KK Šenčur GGD – Spišskí Rytieri 86:93 (18:28, 24:19, 29:21, 15:25)

Referees: F. Gracin, K. Katić, Ž. Kovačević (all Croatia)

Attendance: 100

Venue: Sports Hall Šenčur

Scorers – Šenčur: R. Rizvić 21, Murić 20, Ehmedović, Rebec and H. Rizvić each 10, Ožegovič and Rojc each 6, Tešić 3, Ivkovič and Malovčič 0

Scorers – Spišskí Rytieri: Dennis 24, Stevanović 19, Morsell 14, Gavrilović 12, Baťka 11, Richardson 8, Antoni 5, Hlivák and Krajňák 0

Both teams opening the game equal till 11:11. After that, Spišskí Rytieri went forward when Stevanović and Dennis made lay-ups. Dennis once more and Baťka made another two lay-ups and obviously home defense was not at a high level. The guest team led by ten points after the first period – 18:28. The second quarter didn’t change a lot for the first three minutes. When Rizvić made a basket under the rim and Rebec hit one of his two threes, the game became much more intense. Dennis and Stevanović had a lot of energy and pushed Slovakian team ahead one more time, but Murić found a way from free throws to reduce the gap. After twenty minutes result was 42:47.

When a longer break at halftime was over, the game was quite open and fluid, so both opponents had their chances. Dennis was involved in every piece of Spišskí Rytieri tactics and when he was on the bench or was feeling like being part of some assist, Šenčur jeopardized Slovakian lead. More than 4 minutes before the end of the third quarter coach Svitek got a technical and that was a chance for the home team. Rizvić and Rebec made free throws and after that Murić made a hookshot. Šenčur led after a long time, after 30 minutes it was 71:68. There was no doubt that Šenčur had a buoyant wind and a chance to break the guest team. After two minutes of the last quarter happened a lot. Ožegović made a dunk and right after Murić and H. Rizvić scored for two, Šenčur had led by ten points (82:72). Three minutes to go, guest coach Svitek called for time out. Spišskí Rytieri started to defend themselves with a zone and Šenčur players missed three shots in a row. Two minutes till the end the game was eqauled. What happened in the last few minutes was crucial and disappointing for the home team who didn’t score for more than three minutes. Spišskí Rytieri outscores home team with 0:13 and came to an important win in first game in quarterfinals of Alpe Adria Cup.

Post-game quotes: 

Miljan Pavković, coach Šenčur: “We missed two guards, which was important, especially in the last quarter. We saw a lot of ups and downs. Unfortunately we were 10 points ahead, but we didn’t keep it till the end. We’ll make an analysis of that and we have to be better at the rematch in Slovakia.”

Dino Murić, player of Šenčur: “We didn’t defend well in the last minutes of the game. Also, we weren’t capable of reacting on their zone defense. We should have been more concentrated and calmer, but we took some quick shoots. The guest team reacted great with some fast breaks and we lost. We’ll have to put it behind ourselves and be better in the rematch.”

Štefan Svitek, coach of Spišskí Rytieri: “Good win for us. It wasn’t an easy game. We played with ups and downs, especially the third quarter was bad. We struggled, but we turned the game in the last quarter. We have to play one more game against a very good team. The point difference is important.”

Ivan Gavrilović, player of Spišskí Rytieri: “Very good game for us. We didn´t played so well after halftime, but we managed to rise our game and grab a win. Next game we’ll play on home court and we want to reach the Final Four. Congratulation for fair game to Šenčur.”