Two for two in the capital

TFSE-MTK - Sopron Basket 65-87 (20-14, 17-28, 16-28, 12-17)
Budapest

TFSE-MTK: Bernáth 4, Jenkins A. 19, Arsenic 9/3, Németh A. 2, Jenkins C. 12/3 Sub.: Süle 8/6, Kovács V. 4, Herman 4, Miháczi 3, Angyal N. -, Boros B. -, Kováts G. -

Sopron Basket: January 10/9, Czukor 2, Crvendakic 17/6, Krajisnik 12, Brooks 13 sub.: Fegyverneky 13, Dubei 10/6, Határ 5, Weninger 3/3, Varga A. 2, Varga K. -

Stats

2-PTS: 16/48 33% ill. 22/38 58%

3-PTS: 4/12 33% ill. 8/24 33%

FTS: 21/24 88% ill. 19/22 86%

Rebounds: 38 (Jenkins A. 9) ill. 43 (Krajisnik 11)

Assists: 13 (Jenkins C. 5) ill. 23 (Brooks 6)

Steals: 14 (Jenkins A. 5) ill. 7 (Brooks 3)

Turnovers: 17 ill. 17

Faults: 22 ill. 24

VAL: 62 (Jenkins A. 26) ill. 114 (Brooks 25)

The home side had a better start in the game, they went ahead 5-0 before Aleks came up with a three-point play to get us going, too (5-3). Four minutes into the first period Jeca made a free throw to tie the game up at 8-8, and then Briann buried a triple which gave us the lead (5th minute 8-11). Not for long, though, because TF were able to put together another scoring run, forcing Dávid Gáspár's first time-out in the game (7th minute 14-11). Betti split the pair at the foul line after the short break, and then Zsófi hit one of her signature mid-range jumpers to equalize again, which caused Bianka Magyar to call her team to the bench for a time-out (14-14). Our efforts to tie the game up have been in vain, because the home side was able to pull away again, closing the first quarter in possession of a 6-point lead (10th minute 20-14).


We switched gears for the start of the second period and scored eight consecutive points, before TF was able to react with an and-one by Chanise Jenkins (13th minute 23-22). After that Jeca and Dalma both made doubles, to which Zsófi added two successful free throws, before Alma Németh scored for TF (27-28). In the second quarter the tables have turned in the sense that this time it was us who were always a small step ahead of the hosts, however we were still unable to create a bigger advantage (18th minute 33-36). In the remainder of the first half we were able to retain and even slightly increase our lead (20th minute 37-42).


Zsófi and Aleks opened the second half with two quick buckets, to which Briann added a triple (22nd minute 37-49). That is when TF also began scoring with a three of their own by Süle. After that the home side started another run to catch up with us, and they managed to get their deficit all the way down to eight points. Aleks felt that we needed to start scoring again and put five points on the board, to which Betti added two more forcing TFSE's next time-out in the game (27th minute 45-60). We kept executing well on offense, and as a result the difference between the two sides has reached the twenty-point mark when Debi buried a shot from behind the arc (47-67). The hosts answered back to that with a 6-0 run, to which Debi put an end with another made shot from downtown to end the period (30th minute 53-70).


Zsófi split a pair of free throws to being the final stage of the game, followed by a triple from Aleks, but when Arsenic scored a double head coach Dávid Gáspár called his team to the bench for a quick talk (32nd minute 55-74). Herman drained a double from mid-range after the short pause, and then Alisia Jenkins also made one to carve into the deficit of the home side. What's more, she also converted two free throws into points, before Aleks put an end to the run with a mid-range jumper (60-76). In the next few minutes neither side was effective in scoring, but we still maintained a comfortable lead (36th minute 63-80). After that the free throw line came into the spotlight, Jeca and Briann combined put 3 foul shots in the bucket to increase our lead to twenty again, before Debi came up with a field goal for two. In the final minutes both sides put two more points on the scoreboard to se the final score (40th minute 65-87).


Dávid Gáspár: We got stuck at the beginning of the game despite the fact that I called attention to that, and every player knew exactly what plays and players we were going to face. It was a serious challenge for us to build an advantage. We have to learn from this mistake, we can't start a game like this. Also , congratulations to TF, they played very nicely. My team has to do a lot better if we want to compete in Montpellier. However, we still have a league game before that on Saturday. We have to be a lot more focused and physical!

Tina Krajisnik: We didn't start as planned and made the game more difficult for ourselves. We showed better team effort in the second half, especially on defense that opened up more possibilities on offense. I am glad we were able to come back, we proved that we are a good team. We'll keep working!