Aigars Šķēle set a new ENBL assist record with 19 dimes but Zastal Zielona Gora said the last word as Przemyslaw Zolnierewicz hit a game winning three pointer against BM Stal Ostrow, 97-94, on Sunday, March 12, in Zielona Gora, Poland.
Players of the game
BM Stal Ostrow led by as much as 12 points but Zastal Zielona Gora fought until the end.
Przemyslaw Zolnierewicz scored 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Zastal captain made a game winning three pointer with less than two seconds left, 97-94!
Zolnierewicz added seven assists and three steals.
Alen Hadzibegobič had 17 points, six rebounds and three assists.
He registered a +/- ratio of 20.
Bryce Alford led the home team with 27 points, including a 5-of-10 shooting from the three point line.
He dished out a team high 13 assists to tie...a previous league record.
A new record was set on Sunday as Aigars Šķēle made 19 (!) assists for BM Stal Ostrow.
Stal had 16 assists on 18 field goals during the first half, including eight dimes by a Latvian guard.
Šķēle upped his performance even more as he dished 11 (!) brilliant assists in the second half.
BM Stal Ostrow players scored at least 40 points from his assists.
Šķēle flirted with triple-double as he finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Nemanja Djurišič posted 17 points for Stal.
Adonis Thomas and Ojārs Siliņš followed with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Key stats
Both teams combined for 67 (!) assists.
BM Stal Ostrow had 34 assists on 35 field goals.
Zastal registered 33 assists on 38 field goals.
The guests were ahead most of the game but blew a double digit lead twice.
Szymon Wojcik tied the game at 63 with 09:48 to go.
BM Stal Ostrow went on a 4-15 run for 11 points lead, 67-78, with 06:44 left.
A couple of quick three pointers and Hadzibegovič`s dunk cut the gap to three points just in a matter of seconds, 75-78.
Bryce Alford was huge for Zastal.
His three pointer tied the game at 85 with 02:58 left.
A minute later Alford was fouled by Mateusz Zebski.
He made all three free throws for a 90-89 lead.
Michal Pluta extended Zastal`s lead up to three points, 92-89.
Šķēle was fouled by Hadzibegovič with less than 15 seconds left.
A Latvian split the free throws to tie the game at 94.
Zolnierewicz called the game then for a three points lead before the road challenge at Ostrow.
Game notes
BM Stal Ostrow parted ways with point guard Joshua Perkins shortly before the game.
Aigars Šķēle took over at point to set a new ENBL record in assists made.
All Polish quarterfinal has turned into a great spectacle.
Oliver Vidin`s team will reach the Final Four with a win or a loss by two points at Ostrow.
Assists made in a single game
Aigars Šķēle 19 March 12, 2023, Zastal 97-94 BM Stal
Donatas Sabeckis 13 March 30, 2022, Liepāja 81-83 Šiauliai
D.J. Cooper 13 December 27, 2022, Ness Ziona 94-80 Brno
D.J. Cooper 13 December 28, 2022, Szczecin 89-86 Ness Ziona
Bryce Alford 13 March 12, 2023, Zastal 97-94 BM Stal
SCHEDULE (local time only)
(A1) Polski Cukier Start Lublin – Ironi Ness Ziona (B4)
Game one: Ironi Ness Ziona 77-90 Polski Cukier Start Lublin
Game two: Monday, March 20, Lublin 18:00
(A2) Budivelnyk Kyiv – BC Wolves (B3)
Game one: BC Wolves 80-83 Budivelnyk Kyiv
Game two: Saturday, March 18, Pala Coccia di Veroli 19:30
(A3) Zastal Zielona Gora – BM Stal Ostrow (B2)
Game one: Zielona Gora 97-94 BM Stal Ostrow
Game two: Tuesday, March 21, Ostrow 19:00
(A4) KB Sigal Prishtina – King Szczecin (B1)
Game one: Sigal Prishtina 64-64 King Szczecin
Game two: Monday, March 20, Szczecin 18:00