EuroView: Bolden's breakout season shows no signs of slowing
Jonah Bolden's emergence in Serbia shows no sign of slowing, with the 6'10 forward showing he can do damage inside and out in a tough loss for FMP Belgrade.
FMP' winning start to the New Year came to a half at the hands of second placed Partizan, going down 70-97. Partizan opened with a commanding 54-37 first half, and while FMP managed to slow their momentum in the third term, Partizan ran away with the final term 24-14. While his side were overwhelmed, Jonah Bolden was not. The 6'10 rising star was again outstanding, connecting on 5-of-7 three-pointers in finishing with a team-high 18 points with 5 rebounds and 3 steals. His side remains in 9th position, just outside the top 8, but NBA scouts will certainly be circling given the form Bolden is showcasing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peX_F-Bbq2g
Like he has done all season, Brock Motum helped provide the scoring punch to help ensure Žalgiris Kaunas earned a convincing 80-59 victory over Nevėžis in Lithuania. Given the landslide victory, the 6'10 forward only played 12 minutes but in that time provided 10 points and 4-of-7 shooting. Žalgiris were just far too strong for an outmatched opponent, further strengthening their position as the best team in Lithuania. He also had this amazing layup find a way to go in!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdglKVo1amk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZkMw_zbWLk
Lietkabelis maintained their chase of Žalgiris with a solid 75-62 win against last placed Šiauliai. One of the driving forces behind their win, Ben Madgen was again leading front the front. The dynamic guard fired in 13 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists, ensuring his side would remain in outright second position in the standings. While it was not the commanding victory they would have hoped for, it was a win nonetheless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJbY1wTg4Ok
The Leuven Bears made it two wins in a row after a final quarter burst saw them steal a thrilling 80-78 win over Brussels. After trailing all contest, the Bear unleashed a blistering 29-15 final term that saw them edge ahead. Former Saint Mary's duo Omar Samhan and Clint Steindl combined to score 14 of the Bear's amazing 16 points in the final 2 minutes of the contest to seal a remarkable come-from-behind victory. After a quiet offensive display for most of the game, Steindl would end up with 9 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists as Leuven moved further away from the bottom of the table in Belgium.
Ryan Broekhoff yet again played his role for Lokomotiv Kuban in the VTB United League, helping his side to a tight 86-85 win over Enisey. After trailing for most of the contest, it was Lokomotiv who would put their noses in front when it mattered the most thanks to a game-winning Matthew Jenning three-pointer before time expired. Broekhoff compiled 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists as Lokomotiv came away with a nail-biting win that ensured they retained outright second place in the standings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-r-W9dXjto
In Estonia, Venky Jois enjoyed a very good outing for Tartu Rock in their 88-69 triumph over Parnu. Venky Jois asserted himself on the game, providing 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Jois, who is currently fourth in the league for rebounding with 8.5 per game, has been a consistent contributor in helping ensure Tartu remains on top of the standings.
Also sitting on the top of the table is Dan Trist and his Danish side Horsens IC. They held off a spirited last quarter challenge from fourth placed Horsholm to come away with a 84-71 win. Trist was a catalyst for their success, scoring 15 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting with 5 rebounds before fouling out in 22 minutes off the bench. In the same competition, Matthew Adekponya saw only 9 minutes of play in Naestved's big 80-60 victory over last placed Stevnsgade. Adekponya added 2 points and 1 steal as his side moved into fourth position in the standings.
Daryl Corletto exploded for a game-high 29 points in Plymouth's 103-98 win over Bristol in the British Basketball League. The veteran guard was on fire, landing 7 treys in going 10-of-17 from the field, also picking up 4 rebounds and 6 assists in a fine performance. He had great support from Rhys Carter who went close to a triple-double in adding 14 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists. The Aussie combination proved too much for the Flyers and their Aussie representative, Michael Vigor. Vigor was very good too in his side's narrow loss, contributing 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks in playing 30 minutes. Plymouth are now locked with London in sharing fourth place in the standings.