LBL Round 24 (Regular Season): Al Riyadi beat Homentmen in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Al Riyadi (#1) and Homentmen (#5). Al Riyadi (20-1) smashed visiting Homentmen (10-11) by 24 points 110-86. Al Riyadi dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Homentmen's 46. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Homentmen's players. The best player for the winners was Australian-South Sudanese center Thon Maker (216-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. U.S. Virgin Islands-American forward Marcus Georges-Hunt (196-1994, college: Georgia Tech) chipped in 21 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) who recorded 25 points and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al Riyadi have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 20-1 record. Homentmen lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with 11 games lost.
Another interesting game was again a derby between two teams from Beirut: Beirut Club (#2) and Sagesse (#3). Beirut Club (18-3) won against visiting Sagesse (17-4) 90-86. It was a good game for American forward Thomas Wimbush (201-1993, college: Fairmont St., agency: Slash Sports) who led his team to a victory with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Joseph Young contributed with 21 points for the winners. Guinean-French Sekou Doumbouya (206-2000) replied with 27 points and 9 rebounds for Sagesse. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Beirut Club maintains second position with 18-3 record having just two points less than leader Al Riyadi. Sagesse at the other side keeps the third place with four games lost.

Rest of the games of round 24 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Antranik was defeated by Al Markaziyyah in Jounieh 85-77. Bottom-ranked NSA was beaten by Hoops at home 81-85. Mayrouba lost to Antonine on the opponent's court 77-84. Maristes managed to outperform Tadamon in a home game 115-97.



Al Markaziyyah - Antranik 85-77

There was no surprise in Jounieh where 10th ranked Antranik (8-14) was defeated by eighth ranked Al Markaziyyah (9-12) 85-77. Al Markaziyyah players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac, agency: Slash Sports) who led his team to a victory with 30 points and 8 rebounds. Forward Kenny Wooten Jr (204-1998, college: Oregon) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks for the winners. Five Al Markaziyyah players scored in double figures. Al Markaziyyah's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Forward Anthony Fairley (205-1999, college: Miles, agency: BIG) replied with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) added 20 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Antranik. Al Markaziyyah moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Maristes and Hoops. Antranik lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Tadamon.
Top scorers:
Al Markaziyyah: C.Young 30+8reb+3ast, R.Brown 20+2reb+4ast, E.Ghaleb 11+11reb, J.Zaloum 11+5reb+9ast, K.Wooten Jr. 11+15reb+2ast, M.Hijazi 2+2reb+2ast
Antranik: T.Criswell 20+8reb, A.Fairley 18+11reb+5ast, S.Nelson 13+4reb+5ast, J.Abou Samra 8+4reb+13ast, R.Moussa 7+6reb+2ast, A.Kopaly 6

NSA - Hoops 81-85

No shocking result in a game when eighth ranked Hoops (9-12) defeated on the road bottom-ranked NSA (2-19) 85-81. Hoops players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) who led his team to a victory with 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. Power forward Jarvis Williams (203-1993, college: Murray St.) contributed with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Daniel Hamilton (201-1995, college: UConn) replied with a triple-double by scoring 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and guard Makye Richards (188, college: Xavier, LA) added 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for NSA. Four Hoops and five NSA players scored in double figures. Hoops moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Maristes and Al Markaziyyah. NSA at the other side stay dead last with 19 lost games.
Top scorers:
Hoops: D.Dixson 33+7reb+2ast, J.Williams 18+16reb+2ast, A.English 11+3reb+7ast, J.Jarrouge 11+5reb+5ast, A.Sabbagh 6+1reb, T.Akiki 2+4reb+2ast
NSA: D.Hamilton 18+12reb+10ast, M.Richards 18+8reb+5ast, E.Montgomery 14+11reb, L.Saleh 14+6reb, M.Haddad 11+2reb+1ast, K.Mechref 3+2reb+1ast

