CIBACOPA Round 17 (Regular Season): No surprise as #1 Astros defeat Mazatlan

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

CIBACOPA top team - Astros (19-3) had no problems winning another game on Tuesday. This time they crushed seventh ranked Venados (9-13) in Guadalajara 109-90. Astros shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 53.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American point guard JR Clay (183-2000, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) stepped up and scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and his fellow American import guard Tray Maddox Jr (193-2000, college: W.Michigan) chipped in 23 points. Colombian forward Michael Wright (198-1987) responded with 21 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astros have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-3 record. Mazatlan at the other side keeps the seventh position with 13 games lost. Astros are looking forward to face Obregon (#3) in Ciudad Obregon in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Mazatlan will play on the road against Frayles (#10) in Guasave and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
CIBACOPA top team - Astros (19-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed seventh ranked Venados (9-13) in Guadalajara 102-79. Americans were the main players on the court. point guard JR Clay (183-2000, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) nailed 25 points and 6 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for the winning side and Armani Chaney accounted for 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Guard Troy Cracknell (193-1999, college: Augusta, agency: Interperformances) came up with 25 points and 7 rebounds for Mazatlan in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Astros have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-3 record. Mazatlan at the other side keeps the seventh position with 13 games lost. Astros will play against Obregon (#3) in Ciudad Obregon in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Mazatlan will play on the road against Frayles (#10) in Guasave and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Los Mochis was also quite interesting. Third ranked Halcones de Ciudad Obregon (13-10) played at the court of 6th ranked Pioneros Los Mochis (10-13). Halcones de Ciudad Obregon managed to secure a 5-point victory 98-93 on Tuesday. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. The best player for the winners was Josh Perkins who scored 18 points and 8 assists. Halcones de Ciudad Obregon's coach Dennis Cutts used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Jared Wilson-Frame produced 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Halcones de Ciudad Obregon have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain third place with 13-10 record having five points less than leader Astros. Los Mochis lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 13 games lost. Obregon will meet at home league's leader Astros in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Los Mochis will play against the league's second-placed Angeles (#2) in Ciudad de Mexico and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 17: Guaymas lost to Angeles on the opponent's court 111-116. Culiacan managed to outperform Frayles in a home game 95-86. Guaymas recorded a loss to Angeles on the road 117-108. Culiacan defeated Frayles on its own court 93-82. Tijuana was beaten by Hermosillo in a road game 88-87.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 29 points and 12 rebounds by Kevin Cross of Tijuana.



Angeles - Guaymas 116-111

Very expected game in Ciudad de Mexico where 8th ranked Ostioneros de Guaymas (8-14) were defeated by second ranked Angeles (16-6) 116-111 on Tuesday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Angeles made 10 blocks. The best player for the winners was American guard Terrell Brown (185-1998, college: NM State) who scored 33 points (!!!) and 4 assists. International swingman Gael Bonilla (204-2003) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds. American guard Deishuan Booker (191-1996, college: LBSU) produced 23 points and 5 assists and the other American import forward Anthony Tarke (201-1998, college: Coppin St.) added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists respectively for the guests. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Angeles have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain second place with 16-6 record having just three points less than leader Astros. Guaymas lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with 14 games lost. Angeles will meet at home Los Mochis (#6) in the next round. Guaymas will play against Tijuana and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Angeles: T.Brown 33+1reb+4ast, W.Yoakum 21+2reb+3ast, G.Bonilla 16+12reb, S.LeDay 12+8reb+5ast, D.Jennings 11+5reb+1ast, J.Gohlke 6+3reb+2ast
Guaymas: D.Booker 23+3reb+5ast, O.Calvillo 20+7reb+1ast, I.Muhammad 14+6reb, A.Tarke 14+7reb+7ast, H.Spencer 12+3reb, Q.Green 10+2ast

Astros - Mazatlan 109-90

CIBACOPA top team - Astros (19-3) had no problems winning another game on Tuesday. This time they crushed seventh ranked Venados (9-13) in Guadalajara 109-90. Astros shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 53.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American point guard JR Clay (183-2000, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) stepped up and scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and his fellow American import guard Tray Maddox Jr (193-2000, college: W.Michigan) chipped in 23 points. Colombian forward Michael Wright (198-1987) responded with 21 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and American guard Troy Cracknell (193-1999, college: Augusta, agency: Interperformances) scored 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Astros and five Mazatlan players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astros have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-3 record. Mazatlan at the other side keeps the seventh position with 13 games lost. Astros are looking forward to face Obregon (#3) in Ciudad Obregon in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Mazatlan will play on the road against Frayles (#10) in Guasave and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Astros: T.Maddox Jr. 23+4reb, J.Clay 20+8reb+5ast, M.McKinney 13+2reb+2ast, A.Chaney 10+3reb+6ast, K.Matute 7+1reb+1ast, T.McCallum 7+5reb+4ast
Mazatlan: M.Wright 21+5reb+1ast, K.Feagin 17+1reb+4ast, E.Weaver 16+3reb+2ast, R.Brahin 15+5reb, T.Cracknell 11+8reb+4ast, R.Smith 6+4reb+1ast

