Swans Gmunden vs. Egoe Baskets Brno
88:60 (26:13, 48:29, 70:45)
Attendance: 350.
Venue: Volksbank Arena, Gmunden.
Scorers Gmunden: Loveridge 15, Woods 14, Murati 13, Blazan 12, Güttl 10, Friedrich, Schartmüller each 9, Hieslmair 6.
Scorers Brno: Kozina 16, Krakovic 10, Ruby 8, Novotny, Kereselidze each 7, Nehyba 6, Jokl 4, Farasky 2.
After a very controlled start from both teams, where they tried to score by running different set-plays, the Swans tried to bring more pace into the game. Three fast breaks later the team from Austria had the lead with a score of 13:2. Brno simply missed too many open shots, especially in the paint. Although they got some offensive rebounds, the Czech team only scored two second chance points. At the end of the first quarter Gmunden was still in front with 26:13.
In the second quarter Brno got better in transition which lead to less fast break points, but they kept struggling on offense, especially from outside the three-point-line the ball didn’t want to get into the basket. The Gmunden Swans kept forcing their set-play which lead to some open shots and they made them. The main problem for Brno remained the missed scoring opportunities after offensive rebounds. So the first half came to an end with 48:29 lead for Gmunden.
Although Brno scored the first three points of the third quarter it was still were the Swans who were in control of this game. They gave the Czech no chance to come back. In the first seven minutes of this quarter they allowed only six points. Gmunden was the total opposite. They just had an amazing shooting day. Nearly 60% from the field speak its own language. Brno had no answer and the lead for Gmunden got bigger and bigger. After 30 minutes they were with 70:45 behind.
The last quarter did not lead to a comeback from Brno. On the contrary; Gmunden tried to keep the intensity high and kept on scoring. The away team did not find enough ways to stop the Austrians from scoring points. With this 88:60 victory Gmunden ends up with the first place in their Alpe Adria Cup debut.
