Team of the Week: Sykes, Holston, Lomasz, Hunter and Morgan
MIES (Basketball Champions League) - You had to love the way players got down to business this week as the Basketball Champions League hit arguably the most crucial part of the Regular Season.
With Play-Off spots on the line for some clubs and leading positions in the standings for others, many of the competition's most talented players turned it up a notch. While there were plenty of deserving candidates, we've come up with a Team of the Week.
Keifer Sykes, Guard
If you're wondering what had happened to Superman, we've got the answer. He showed up in Bandirma, Turkey, on Tuesday night, wearing a Sidigas Avellino jersey. Sykes did not, alas, save the day for Avellino as they fell in a tough game to Banvit, 96-88, but he almost did. The point guard poured in a Basketball Champions League record 43 points, making 16 of 24 shots from the floor. He was 6 of 10 from behind the arc. The two-time Horizon League Player of the Year while the a player at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay during his NCAA days, Sykes is the first player to ever make the Team of the Week after a loss.
David Holston, Guard
Is there a better shooter than David Holston in all of Europe 🤔?
— Basketball Champions League (@BasketballCL) January 23, 2019
📊 https://t.co/ju8tZYX1dj#BasketballCL pic.twitter.com/JaYCjauBSr
The 32-year-old playmaker of JDA Dijon is not the biggest player in the BCL at 1.73m (5ft 8in) in height, but he never backs down against any player or team. Holston drilled 7 of 13 shots from deep and scored a season-high 31 points in his team's 99-91 triumph over Lietkabelis, a result that has kept the French club's slim hopes of reaching the Play-Offs alive.
#BasketballCL 🏀@Dcash_11 réagit à la victoire de la @jdadijonbasket 🔥
— Le Basket Avec CANAL (@BasketAvecCanal) January 23, 2019
Le meilleur de la @BasketballCL est à retrouver sur @myCANAL ▶️
https://t.co/3pNjtCrC8M pic.twitter.com/xwxBmULkjY
Rihards Lomasz, Guard
Lomasz has been turning on the style this season for Ventspils
If you thought Ventspils' chances of reaching the Play-Offs were dead after their 78-63 drubbing at Banvit on January 9, you were wrong. The Baltic side, due in large part to Latvia international Lomasz, is alive and kicking. After scoring 18 points in last week's 88-77 victory over Le Mans, Lomasz poured in 19 on Tuesday to lead Ventspils to a 99-81 victory at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Lomasz also had 9 rebounds and 6 assists. The result has left Lomasz and Co sixth in Group A but their 5-7 record is the same as fourth-place Le Mans and fifth-place Niznhy Novgorod with two weeks remaining in the Regular Season.
Vince Hunter, Forward
The crowds have been turning out to watch Hunter this season
Wednesday's night's 24-point, 11-rebound performance in a 90-82 victory at Montakit Fuenlabrada was further evidence that that Hunter has been arguably the top player in the competition this season. Hunter also had 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Can you say, "In-Vince-able"?
Jordan Morgan, Center
The fans and Morgan's Banvit teammates get excited when he elevates and throws it down
For the longest time this season, it seemed like Morgan, despite putting up big numbers for Banvit, wouldn't make the Team of the Week. Well, his time has finally arrived. Morgan turned on the style against Sidigas Avellino, coming up with one dunk after another on his way to 24 points. The 2.03m (6ft 8in) center also had 7 rebounds and 3 assists.