SLUNETA Ústí nad Labem – Patrioti Levice 68:68 (13:18, 21:15, 17:22, 17:13)
Spectators: 310
Venue: Sportcentrum SLUNETA, Ústí nad Labem
Scorers – Ústí nad Labem: Autrey 22, Johnson 14, Svejcar 13, Joseph 10, Pecka 5, Fait and Karlovský each 2, Alston a Haiblík 0
Scorers – Patrioti: Krajčovič 21, Freeman 12, McCallum 9, Bachan 8, Trotter 7, Abrhám 5, Bojanovský and Juríček each 3, Volárik 0
Home players started pretty well, making fast 4 points, but the answer from Levice came also fast, and from the score of 4:4 it was a tied game. Anyway, in the end of first quarter, gained because of a good team performance, a small lead 13:18. Both teams were defending pretty well and the fans did not see much baskets. But the offense of SLUNETA was a one-man show and thanks to the baskets of bigman Delvon Johnson (15 points), the half time score was 34:33.
Levice were able to slow the offense of SLUNETA, who was all the third quarter ahead. The good news was, Ústí was able to stay in the game to at least try to change the score in the last quarter. And the home team was succesfull, in the middle of last quarter Johnson brought the score with his basket to 60:61. Guests had to take a time-out, but it did not help, after few stops SLUNETA scored again by the hands of Johnson and after another defensive stop Joseph scored for 3-pointer and Ústí was ahead by 4 points. Another time-out for the guests. After that, Krajcovic makes two free throws for Levice, on the other side, Lamb Autrey hits a three-pointer and SLUNETA was 5 points ahead, but then comes a short run 0:4 for Levice and the home coach had to take time-out with the score 68:67 and with under a minute to play. With one free throw for Levice for the technical foul of Spencer Svejcar were the guests able to tie the score and that was enough for them to advance to the AAC Final Four.
Post-game quotes:
Jan Šotnar, coach of Ústí nad Labem: “We finished the game with a “soccer result” – a draw. Our offense was not good today and we made a lot of turnovers. It was a little miracle that we stayed in the game even with 22 turnovers. Anyway, it was for us a good test before the home game on Sunday.”
Johan Haiblík, player of Ústí nad Labem: “We had a lot of turnovers and we lost on defensive rebounds and that’s the reason why we lost this series.”
Michal Madzin, coach of Patrioti: “I am happy for the tie, it means our advance to the Final Four. I want to thank my players for the energy, it was a big battle for every ball and inch of the floor.”
Šimon Krajčovič, player of Patrioti: “Very important game for us from the psychical point of view, after the bad cup game on weekend. We knew it was not going to be an easy game and everything was open. In the second half we were able to go ahead, but with our own mistakes we allowed Ústí to come back, but in the end we had good and important stops, when we needed them. I am glad, the team showed character and we advanced to the Final Four.”
