Superleague Round 18 (Regular Season): Al Shurtah beat Al Karkh by two after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 18 in the Superleague took place in Al Karkh. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 5th ranked Al Karkh (8-9) to third ranked Al Shurtah (10-6) 64-62 on Friday evening. It was a good game for American forward Antwaine Wiggins (203-1988, college: Charleston) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds. The former international center Mohammed Al-Khafaji (206-1991) contributed with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) replied with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists for Al Karkh. Al Shurtah maintains third position with 10-6 record having just two points less than leader Al-Difaa. Al Karkh lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with nine games lost.
Important game to mention about took place in Al Hilla. Seventh ranked Al Hilla (8-10) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 8th ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (5-6) 89-86 on Friday evening. American players dominated the game. Guard John Crosby (190-1996, college: Delaware St.) had a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Daytone Jennings chipped in 26 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was swingman Ricardo Artis II (198-1993, college: Wiley) with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 18 rebounds. Al Hilla moved-up to sixth place. Ghaz Al-Shamal at the other side keeps the eighth position with six games lost.
An interesting game was also surprising road defeat of 4th ranked Al-Hashd in a game versus Zakho (#7) 89-82. Isaac Banks notched a double-double by scoring 10 points, 16 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the effort. Even 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists by Kerwin Roach II did not help to save the game for Al-Hashd. Al-Hashd's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Zakho maintains seventh position with 7-6 record. Loser Al-Hashd keeps the fourth place with eight games lost.

In the last game of round 18 Al Kahraba was beaten by Dijlah on the road 80-70.



Zakho - Al-Hashd 89-82

An interesting game was also surprising road defeat of 4th ranked Al-Hashd in a game versus Zakho (#7) 89-82. Zakho looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Al-Hashd's players. American forward Isaac Banks (201-1994, college: ETSU) notched a double-double by scoring 10 points, 16 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the effort and international guard Murad Zewki (191-2000) supported him with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Zakho players scored in double figures. Even 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists by American point guard Kerwin Roach II (192-1996, college: Texas, agency: MSG) did not help to save the game for Al-Hashd. Muntadher Al-Rubaye added 22 points and 5 rebounds. Al-Hashd's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Zakho maintains seventh position with 7-6 record. Loser Al-Hashd keeps the fourth place with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Zakho: M.Murad 23+4reb+4ast, Z.Alyousif 22+5reb+2ast, M.Burwell 16+2reb+7ast, M.Zewki 15+12reb+5ast, I.Banks 10+16reb+9ast, M.Hussein 3+1reb
Al-Hashd: K.Roach II 30+6reb+5ast, M.Al-Rubaye 22+5reb+1ast, M.Nahi 10+11reb+1ast, B.Halums 9+5reb, A.Saeed 8+4reb+2ast, A.Al-Shujairi 3+3reb+3ast

Dijlah - Al Kahraba 80-70

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Dijlah (13-3) beat 9th ranked Al Kahraba (3-10) in Baghdad 80-70 on Thursday. Strangely Al Kahraba outrebounded Dijlah 41-29 including 28 on the defensive glass. American forward Gerard Tarin (206-1996, college: Nova SE) notched 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and international swingman Karrar Hamzah (187-1995) supported him with 17 points and 6 assists. Tarin is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Dijlah players scored in double figures. Dijlah's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 26 points and 6 rebounds by American swingman Tavarius Shine (198-1994, college: OK State) did not help to save the game for Al Kahraba. His fellow American import center Brian Bridgeforth (208-1994, college: WAU, agency: Gulf Coast Hoops) added 12 points and 19 rebounds. Dijlah have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 13-3 record having just one point less than leader Al-Difaa. Al Kahraba lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Dijlah: G.Tarin 25+8reb+5ast, K.Hamzah 17+4reb+6ast, S.Gibson 11+4reb+3ast, J.Al-saadi 10+2reb, M.Nahi 6+2reb, D.Liggins 5+2reb+2ast
Al Kahraba: T.Shine 26+6reb+1ast, B.Bridgeforth 12+19reb+2ast, A.Kareem 9+3reb+3ast, H.Aldiwani 8+10reb+1ast, M.Al-Mjruss 5+2reb+2ast, S.Al-Saedi 5

Al Hilla - Ghaz Al-Shamal 89-86

Important game to mention about took place in Al Hilla. Seventh ranked Al Hilla (8-10) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 8th ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (5-6) 89-86 on Friday evening. American players dominated the game. Guard John Crosby (190-1996, college: Delaware St.) had a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and forward Daytone Jennings (206-1997, college: CSUSB, agency: SLN) chipped in 26 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was swingman Ricardo Artis II (198-1993, college: Wiley) with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 18 rebounds and guard Kaleb Hunter (193-1998, college: UNCG) scored 23 points and 9 rebounds. Al Hilla moved-up to sixth place. Ghaz Al-Shamal at the other side keeps the eighth position with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Hilla: J.Crosby 34+10reb+9ast, D.Jennings 26+9reb+1ast, A.Al-Musawi 13+3reb+2ast, A.Abed 6+3reb, A.Abs 6+4reb+3ast, M.Ismael 4+6reb+2ast
Ghaz Al-Shamal: R.Artis II 27+18reb+3ast, K.Hunter 23+9reb+3ast, M.Abdulqader 16+4reb+6ast, A.Albasrawi 9+10reb+2ast, M.Al-Sumedaei 6+1reb, M.Nasradin 5+8reb

Al Karkh - Al Shurtah 62-64

The most exciting game of round 18 in the Superleague took place in Al Karkh. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 5th ranked Al Karkh (8-9) to third ranked Al Shurtah (10-6) 64-62 on Friday evening. It was a good game for American forward Antwaine Wiggins (203-1988, college: Charleston) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds. The former international center Mohammed Al-Khafaji (206-1991) contributed with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) replied with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and the former international center Ali Hameed (208-1984) added 9 points and 13 rebounds in the effort for Al Karkh. Al Shurtah maintains third position with 10-6 record having just two points less than leader Al-Difaa. Al Karkh lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Shurtah: A.Wiggins 19+10reb, M.Al-Khafaji 16+13reb, J.Justice 10+4reb+2ast, H.Abdullah 8+1reb+2ast, N.Altaleb 4+2reb+1ast, A.Al-Rubaye 3+1reb+1ast
Al Karkh: S.Smith 24+5reb+6ast, B.Ogalue 15+5reb+1ast, A.Hameed 9+13reb+1ast, H.Almurshedi 9+8reb, F.Mahdi 5+4reb+1ast, K.Sultan 0+1reb