Salon Vilpas won the Kauhajoki Bear Basket in the second final of the men’s basketball league 85–58 and evened out the match wins to 1–1.
4.5. 21:21 • Updated 4.5. 21:22
The Kauhajoki Bear Basket had taken the first final of the men’s basketball league in clear numbers 90–68, but Salon Vilpas paid back the same amount at home in the second final. Vilpas, who played convincingly, won the match 85–58 and evened out the match series 1–1.
Kauhajoki still led 19–17 after the first quarter, but after that Vilpas took the game clearly.
The best scorers were Marcus Lovett jr. (21), Jeremiah Wood (17) and Brian Fobbs (14). He only threw more than ten points from Kauhajoki Simeon Carter (12).
– That was the only goal tonight. We set out to level the series and save our faces. I had to find something. We dug up more fighting and a few tactical stuff. It helps, of course, when the throw sinks, to Vilppa Mikko Koivisto said.
Vilpas did really well in his defensive game, as Kauhajoki had last fallen below 60 points more than six years ago in April 2016.
– The defense was much better as a whole, the ball screens were defended much more aggressively. I haven’t seen the percentages, but I think they also threw pretty badly, Koivisto said.
Percentages say that Kauhajoki did not get in its threes. Of the 30 attempts, only five were successful, or 16 per cent.
Vilpas immersed the thirds to the nearest 47 percent (9/19) and the second ones to the nearest 52 percent.
Four wins are required for the championship. The next match will be played on Friday in Kauhajoki.
– Even such a presentation is not enough there. Bear is an excellent team especially at home. If you like to be a champion, you have to rob one game in some way, Koivisto said.