Al Riyadi - Homentmen 110-86

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Al Riyadi (#1) and Homentmen (#5). Al Riyadi (20-1) smashed visiting Homentmen (10-11) by 24 points 110-86. Al Riyadi dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Homentmen's 46. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Homentmen's players. The best player for the winners was Australian-South Sudanese center Thon Maker (216-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. U.S. Virgin Islands-American forward Marcus Georges-Hunt (196-1994, college: Georgia Tech) chipped in 21 points and 5 rebounds. Five Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) who recorded 25 points and 4 assists and Armenian guard Gabriel Ajemian (193-1998, college: Compton) added 19 points respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al Riyadi have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 20-1 record. Homentmen lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: M.Georges-Hunt 21+5reb+2ast, E.Kikanovic 21+4reb, W.Arakji 15+1reb+6ast, T.Maker 14+13reb+4ast, H.Gyokchyan 14+8reb+4ast, B.Tabbara 9+1ast
Homentmen: J.Stevens 25+4reb+4ast, G.Ajemian 19+3reb+2ast, T.Bey 12+8reb+2ast, K.Kevork 9+3reb, J.Soufan 6+3reb+1ast, M.Hoteit 4+12reb+3ast

Antonine - Mayrouba 84-77

Very expected game when 11th ranked Mayrouba (6-15) was defeated on the road by fourth ranked Antonine (11-10) 84-77. Antonine players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 9 blocks. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for forward Michael Watkins (206-1995, college: Penn State) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 19 rebounds and 8 blocks (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field). Point guard Kerwin Roach II (192-1996, college: Texas) contributed with 30 points and 4 assists for the winners. Antonine's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Guard JaCor Nelson (195-1999, college: Central Mo.) replied with 20 points and 7 assists and forward Kahlil Thomas (203-1994, college: Rider) added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for Mayrouba. Antonine have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 11-10 record. Mayrouba lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Antonine: K.Roach II 30+3reb+4ast, M.Watkins 25+19reb, P.Abboud 11+10reb+6ast, I.Washington 9+2reb+10ast, B.Mansour 6, M.Martinez 3+1reb+4ast
Mayrouba: J.Nelson 20+2reb+7ast, T.Dalger 17+4reb+3ast, K.Thomas 15+11reb+2ast, A.Koubba 9+1reb+1ast, J.Nakhle 7+9reb+1ast, K.Licha 5+2reb+4ast

Maristes - Tadamon 115-97

The game between closely ranked teams ended with eighth ranked Maristes' (9-12) home victory over 9th ranked Tadamon (8-14) 115-97. Maristes shot the lights out from three nailing 18 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 31 assists. It was a good game for American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 27 points, 5 rebounds and 16 assists. American center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) contributed with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Maristes' coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) replied with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and George Daaboul added 16 points and 12 assists in the effort for Tadamon. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Maristes moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Al Markaziyyah and Hoops. Newly promoted Tadamon keeps the ninth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Antranik.
Top scorers:
Maristes: M.Mobley 29+6reb+1ast, J.Blake 27+5reb+16ast, H.Sims 24+10reb+4ast, K.Ezzeddine 13+9reb+5ast, R.Zanbaka 13+2reb+2ast, J.Salem 6+4reb+1ast
Tadamon: U.McLean 26+6reb+4ast, M.Ziadeh 18+9reb+2ast, G.Daaboul 16+3reb+12ast, N.Stover 16+4reb+4ast, R.Hansen 11+6reb, A.Alalia 8+2reb+1ast

Beirut Club - Sagesse 90-86

Another interesting game was again a derby between two teams from Beirut: Beirut Club (#2) and Sagesse (#3). Beirut Club (18-3) won against visiting Sagesse (17-4) 90-86. Beirut Club made 29-of-36 charity shots (80.6 percent) during the game. Sagesse was plagued by 33 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for American forward Thomas Wimbush (201-1993, college: Fairmont St., agency: Slash Sports) who led his team to a victory with 24 points and 8 rebounds. The other American import guard Joseph Young (188-1992, college: Oregon) contributed with 21 points for the winners. Guinean-French Sekou Doumbouya (206-2000) replied with 27 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) added 21 points and 6 assists in the effort for Sagesse. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Beirut Club maintains second position with 18-3 record having just two points less than leader Al Riyadi. Sagesse at the other side keeps the third place with four games lost.
Top scorers:
Beirut Club: T.Wimbush 24+8reb+2ast, J.Young 21+2reb+3ast, S.El Darwich 17+6reb+1ast, M.Haidar 10+4reb+1ast, K.Kadji 10+4reb, A.Mezher 4+7reb+12ast
Sagesse: S.Doumbouya 27+9reb+3ast, Z.Lofton 21+3reb+6ast, O.Jamaleddine 14+9reb+2ast, M.Khoueiry 10+2reb+2ast, J.Khatib 7+5reb, T.Owens 4+3reb