Superleague Round 7: Gorgan keeps a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Gorgan as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Gorgan smashed bottom-ranked Khouzestan at home 91-70. Gorgan dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Khouzestan's 22. They outrebounded Khouzestan 61-43 including a 43-31 advantage in defensive rebounds. Gorgan looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a great evening for the former international center Meisam Mirzaei (210-92) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds. Guard Ashkan Jafari (195-2) helped adding 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. At the losing side Arash Sabeti responded with 41 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Khouzestan at the other side still closes the standings with one game lost. Khouzestan will play next round against Niroo Zamini trying to get back on the winning streak. Gorgan will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Kouchin in Amol.
Important game to mention about took place in Kerman. Third ranked Sirjan (3-1) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging their biggest opponent Kerman (3-2) 55-54 on Tuesday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kerman. It was a key game for the second position in the league. It was an exceptional evening for the former international center Masoud Soleymani (207-90) who led the winners and scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Nikola Dragovic accounted for 16 points and 8 rebounds. Ukrainian center Igor Chumakov (208-90, agency: BIG) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 15 rebounds for Kerman in the defeat. Sirjan have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Zob Ahan. Kerman at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. Sirjan will play against Zob Ahan (#3) in Esfahan in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Kerman will play at home against Naft Abadan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
A very close game took place in Abadan between Zob Ahan and Naft Abadan. Fourth ranked Zob Ahan (3-1) got a very close victory on the road over 6th ranked Naft Abadan (1-3). Zob Ahan managed to escape with a 3-point win 73-70 on Tuesday evening. Sajjad Mashayekhi fired 21 points and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws) for the winners. Reza Ranjbar produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zob Ahan have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Sirjan. Loser Naft Abadan keeps the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with Exxon SC. Zob Ahan will meet at home league's second-placed Sirjan in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Naft Abadan will play against Kerman (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 7 Kouchin destroyed Niroo Zamini on the opponent's court 80-59.

Gorgan - Khouzestan 91-70

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Gorgan as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Gorgan smashed bottom-ranked Khouzestan at home 91-70. Gorgan dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Khouzestan's 22. They outrebounded Khouzestan 61-43 including a 43-31 advantage in defensive rebounds. Gorgan looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a great evening for the former international center Meisam Mirzaei (210-92) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds. Guard Ashkan Jafari (195-2) helped adding 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Gorgan players scored in double figures. At the losing side Arash Sabeti responded with 41 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds and Behnam Payam scored 14 points and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Khouzestan at the other side still closes the standings with one game lost. Khouzestan will play next round against Niroo Zamini trying to get back on the winning streak. Gorgan will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Kouchin in Amol.
Top scorers:
Khouzestan: A.Sabeti 41+8reb, P.Behnam 14+8reb+2ast, A.Mostafa 9+11reb, S.Aali 2+6reb+2ast, S.Saeid 2+1reb+2ast, G.Abolfazl 1+4reb
Gorgan: M.Mirzaei 15+15reb+3ast, A.Sedighi 12+5reb, F.Pedram 11+2reb+1ast, J.Ashkan 10+5reb+4ast, K.Yasin 10+4reb+2ast, P.Petty 9+3reb+1ast

Niroo Zamini - Kouchin 59-80

Rather expected game in Tehran where bottom-ranked Niroo Zamini (0-5) was crushed by fifth ranked Kouchin (2-2) 80-59 on Monday. Kouchin outrebounded Niroo Zamini 46-27 including a 27-13 advantage in defensive rebounds. Forward Nosrat Yazarloo (197-2) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. The former international Matin Aghajanpoor (199-1) chipped in 24 points and 4 assists. Guard Pouya Yakhchali (-96) produced 11 points and 5 rebounds and Khashayar Ali-Akbari added 13 points respectively for lost side. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kouchin moved-up to third place, which they share with Raad. Loser Niroo Zamini still closes the standings with five games lost. Kouchin will meet at home league's leader Gorgan in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Niroo Zamini will play against Khouzestan (#7) in Ahvaz and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Niroo Zamini: A.Khashayar 13+3reb+3ast, M.Payam 12+2reb+1ast, Y.Pouya 11+5reb+3ast, N.Maziar 4+5reb+2ast, Z.Soheil 4, M.Reza 4+2reb
Kouchin: A.Matin 24+1reb+4ast, Y.Nosrat 19+12reb+4ast, L.Mohammadmahdi 12+5reb+5ast, J.Behnam 6+2reb, A.Jalal 6+5reb, Y.Amirhossein 5+1reb+2ast

Kerman - Sirjan 54-55

Important game to mention about took place in Kerman. Third ranked Sirjan (3-1) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging their biggest opponent Kerman (3-2) 55-54 on Tuesday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kerman. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Strangely Kerman outrebounded Sirjan 47-31 including a 33-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was an exceptional evening for the former international center Masoud Soleymani (207-90) who led the winners and scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Montenegrin-Serbian forward Nikola Dragovic (206-87, college: UCLA, agency: BeoBasket) accounted for 16 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. Ukrainian center Igor Chumakov (208-90, agency: BIG) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 15 rebounds and the former international center Asghar Kardoust (212-86, agency: BIG) added 14 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Kerman in the defeat. Sirjan have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Zob Ahan. Kerman at the other side dropped to the fourth position with two games lost. Sirjan will play against Zob Ahan (#3) in Esfahan in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Kerman will play at home against Naft Abadan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kerman: I.Chumakov 16+15reb, A.Kardoust 14+12reb+1ast, I.Williams 13+3reb+1ast, S.Torabikhah 5+4reb+1ast, M.Saleh 4+3reb, K.Ali 2+4reb
Sirjan: M.Soleymani 25+7reb, N.Dragovic 16+8reb+1ast, M.Shahrian 5+4reb+5ast, A.Ponkrashov 3+4reb+7ast, A.Taherkhani 2+2reb, E.Samadi 2

Naft Abadan - Zob Ahan 70-73

A very close game took place in Abadan between Zob Ahan and Naft Abadan. Fourth ranked Zob Ahan (3-1) got a very close victory on the road over 6th ranked Naft Abadan (1-3). Zob Ahan managed to escape with a 3-point win 73-70 on Tuesday evening. Zob Ahan dominated down low during the game scoring 40 of its points in the paint compared to Naft Abadan's 20. Zob Ahan forced 25 Naft Abadan turnovers. The former international point guard Sajjad Mashayekhi (180-94) fired 21 points and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws) for the winners. The former international Arsalan Kazemi (200-90, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds. The former international Reza Ranjbar produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 14 rebounds and the former international swingman Saeid Mohammadi (187-92) added 15 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zob Ahan have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Sirjan. Loser Naft Abadan keeps the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with Exxon SC. Zob Ahan will meet at home league's second-placed Sirjan in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Naft Abadan will play against Kerman (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Naft Abadan: S.Mohammadi 15+3reb+4ast, D.Ehsan 14+6reb+2ast, T.Mohamadreza 12+1reb+2ast, R.Ranjbar 11+14reb+2ast, V.Dalirzahan 6+2reb+1ast, M.Esmaeili 5+4reb+1ast
Zob Ahan: S.Mashayekhi 21+4reb+4ast, A.Kazemi 15+6reb+1ast, A.Gholizadeh 13+7reb, A.Mortazavi 11+4reb+3ast, M.Reza Akbari 7+9reb+2ast, F.Aslani 5+1reb+3ast



Tags : MEISAM MIRZAEI, SHAHRDARI GORGAN, IRANIAN BASKETBALL