(Photo: Sportsimages.bg) |
Levski one shot away of winning the CupFebruary 18, 2012
Levski was one shot away of winning the Cup of Bulgaria in Samokov for the season 2011/12. In an extraordinary match, "Blues" had a several chances to get a win against a big rival Lukoil Academic, but at the end lost by two points difference – 81-83. Same as the game in in 2011 the two teams have made a unique finish, and finally with a great deal of happiness and the obvious referee support in the second half Lukoil Academic once again is the winner of the Cup.
Already in the first minutes of the meeting the two teams played a very high level, exchanging the lead few times and tie the score in the final minute of the first ten, 19-19. However both Lukoil and Levski missed few good chances before two free throws by Damjan Stojanovski gave advance of 21-19 for Lukoil, while Jarrett Howell has failed to do the best in the final shot in favor of "blues" .
Levski made a series of 9-0 in the middle of the second quarter and led by 38-30. By the end of first half, however with few three point shots of Bruno Sundov Lukoil Academic brought the score down to 1 point. Basket at the end of second quarter by Aaron Harper showed 42-39 for Levski at the break.
Brandon Heath and Lamont Mack had 10 apiece in the first half, while Harper was the best scorer for Levski with 11 points.
Thanks to the big fighter Vasil Evtimov Levski managed to keep ahead in the early stages of second half, but once again two shots each behind the line by Mack and Sundov got them back in the game. Eventually Lukoil Academic put more points in the board of that third quarter but that was not only thanks to their players but by the officials in the game – Lukoil Academic amazingly didn’t get any fouls by the referees in the third quarter despite playing very tough defense as usual. That is how at the end of third quarter the result of 61-57 was already in favor of Lukoil Academic.
Lukoil led up to the middle of last quarter, but Levski players showed character and leveled to 68-68 with just 5.13 minutes before the end of game. Just a minute before the end of Heath scored 80-76, and then Aaron Harper was fouled, but managed to score only one free throw. In the counter-attack Lamont Mack made a turnover, Marcus Hall stole and finished to get his team back to only a point of difference in favor of Lukoil, 32.8 seconds remaining. The ball was for Lukoil, but Andre Owens throwed the ball away and Levski had their opportunity. In the first attack for Levski, Hristo Dimitrov failed to score as was fouled by Sundov and Levski didn’t get the call, then Jarrett Howell missed his chance to be a hero with wide open shot behind the 3 point line. Bojidar Avramov took the rebound and was fouled, and succeeded in his second attempt from the line - 81-79 for Lukoil with 10.8 seconds remaining. In the last attack for Levski Harper was fouled, but he missed both free throws. Brandon Heath was succesfull from the charity stripe before Pavel Ivanov fix the final score - 83-81.
Aaron Harper scored 16 for Levski, Vasco Evtimov finished with a fantastic 14 points and 17 rebounds, but that didn’t help the team to get the Cup.
Brandon Heath scored 31 points and handled six assists, Mack added 18 and Sundov finished with 14. |
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