Kauhajoki, the reigning champion of Men’s Basketball League, finally woke up to the level required by the final match series. The Seagulls, who were in trouble on Monday, lead the final series with a 2-1 win.
Kauhajoki Karhu Basket beat the Seagulls from Helsinki 96–72 (49–35) in the 3rd final of the Men’s Basketball League and narrowed the series to 1–2. With four wins, he becomes champion.
The Seagulls had won the first two final games 70–54 and 84–63, but on Monday, Karhu Basket dictated the pace of the match from the beginning.
– The offensive end fell into place. In addition, we switched to a slightly smaller five, and our fives were more balanced, and we didn’t have as much variation as in the two previous finals. The Seagulls were a stronger team in them. We were now harder under the basket, in positions four and five. This turned the other way compared to the previous matches, summed up the match Yelle Kauhajoki’s coach Janne Koskimies.
Kauhajokis led by 14 points at halftime and finally knocked out the Helsinki team right at the beginning of the third period to take a karate 55–35 lead. Karhu Basket also succeeded in three-pointers better than before and bagged 41 percent of long-range shots.
Head coach of the Seagulls Jussi Laakso reminded that the final series is 2–1 for the people of Helsinki.
– Karhu Basket came into the game just as hard as before. It was now that we made a lot more mistakes than in previous finals. The bear got a kick out of it. The talk that the other team had a better charge can be forgotten. It’s just bullshit. The bear was better today, we were worse, Laakso emphasized.
Kauhajoki’s most effective were Severi Kaukiainen 21/3/4, Daniel Dolenc 17/3 and bagged 14 points Lee Skinner, Jay Crockett and Henri Kantonen.
– Today we wanted to win more and we showed that. Although it feels good now, this was just one game, so we will continue at the same pace and hopefully improve even more on Thursday. And hopefully nothing, but we will improve, Dolenc stated after the match.
The Seagulls’ most prominent scorers were Zena Edosomwan 12/7, Antti Kanervo 11/1 and Rene Rougeau 10/1.
The fourth final will be played on Thursday 11.5. in Helsinki. On Saturday, the program includes the fifth final at Kauhajoki.