Round 9 (Regular Season): #1 Vancouver is defeated by Winnipeg

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Bandits (8-2) in Langley on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Sea Bears (5-5) 92-85. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Bandits. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Center Simi Shittu (208-1999, college: Vanderbilt) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and American Jalen Harris (196-1998, college: Nevada) chipped in 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Sea Bears' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was Australian swingman Mitch Creek (196-1992) with 29 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Winnipeg moved-up to second place, which they share with Scarborough. Vancouver at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Winnipeg is looking forward to face Edmonton (#4) on the road in the next round. Vancouver will play against the league's second-placed Calgary and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in Hamilton. Fifth ranked Honey Badgers (3-7) saved a 2-point victory at home edging their close opponent Rattlers (2-8) 88-86 in the game for the fifth place. Forward David Muenkat (201-2000, college: St.Francis X., agency: Players Group) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for the winning side and Quinndary Weatherspoon accounted for 15 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. American guard Nate Pierre-Louis (193-1998, college: Temple) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists for Saskatchewan in the defeat. Rattlers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Brampton maintains fifth place with 3-7 record which they share with defeated Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with eight games lost. Brampton will play against higher ranked Ottawa (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Saskatchewan will play against Montreal and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Shooting Stars (5-5) against fourth ranked Blackjacks (3-6) on Friday night. Host Shooting Stars were crushed by Blackjacks in Toronto 97-78. The best player for the winners was JaVonte Smart who scored 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Terquavion Smith who recorded 32 points. Shooting Stars' coach tested ten players seeing no chance for a win. Ottawa maintains fourth place with 3-6 record. Loser Shooting Stars keeps the second position with five games lost. They share it with Winnipeg. Ottawa will meet Brampton (#5) in the next round. Scarborough will play against the league's leader Niagara and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 9 Montreal lost to Niagara on the opponent's court 82-93.



Niagara - Montreal 93-82

Rather expected game in Niagara where 3rd placed Alliance (4-4) was defeated by first ranked River Lions (7-3) 93-82 on Friday. Niagara made 26-of-32 free shots (81.3 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American guard Khalil Ahmad (191-1996, college: CS Fullerton, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 21 points and 5 assists. Guard Jahvon Henry-Blair (193-1998, college: Georgetown) chipped in 18 points. At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Tavian Dunn-Martin (173-1998, college: FGCU) who recorded 21 points and 4 assists and Ivorian-Canadian forward Quincy Guerrier (203-1999, college: Illinois) added 11 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Five Niagara and four Montreal players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Niagara maintains first place with 7-3 record. Montreal lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the third position with four games lost. Niagara will meet league's second-placed Scarborough in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Montreal will play against Saskatchewan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Montreal: T.Dunn-Martin 21+4reb+4ast, M.Duvivier 12+3reb+3ast, Q.Guerrier 11+11reb+1ast, A.Louis 10+2reb+4ast, A.Mohamed 9+5reb+1ast, M.Diggins 9+2reb+2ast
Niagara: K.Ahmad 21+4reb+5ast, J.Henry-Blair 18+4reb+2ast, A.Hill 14+4reb+2ast, E.Lufile 12+9reb+1ast, E.Ekiyor 10+6reb, K.Mackenzie 5+3reb+6ast

Scarborough - Ottawa 78-97

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Shooting Stars (5-5) against fourth ranked Blackjacks (3-6) on Friday night. Host Shooting Stars were crushed by Blackjacks in Toronto 97-78. Ottawa looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Scarborough's players. The best player for the winners was American guard JaVonte Smart (193-1999, college: LSU) who scored 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import forward Isaih Moore (208-2000, college: Fresno St.) chipped in a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds. Four Blackjacks players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Terquavion Smith (193-2002, college: NC State) who recorded 32 points and Barbados forward Hason Ward (206-2000, college: Iowa St.) added 10 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Shooting Stars' coach tested ten players seeing no chance for a win. Ottawa maintains fourth place with 3-6 record. Loser Shooting Stars keeps the second position with five games lost. They share it with Winnipeg. Ottawa will meet Brampton (#5) in the next round. Scarborough will play against the league's leader Niagara and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Scarborough: T.Smith 32+4reb, H.Ward 10+8reb, A.Barber 9+4reb+3ast, D.Walker 7+2reb, J.Nicholas 6+6reb+1ast, J.Coke-Domingue 6+3reb
Ottawa: I.Moore 23+11reb+2ast, J.Smart 23+8reb+6ast, T.Tate 15+4reb+3ast, Z.Waterman 13+3reb+1ast, C.Rohlehr 7+5reb, J.Jackson 7+5reb

Brampton - Saskatchewan 88-86

Important game to mention about took place in Hamilton. Fifth ranked Honey Badgers (3-7) saved a 2-point victory at home edging their close opponent Rattlers (2-8) 88-86 in the game for the fifth place. Brampton players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Forward David Muenkat (201-2000, college: St.Francis X., agency: Players Group) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (190-1996, college: MSU) accounted for 15 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. American guard Nate Pierre-Louis (193-1998, college: Temple) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists and the other American import guard Jordan Bowden (197-1997, college: Tennessee) added 20 points and 4 assists respectively for Saskatchewan in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Rattlers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Brampton maintains fifth place with 3-7 record which they share with defeated Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with eight games lost. Brampton will play against higher ranked Ottawa (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Saskatchewan will play against Montreal and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Saskatchewan: J.Bowden 20+4reb+4ast, N.Pierre-Louis 17+5reb+10ast, D.Bandoo 17+6reb+2ast, G.Anticevich 14+6reb, J.Bediako 13+12reb+1ast, J.Chaplin 3+1reb+1ast
Brampton: D.Muenkat 20+14reb+2ast, Q.Weatherspoon 15+7reb+8ast, P.Oduro 12+3reb, M.Carr 11+1reb+12ast, A.Kelly 10+3reb+1ast, J.Gainey 10+2reb

Vancouver - Winnipeg 85-92

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Bandits (8-2) in Langley on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Sea Bears (5-5) 92-85. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Bandits. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Center Simi Shittu (208-1999, college: Vanderbilt) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and American Jalen Harris (196-1998, college: Nevada) chipped in 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Sea Bears' coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was Australian swingman Mitch Creek (196-1992) with 29 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and American point guard Corey Davis (186-1997, college: Houston) scored 16 points and 7 assists. Four Vancouver players scored in double figures. Winnipeg moved-up to second place, which they share with Scarborough. Vancouver at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Winnipeg is looking forward to face Edmonton (#4) on the road in the next round. Vancouver will play against the league's second-placed Calgary and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Vancouver: M.Creek 29+7reb+4ast, C.Davis 16+2reb+7ast, C.Hollis 14+7reb+3ast, J.Karnik 12+8reb+1ast, Z.Copeland 7+1reb+2ast, S.Maillet 4+4reb+3ast
Winnipeg: S.Shittu 27+14reb+3ast, T.Roberts 25+2reb+4ast, J.Harris 22+6reb+4ast, E.Akot 8+4reb, N.Bilamu 6, T.Jones 2+5reb+5ast