Semi-Finals Game 1 In The Books

Sopron Basket - ZTE NKK 72-37 (20-14, 15-7, 16-10, 21-6)
Sopron

Sopron Basket: Turner 2, Casas 9, Crvendakic 7, Dupree 18, Határ 13 Sub.: Dubei 11/9, Jovanovic 10, Varga K. 2, Czukor -, Weninger -

ZTE NKK: Koizar 3, Maltsi 11, Pusztai 2, Boonstra 4, Horti 7 Sub.: Parker 4, Benke 3/3, Kovács G. 3/3, Gáspár-Szalay -

Stats

FGS: 30/60 50% ill. 15/56 27%

3-PTS: 3/14 21% ill. 6/21 29%

FTS: 9/14 64% ill. 1/3 33%

Rebounds: 45 (Határ 9) ill. 29 (Parker 8)

Assists: 23 (Queralt 9) ill. 7 (Gáspár-Szalay 4)

Steals: 8 ill. 8

Turnovers: 14 ill. 19

Faults: 8 ill. 18


This time it was Amanda Zahui who missed the game due to the rule about the international players, and Zsófi also sat this one out resting her injured foot.


Aleks opened the game with a lay-up after grabbing an offensive rebound, to which Boonstra answered back likewise after a steal (2nd minute 2-2). Then Pusztai and Candice exchanged buckets, to which Queralt added a double from mid-range. With two more successful shots by Candice we were beginning to pull away from ZTE, but then Horti was able to score to stop our run. However, a bit later Dávid Gáspár had to call his first time-out in the game, because his team was unable to stop our offensive efforts (6th minute 14-6). Horti came up with a three after the break, and then Maltsi was also able to score for two cutting her team's deficit in half. Yvonne ran down the court with an assist by Queralt, to which Candice added two more points, while at the other end Maltsi kept scoring. The first quarter ended with us being six points ahead of the guests (10th minute 20-14).


Parker got the second period going with a double, to which Debi answered back from behind the arc. Benke was also able to drain a three, to which Candice answered back from just inside the three-point line (25-19). A little while later Aleks put an end to a scoring drought with a successful shot from mid-range, and then ZTE called their next time-out in the game to talk things over (16th minute 27-19). Queralt made one of two from the line after the break, to which Horti answered back with a lay-up. With Free throws by Candice and Queralt the difference has reached ten points for the first time in the game and then Tina even increased it further with two quick doubles setting the score for the half (20th minute 35-21).


Maltsi began the second half with a mid-range double, to which Candice answered back likewise. In the first minutes of the period the teams were neck and neck until Debi hit a three, but then Maltsi also came up with one of her own (24th minute 44-29). After that Betti put two more points on the board for us, to which Parker answered back from inside the paint. A little while later it was Betti who managed to score again from close in, to which Debi added an open three, forcing ZTE's next time-out at a twenty-point advantage (27th minute 51-31). In the remainder of the period neither side was able to score, which meant that we were ahead by twenty going into the fourth (30th minute 51-31).


Kovács began the final stage of the game with a triple, to which Tina answered back from under the rim with a double. A little bit later Debi ran down the court for a lay-up, to which Queralt added two successful free throws. After that Tina made a double from just outside the paint, forcing ZTE's next time-out (34th minute 59-34). Boonstra hit a double after the short break, while at the other end Debi came up with a three-point play. Then Betti also made a double, to which she also added a three-point play, increasing our lead all the way up to thirty points. In the final minutes we even managed to add t the difference and finished the first game of the semi-finals on a high note (40th minute 72-37).

Roberto Iniguez: It was a crucial game for us after the weekend, which consumed a lot of energy,and we knew that we were playing against a team that has a great coach and great players. This is why we need to focus on Sunday, getting our players in a better shape physically step-by-step and improve on our game. Something else I want to mention is that I would like to ask for more respect for Betti Határ! She is working very hard day-y-day to improve, her mentality also changed a lot, she is doing everything she can to be better, but the referees are killing her, let it be on defense or on offense. We keep hearing how important Betti's development is for Hungarian basketball, so she needs to be respected!

Queralt Casas: The beginning wasn't easy, we still felt tired after the FINAL4, It is good that our young players performed so well and enjoyed the game. We have to keep doing the same on Sunday!

Dávid Gáspár: Congratulations to Sopron! Their victory wasn't in danger. We wanted to play a better game with more character and better efficiency, but we just couldn't do it today. I missed motivation from some of my players, given that we cannot play semi-finals every year. I expected a bigger resistance from us. We want to improve on these things by Sunday and I hope that we can play a tighter game then.

Evanthia Maltsi: We played against a great opponent, everyone knows their abilities. We were far from our true selves today, we let a lot of rebounds go. We have to try and improve for the next game. Congratulations to Sopron, we have to look ahead!