.Lawrence 15+1reb+4ast, T.Meier 15, V.Hruban 15+4reb+1ast, P.Benda 7+6reb+2ast, D.Simpson 6+4rebIroni Nahariya: G.Brown 14+5reb+3ast, Y.Gates 13+6reb+1ast, N.Faust 11+3reb+4ast, S.Douglass 11+2reb, J.Skjoldebrand 10+4reb+1ast, D.Kitchen 9+8reb+6astgschID: 510313Helios – Monaco 59-63Very predictable result when second ranked French Monaco (8-1) won against 7th ranked Slovenian Helios (1-8) in Domzale 63-59 on Tuesday. Helios trailed by 12 points at halftime and as many as 14 after three quarters before a 24-14 last quarter charge cut the deficit to 59-63 at the end of the game. It was a good game for Ghanian-French Billy Ouattara (191-92) who led his team to a victory with 18 points and 6 rebounds. American-Azerbaijani forward Niklas Caner-Medley (203-83, college: Maryland, agency: BeoBasket) contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Guard Luka Voncina (193-91, college: Charlotte) answered with 14 points and Czech Tomas Kyzlink (195-93) added 18 points in the effort for Helios. Monaco have a solid series of four victories in a row. They used an opportunity after Banvit BK lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position in Group A. Helios lost fifth consecutive game. Defending Slovenian champion keep the seventh place with eight games lost. Monaco will face bottom-ranked Bakken (#8) in Aarhus in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Helios will play on the road against Deutsche Bank Skyliners in Frankfurt and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Top scorers:Monaco: B.Ouattara 18+6reb, N.Caner-Medley 10+7reb+2ast, D.Bost 8+5reb+5ast, A.Sy 7+1ast, J.Bryant 6+5reb+1ast, Z.Wright 6+3reb+3astHelios: T.Kyzlink 18+1ast, L.Voncina 14+4reb+2ast, J.Mocnik 7+3reb+3ast, C.Remekun 7+6reb+1ast, S.Atanackovic 5+9reb, T.Bolcina 4+11reb+1astgschID: 510310Group BOradea – Maccabi Rishon 69-64Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both seventh ranked Romanian Oradea and 6th ranked Israeli Maccabi Rishon had identical 3-5 record. This time Oradea used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Rishon Le-Zion 69-64 on Wednesday night. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Maccabi Rishon won fourth quarter 19-16. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Oradea looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Oradea made 9 blocks. It was a good game for Canadian center Sean Denison (210-85, college: Santa Clara, agency: 011 Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 blocks. American guard Martin Zeno (196-85, college: Texas Tech) contributed with 18 points for the winners. Oradea’s coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American swingman Patrick Richard (196-90, college: McNeese St., agency: Inception Sports) answered with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists and the other American import forward Javon McCrea (201-92, college: Buffalo) added 19 points and 8 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) in the effort for Maccabi Rishon. Four Maccabi Rishon players scored in double figures. Defending Romanian champion (4-5) moved-up to fifth place in Group B, which they share with Avtodor. Defending Israeli champion Maccabi Rishon dropped to the seventh position with six games lost. Oradea will face Avtodor (#6) in Saratov in the next round. Maccabi Rishon will play at home against the league’s second-placed Pinar Karsiyaka and hope to win that game. Top scorers:Oradea: M.Zeno 18+3reb+3ast, S.Denison 14+11reb+5ast, T.Nicoara 11+7reb+1ast, M.Pasalic 7+1reb+7ast, U.Lucic 7+2reb+1ast, B.Mirkovic 6+5reb+7astMaccabi Rishon: J.McCrea 19+8reb, C.Thomas 14+3reb+1ast, P.Richard 12+7reb+8ast, N.Levi 10+5reb+3ast, N.Hanochi 7+4reb+4ast, E.Kadir 2+6reb+3astgschID: 510322Kataja Basket – Avtodor 97-86Both fifth ranked Finnish Joensuun Kataja and 4th placed Russian Avtodor had identical 4-4 record. This time Joensuun Kataja used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Saratov 97-86 on Wednesday night. The game was mostly controlled by Joensuun Kataja. Avtodor was better in second period 22-20. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Joensuun Kataja made 24-of-28 free shots (85.7 percent) during the game. Joensuun Kataja forced 21 Avtodor turnovers. Avtodor was plagued by 29 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for point guard Teemu Rannikko (189-80) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 assists. American Rion Brown (198-91, college: Miami, FL) contributed with 18 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American Nick Minnerath (207-88, college: Detroit Mercy) answered with 20 points and 8 rebounds and guard Sergey Bykov (190-83) added 14 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in the effort for Avtodor. Five Joensuun Kataja and four Avtodor players scored in double figures. Avtodor’s coach let to play ten players, but that didn’t help to avoid defeat in this game. Joensuun Kataja have a solid series of three victories in a row. Joensuun Kataja (5-4) moved-up to fourth place in Group B. Loser Avtodor dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. Joensuun Kataja will face league’s leader Le Mans on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Avtodor will play against Oradea (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Top scorers:Kataja Basket: T.Rannikko 26+2reb+10ast, R.Brown 18+8reb+2ast, D.Mullings 14+6reb+3ast, J.King 13+4reb+2ast, V.Makalainen 10+6reb, J.Bradley 8+4rebAvtodor: N.Minnerath 20+8reb+1ast, V.Hunter 20+6reb, S.Bykov 14+6reb+7ast, E.Kolesnikov 12+2reb+3ast, B.Frazier 5+4reb+2ast, M.Carrera 5+6reb+2astgschID: 510307Khimik – Le Mans 59-82There was no surprise when 8th ranked Ukrainian Khimik (1-8) was outleveled by first ranked French Le Mans (7-2) in Yuzhny 82-59 on Wednesday. The game without a history. Le Mans led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. It was a good game for Beninese power forward Mouphtaou Yarou (204-90, college: Villanova) who led his team to a victory with 16 points and 6 rebounds. Lahaou Konate (196-91) contributed with 15 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Power forward Viacheslav Petrov (204-94, agency: AproK Sports Group) answered with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds and American point guard Jaime Smith (190-89, college: Al.-Huntsville) added 13 points and 6 assists in the effort for Khimik. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Le Mans maintains first place in Group B with 7-2 record. Khimik lost sixth consecutive game. Defending Ukrainian champion stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Le Mans will face Joensuun Kataja (#4) at home in the next round. Khimik will play against Umana Venezia (#3) and hope to win that game. Top scorers:Le Mans: M.Yarou 16+6reb, L.Konate 15+5reb+1ast, R.Pearson 13+1reb+2ast, O.Hanlan 9+3reb+7ast, W.Yeguete 7+9reb, P.Amagou …

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