Ahmad Caver scored a game winning three pointer with 2.0 seconds left in regulation to lift BC Wolves over King Szczecin, 58-55, and into the ENBL final on Tuesday, April 11, at the Arena Ostrów in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland.
Players of the game
Ahmad Caver made his first three pointer in the game with 2.0 seconds left.
Old Dominion star and a Conference USA champion had 19 points, including a 10-of-11 effort from the three point line.
Caver forced six fouls, grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists.
Eigirdas Žukauskas posted 11 rebounds.
Wolves forward scored five of his seven points in the fourth quarter.
Jeffery Taylor had seven points, eight rebounds and four forced fouls.
Three King Szczecin players finished in double figures.
Bryce Brown scored 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field.
Tony Meier also had 12 points.
Zac Cuthbertson chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Key stats
Both teams played from defense, knowing the high value of the game.
King Szczecin suffered a lot in the first half as two players went down with injuries.
Maciej Žmudzki injured his ankle in the first quarter, while Zac Cuthbertson was forced to leave the floor with 33 seconds left in the first half.
Jumping on one leg, he was able to make his way to the locker room.
Cuthbertson received help and returned on the floor just in time for the second half.
Initially, Wilki Morskie jumped in front for a 2-10 lead after three pointers by Bryce Brown and Cuthbertson.
More runs followed as teams exchanged blows.
BC Wolves forced 11 fouls in the first half and made 13-of-18 free throws.
Evergreen Mindaugas Lukauskis added two three pointers while shooting from both corners.
King Szczecin counter attacked and excelled in transition game.
Wilki Morskie scored 12 points on fast breaks in the first 20 minutes.
They regained a 27-29 lead shortly before the halftime break.
Ahmad Caver made all three free throws for the Wolves to end the first half, 30-29.
There were no runs the next 15 minutes as teams grinded throughout the third quarter.
Result was tied at 40, 42, 44 and 46.
King Szczecin finally went on a 7-0 run, capped by a three pointer from Tony Meier, 46-53.
Žukauskas responded one minute and one timeout later with a three point shot of his own, 49-53.
Caver made both free throws to make it a one possession game again, 51-53.
Eigirdas Žukauskas tied the game at 55, with 58.2 seconds to go.
Cuthbertson forced a foul with 14.1 seconds left but missed both free throws.
Caver made his first three pointer for the win.
Game notes
BC Wolves arrived to Poland on a chartered flight from Vilnius.
Club`s ambassadors Darius and Kšištof Lavrinovič traveled with the team.
Rimantas "Rimas" Kaukėnas, president of the Wolves, has a birthday on Tuesday, April 11.
Zac Cuthbertson received the MVP award before the tipoff.
Center Eric Buckner got injured in the LKL home game against Lietkabelis Panevezys on Saturday.
King Szczecin defeated Polski Cukier Start Lublin, 86-78, in the PLK game on Friday.
“Wilki – Morskie!” Szczecin fans – Wataha Szczecin – supported their team throughout the game with drums and voices.
There will be the second Polish-Lithuanian final as BC Wolves will face the winner of the game between BM Stal Ostrów and Polski Cukier Start Lublin.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 11
King Szczecin 55-58 BC Wolves
BM Stal Ostrów – Polski Cukier Start Lublin
Wednesday, April 12
16:00 Bronze medal game
19:00 Final