Friday, February 6, 2009

LSBL 20/2008 - SK Cēsis 85, TTT Rīga 57




Is this Tamera on the bench?


Perfection is hard to achieve - it only takes one loss to ruin it. Tamara Young, returning to international play after her heartbreaking outing with Extrugasa, was signed by SK Cēsis (18-2), the second place team in the Latvian Women's Basketball League. Among the many hopes of Cēsis was that Young would help Cēsis beat undefeated TTT Rīga (20-1) in their season rematch. Young would only score six points, but TTT Rīga's hope of an undefeated season would slip away as Tamera Young's new team won 85-57 on the road.

The box score is here.

Young's minutes were essentially earned in the first quarter, where Cēsis expanded a 12-7 first quarter lead to 23-13 by the end of the first 10 minutes. Young scored a field goal to put Cēsis up 32-15 before TTT Rīga went on an 11-0 run to close the score to 32-26. TTT Rīga was at 36-28 going into halftime and scored the first five points of the third quarter to close to within three points, 36-33.

And then, TTT Rīga's offense went into a tailspin (I think it was because one of their players was in foul trouble - I can't be sure of the Latvian translation.) By the end of the third quarter, Cēsis expanded a 3-point lead into a 26-point lead, leading 66-40 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was just a formality. SK Cēsis slept at the end and let TTT Rīga score the final seven points of the game.

Formerly undefeated Rīga only shot 31 percent from the field compared to 45 percent from Cēsis - most of which was probably earned in the third quarter. Rīga, however, outrebounded Cēsis 44-34 - but it didn't help as Rīga turned the ball over 23 times. Cēsis was sent to the free throw line 20 times, and unlike in the Liga Feminina, Cēsis hit 70 percent of their free throws.

Doing all the work for Rīga was Aija Brumermane, who never left the floor, playing all 40 minutes and scoring 18 points and 17 rebounds for a double-double. Merike Anderson would score 18 points and three assists, but turn over the ball ten times for Rīga. Zane Eglīte contributed four points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.

For the Cēsis visitors, Kristen Mann, formerly of the Atlanta Dream and now of the Washington Mystics, scored 25 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double of her own. Four players would score in double figures, including Ieva Tāre (19 points) and Santa Dreimane (14 points). Tamera Young would only play nine minutes, and shoot 3-for-7 with three personal fouls and six total points.

I think I have a good chance at getting some pics from this game as soon as the SK Cēsis website posts them. Cross yer fingers.

Update: There you go. Pics right here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

just the first game back...they are taking it easy and working her into the game

Rebecca said...

I'm not surprised Riga folded in that game, what with Essence Carson having parted ways with them and headed to Italy.