Kauhajoki Karhubasket’s great season in men’s basketball FIBA Europe Cup ended on Wednesday evening.
Kauhajoki Karhubasket’s well-advanced season in men’s FIBA Europe Cup basketball ended on Wednesday evening, when in the second leg of the semi-final, the Polish team Anwil Wloclawek was stronger with a score of 67–63. Anwil advanced to the final of the Europe Cup with a margin of 23 points, with a total score of 157–134.
Karhubasket, who lost the opening part in Poland by 19 points, was leading by six points at best in the opening half, but could not get any closer in the match. In the second half, Anwil was too strong, and Kauhajoki’s dream of a place in the finals of the Euro competition fell apart.
– With a better offensive game, it would have been possible to fight for the victory in this series today. We couldn’t really create anything in the half-court attack – we always had the hands of a physical opponent between us when we tried to play the ball in, head coach Janne Koskimies comment after the game on VeikkausTV.
Kauhajoki’s best were Dikembe Dixon, who finished with 16 points. The home team also reached double digits Severi Kaukiainen (12p) as well as Cameron Jones (10p). The best of the Poles performed again Phillip Greenewho finished with 17 points.
Despite slipping in the finals, Kauhajoki’s euro sky was fantastic. Kauhajoki won the FIBA Europe Cup with a balance of five wins and one loss in its initial group. In the next group, the games went according to the same pattern, so the balance of the group stage for Kauhajoki was a wonderful 10 wins and two losses.
In the quarter-finals, the team defeated the Portuguese FC Porto twice. Although the team lost twice to Anwil Wloclawek in the semi-finals, the team’s balance in the entire Euro competition was a wonderful 12 wins and four losses. Kauhajoki’s place in the semifinals was historic, as it was the second Finnish team to reach the top four in the Euro competition.
– We succeeded with the same things as in the Korisliiga last season. This season in this competition showed that our game system can be transferred to our high level against tough teams. All in all, this was a wonderful experience for the players, coaches and club, Koskimies bundled up the season’s Euro performances.
Source: Basketball Association