Zastal Zielona Gora lost three starters and finished the game with five players in a 95-91 overtime win against Keila Coolbet on Wednesday, January 17, at the CRS Hall in western Poland.
Players of the game
Michal Kolodziej led the hosts with 27 points on 10/20 shooting from the field and a perfect 7/7 from the free throw line.
Kolodziej scored 13 points in the second half, including a game tying basket with 45 seconds left in regulation.
Forward added six more points in overtime.
Kolodziej grabbed 12 rebounds.
Pawel Kikowski went scoreless in the second half – with only one field goal attempt – but stepped up the big way in overtime.
Kikowski finished with 15 points, including six points in overtime.
Darious Hall had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Kevin Johnson scored 24 points for Keila Coolbet before he was fouled out.
Point guard dished out a team high six assists.
Denis Krestinin followed with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Omnipresent Lithuanian registered seven steals – a second best result in ENBL history.
Key stats
Zastal Zielona Gora initiatlly relied on a seven player rotation – the hosts played without Novak Musič and Jan Wojcik.
Kevin Johnson spearheaded Keila`s offense and scored 15 points in the first half for a 41-38 lead.
The visitors shot 46% from the field in the first 20 minutes (15/32), compared to 31% for Zastal.
The game went down to the wire and Zastal experienced more personnel problems.
Three starters – James Washington, Jeriah Horne and Marcin Woroniecki – were fouled out.
Zastal continued to play with five remaining players and tied the game at 80 after two points by Michal Kolodziej.
Keila missed two opportunities to win in regulation.
Two remaining Zastal starters – Michal Kolodziej and Pawel Kikowski – combined for 12 points in overtime to seal the win.
Point guards Kevin Johnson and Margus Pahv were fouled out in overtime for Keila Coolbet.
Small forward Kārlis Žunda was fouled out earlier in the game.
Game notes
Zastal Zielona Gora improved to 4-1, while Keila Coolbet dropped to 2-4.
David Dedek`s men are 4-0 on the home floor.
Keila Coolbet are 2-2 in the ENBL road games.
Steals | ENBL records
Rickey McGill 8 November 7, 2023, Valmiera 74-90 Newcastle
Denis Krestinin 7 January 17, 2024, Zastal 95-91OT Keila
Derrick Wilson 6 January 25, 2023, Prishtina 73-91 TalTech
Bohdan Bliznyuk 6 February 10, 2023, Šiauliai 73-88 Budivelnyk
Rickey McGill 6 October 4, 2023, Šiauliai 94-92 Newcastle
ENBL access: follow the game on YouTube live stream
Format
Four best teams from each group will qualify for the playoffs (A1-B4, A2-B3, A3-B2, A4-B1).
The 2024 playoffs – home and away, best-of-two series – will take place from February 1 until March 20.
The 2024 Final Four will take place on April 9-10.
Standings, as of January 17, 2024
Group A
Uniclub Casino Juventus 5-0 (+87) Qualified
Bakken Bears Aarhus 4-1 (+61)
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits 4-1 (+57)
Bristol Flyers 3-3 (+39)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 2-3 (-11)
Landstede Hammers Zwolle 1-3 (-44)
Svendborg Rabbits 1-5 (-133)
Spartak Pleven 1-5 (-56)
Group B
CSO Voluntari 5-1 (+67) Qualified
Royal Liège Basket 4-1 (+68)
Zastal Zielona Gora 4-1 (+25)
Šiauliai 4-1 (+39)
Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles 2-2 (+12)
Keila Coolbet 2-4 (-39)
Basket Brno 1-5 (-58)
Valmiera Glass ViA 0-7 (-114)
Tie-breaker 1: Zielona Gora vs Šiauliai 1-0, +26.
Tie-breaker 2: Šiauliai vs Newcastle 1-0, +2.
Tie-breaker 3: Šiauliai vs Voluntari 1-0, +8.
Tie-breaker 4: Liège vs Zielona Gora 1-0, +23.
Tie-breaker 5: Voluntari vs Liège 1-0, +21.