Peli-Karhut already led the decisive final in Kouvola with 19 points, but Kouvottaret scored five points at best. However, Game Bears took the championship with Naomi Davenport and Lotta Vehka-aho.
27.4. 20:17 • Updated April 27. 21:02
Peli-Karhut from Kotka has won the Finnish women’s basketball championship for the fourth time in a row. In the fourth final, Peli-Karhut won the Kouvottaret from Kouvola with a score of 88–82. The championship went to the Game Bears 3-1.
Peli-Karhut took command of the decisive final at the very beginning. The game head was especially Lotta Vehka-ahowho already bagged nine points in the opening quarter.
Halfway through the 16-point lead of Peli-Karhujen, I read 55-39. At its best, Peli-Karhut led the match by 19 points, until Kouvottaret started Kirin in their home hall.
Kouvottaret went five points away at best.
About American Confirmations of Game Bears Naomi Davenport mixed Pink Lehtoranta that Vehka-aho was able to keep the difference safe with his success.
Davenport bagged 23 points in the match and took 11 rebounds. Vehka-aho, on the other hand, scored a record point in the Kori League with a balance of 22 points. The previous record had been 18 points. 21-year-old Vehka-aho returned to the Korisliga for this season after the games in the U.S. University Series ended abruptly.
– Feels indescribably good. There are no words, Vehka-aho, who started as a pennant, glowed at Sport after his first Finnish championship.
According to Vehka-aho, the team has a lot of experience. According to him, Peli-Karhut is also able to recycle its line-up well.
– Now we go to Kotka and take a sauna, Vehka-aho said.
He played as the head coach of Game Bears this season Mika Hartonen. He took over as head coach for this season when Roope Mäkelä moved to the men’s basketball league as head coach of KTP-Basket.
Hartonen was the assistant coach of the Game Bears last season. Prior to that, he was the coach of Kouvottar in 2016–2020, when Kouvottaret took his first steps towards the top at the main league level.
– We got off to a good start. We were able to use extensive material to play three episodes. In the fourth, there was a bit of a reduction, Hartonen describes the last match of the season.
The teeth of the Kouvottari were American reinforcements Sarah Toeaina (22 points) and Rashida Timbilla (20 points).
In the opening final and the final victory for Kouvottari, Toeaina fired as many as 35 points, but now Peli-Karhut was able to keep the Hawaiian in moderate readings. Toeaina’s game situation threw only 26 percent (5/19).
For Kouvottari, however, the SM silver medals were historic, as the team played for the first time in the Finnish Championship finals. The Finnish Championship medals were also the first in their history for Kouvottar.
According to Hartonen, the key issue in the final series was seen in the defense.
– We were able to defend a couple of matches really well. We had one nightmare. It was that first final. Then we were able to be in our own game concept, Hartonen says.
– I don’t even remember because we’ve been training for the last time. There has been watching videos, playing football and throwing. It’s been the last month and the playoffs, Hartonen threw.
For Hartonen, the season has been really challenging in his own words. In the next season in Peli-Karhu, Catzia from Lappeenranta will take on the responsibility for coaching. Mika Haakana.
– The championship is really valuable to me. I don’t know about next season. It may be that my coaching was here, Hartonen says.