Culiacan - Frayles 95-86

Very predictable result when fourth ranked Caballeros de Culiacan (12-10) defeated at home bottom-ranked Frayles de Guasave (5-17) 95-86 on Tuesday. Strangely Frayles outrebounded Culiacan 46-33 including 33 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. The best player for the winners was Devante Wallace (196-1992, college: High Point, agency: BIG) who scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. Forward Johnny Hughes III (201-1997, college: UIW) chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds. Anthony Peacock (206-1999, college: MWSU) produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 rebounds and guard Davaunta Thomas (196-1995, college: UAFS) added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Five Culiacan and four Frayles players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Culiacan maintains fourth place with 12-10 record. Frayles lost tenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. Culiacan will meet at home Hermosillo (#8) in the next round. Frayles will play against Mazatlan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Culiacan: D.Wallace 21+5reb+1ast, J.Hughes III 19+7reb+1ast, I.Hamilton 15+3reb+6ast, N.Allen 14+7reb+4ast, C.Harvey 13+2reb+4ast, N.Evans 6+3reb
Frayles: A.Peacock 24+11reb+2ast, D.Thomas 19+5reb+6ast, B.Porter 14+10reb, T.Jones 11+6reb+1ast, O.Akonobi 8+5reb, G.Malinowski 5+4reb+2ast

Los Mochis - Obregon 93-98

The game in Los Mochis was also quite interesting. Third ranked Halcones de Ciudad Obregon (13-10) played at the court of 6th ranked Pioneros Los Mochis (10-13). Halcones de Ciudad Obregon managed to secure a 5-point victory 98-93 on Tuesday. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. The best player for the winners was guard Josh Perkins (191-1995, college: Gonzaga, agency: Slash Sports) who scored 18 points and 8 assists. Forward Connor Zinaich (201-1997, college: Nova SE) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds. Five Halcones de Ciudad Obregon players scored in double figures. Halcones de Ciudad Obregon's coach Dennis Cutts used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Jared Wilson-Frame (196-1996, college: Pittsburgh, agency: Interperformances) produced 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) and guard Taylor Johnson (193-1994, college: Dartmouth) added 24 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Halcones de Ciudad Obregon have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain third place with 13-10 record having five points less than leader Astros. Los Mochis lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 13 games lost. Obregon will meet at home league's leader Astros in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Los Mochis will play against the league's second-placed Angeles (#2) in Ciudad de Mexico and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Obregon: J.Perkins 18+3reb+8ast, G.Whittington 16+7reb, K.Williams 14+4reb, T.Nuno 12+4reb+3ast, J.Holder 12+2reb+2ast, B.Beavers 11+2reb+2ast
Los Mochis: J.Wilson-Frame 25+6reb+5ast, T.Johnson 24+6reb, C.Sanders 12+6reb+7ast, G.Mejia 10, M.Carter 9+8reb+1ast, Z.Walton 8+4reb+1ast

Angeles - Guaymas 117-108

Not a big story in a game in Ciudad de Mexico where 8th ranked Ostioneros de Guaymas (8-14) were defeated by second ranked Angeles (16-6) 117-108 on Wednesday. Angeles dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Ostioneros de Guaymas' 34 and made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. The game was dominated by American players. The best player for the winners was guard Terrell Brown (185-1998, college: NM State) who scored 43 points (!!!) and 6 rebounds (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!). Swingman Will Yoakum (196-1998, college: Nova SE) chipped in 24 points (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field). Guard Andy Cleaves II (188-1996, college: CS Stanislaus) produced 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line !!!) and point guard Quade Green (183-1998, college: Washington) added 22 points and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Angeles have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain second place with 16-6 record having just three points less than leader Astros. Guaymas lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth position with 14 games lost. Angeles will meet at home Los Mochis (#6) in the next round. Guaymas will play against Tijuana and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Angeles: T.Brown 43+6reb+2ast, W.Yoakum 24+4reb+2ast, J.Smith 13+1reb+1ast, D.Jennings 12+9reb+1ast, G.Bonilla 8+8reb+6ast, S.LeDay 7+4reb+1ast
Guaymas: A.Cleaves II 25+5reb+6ast, Q.Green 22+2reb+6ast, B.Rivera 15+2reb+2ast, I.Muhammad 12+11reb+2ast, D.Booker 12+1reb+3ast, C.Oluyitan 6+7reb+6ast

