14.03.2008 Kyiv Win Regular Season
BC Kyiv captured the 2007/2008 Superleague regular season crown with still two games to go in the championship after defeating Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 61:87 on the road.
The home side tried to overpower Kyiv with a big line-up, capturing a 9:5 early lead. Tomo Mahoric called a time-out, which sparked Kyiv’s 12:0 run, allowing to finish the quarter with the score 16:28.
Kyiv relaxed in the second frame, but managed to retain a double-digit lead at halftime: 35:45.
The visitors improved their defense in the second half, extending the margin to 20 points at the end of 3rd and to 26 at the end of the game.
Kyiv’s Pooh Jeter scored a game-high 22 points. Josh Davis added 17 and 11 rebounds.
Dnipro’s leaded Victor Kobzistiy had 19, Hryhoriy Khizhniak contributed with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks, while Maxim Kornienko finished the contest with 15 points and 6 re bounds.
Meanwhile, Kyiv’s farm team lost to Dnipro 78:61, swapping the top two spots in the standings.
Dnipro’s youngsters had a good start to the game, leading by 6 at the end of the 1st quarter. Kyiv, however, clawed their way back into the game, winning the stretch 11:27 and entering the half-time break with a comfortable 10-point cushion.
The home side applied pressure in the second half and managed to keep Kyiv’s Denys Lukashov and Ruslan Otverchenko away from the ball. This allowed them to restore a 1-point lead at the end of the 3rd period and physiologically break the visitors down.
Dnipro won the final stretch 26:10, leaving their opponents no chances.
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