In February, Linda-Lotta Lehtoranta moved from Peli-Karhui to Keltern, Germany. Keltern beat Hanover 3–0 in the German finals.
Linda-Lotta Lehtoranta the multi-stage basketball season ended on Tuesday evening with the German championship. Keltern, represented by Lehtoranta, beat Hannover 66–52 in the third final on the away field and won the championship directly with a 3–0 victory.
– We started the game quite typically for ourselves, i.e. a bit poorly. Little by little we improved during the game. The final numbers were perhaps clearer what the game was, Lehtoranta said.
Lehtoranta played for more than half an hour. He had four points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
In the regular season, Keltern lost both matches to Hannover, but the pace was different in the finals.
– The first final was really tight. They dropped one player from the following matches. It definitely affected their game, but they were still tough opposition.
The intention of Lehtoranta was to play the season abroad, but at the beginning of the season, no suitable club could be found. He moved to Keltern only in February, having previously played in Kotka Peli-Karhui.
– This was a season full of phases. At first I didn’t play at all. Then I joined Peli-Karhui and an injury happened in between. The contract with Peli-Karhuje was match-specific and gave the opportunity to leave at the end of January, it was the last chance due to transfer limits.
Keltern was a club familiar to Lehtoranta. He also played there in the 2015–16 season. A big role was found in the team.
– It was easy to come here. There were a few familiar players and familiar staff.
After the championship was secured, the first party was held in Hannover after the game. More to come now that the team has returned home. There is a program for the team for a couple of days and an event has also been organized for the fans.
Peli-Karhut also celebrated the championship in Finland at the end of the season.
– Of course, it’s always warm when the home club wins the championship, especially when my sister (Roosa) played there.
Lehtoranta’s further plans are still open, but playing abroad is still interesting.
– The intention is to continue abroad for at least next season. I still don’t know where I will go or if I will stay in Germany.