Astros - Mazatlan 102-79

CIBACOPA top team - Astros (19-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed seventh ranked Venados (9-13) in Guadalajara 102-79. Astros made 19-of-25 charity shots (76.0 percent) during the game. Astros outrebounded Mazatlan 43-31 including 29 on the defensive glass. Astros brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Americans were the main players on the court. Point guard JR Clay (183-2000, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) nailed 25 points and 6 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for the winning side and point guard Armani Chaney (178-1997, college: Tennessee St.) accounted for 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Chaney is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Guard Troy Cracknell (193-1999, college: Augusta, agency: Interperformances) came up with 25 points and 7 rebounds and point guard Elijah Weaver (197-1998, college: Chicago St.) added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Mazatlan in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Astros have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-3 record. Mazatlan at the other side keeps the seventh position with 13 games lost. Astros will play against Obregon (#3) in Ciudad Obregon in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Mazatlan will play on the road against Frayles (#10) in Guasave and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Astros: J.Clay 25+6reb+2ast, T.Maddox Jr. 25+2reb+1ast, A.Chaney 18+5reb+5ast, M.Andriassi 9+4reb+3ast, X.White 7+7reb+2ast, J.Grant 7+3reb+1ast
Mazatlan: T.Cracknell 25+7reb+1ast, M.Wright 16+2reb+4ast, E.Weaver 16+5reb+5ast, T.Thompson 9+7reb, R.Smith 4+2reb, R.Brahin 3+6reb+3ast

Culiacan - Frayles 93-82

Everything went according to plan when fourth ranked Caballeros de Culiacan (12-10) beat at home bottom-ranked Frayles de Guasave (5-17) 93-82 on Wednesday. Culiacan outrebounded Frayles 44-33 including 34 on the defensive glass. Culiacan looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The game was dominated by American players. The best player for the winners was forward Johnny Hughes III (201-1997, college: UIW) who scored 20 points and 8 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Guard Isaac Hamilton (196-1994, college: UCLA) chipped in 21 points and 4 assists. Four Caballeros de Culiacan players scored in double figures. Caballeros de Culiacan's coach Fernando Rojas used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Forward Brandon Porter (206, college: CPP, agency: Momentum SM) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds and Anthony Peacock (206-1999, college: MWSU) added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Culiacan maintains fourth place with 12-10 record. Frayles lost tenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. Culiacan will meet at home Hermosillo (#8) in the next round. Frayles will play against Mazatlan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Culiacan: I.Hamilton 21+4ast, J.Hughes III 20+8reb+3ast, N.Allen 12+7reb+2ast, D.Wallace 10+6reb+2ast, N.Evans 9+8reb+4ast, I.Avalos 8+1reb
Frayles: B.Porter 21+14reb+1ast, A.Peacock 20+8reb+6ast, D.Thomas 17+3reb+6ast, G.Malinowski 9+1reb, T.Jones 8+1reb, D.Flowers III 3

Hermosillo - Tijuana 88-87

There was an upset when higher ranked Tijuana Zonkeys (10-11) were edged on the road by ninth ranked Rayos de Hermosillo (8-13) 88-87 on Wednesday. Hermosillo looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Bryce Griggs (188-2003) who had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 assists. His fellow American import guard Khalil Iverson (196-1997, college: Wisconsin) chipped in 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. American forward Kevin Cross (201-2000, college: Tulane, agency: One Motive Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 29 points and 12 rebounds (on 13-of-16 shooting from the field) and the former international forward Idris Alvarado (196-1991) added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Four Hermosillo and five Tijuana players scored in double figures. Defending champion moved-up to eighth place. Tijuana lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with 11 games lost. Hermosillo will meet higher ranked Culiacan (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tijuana will play against Guaymas and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Hermosillo: K.Iverson 20+7reb+4ast, B.Griggs 18+3reb+12ast, C.Christon 16+3reb+2ast, D.McNeill 12+3reb+6ast, S.Maxwell 9+7reb, J.Montgomery 5+6reb+1ast
Tijuana: K.Cross 29+12reb+2ast, C.Martin 13+7reb+2ast, I.Alvarado 13+6reb+6ast, C.Mitchell 12+1reb, A.Kaye Williams 11+1reb+4ast, A.Olivas-Baca 4+3reb+1ast