Rilski Sportist won a thriller against Kumanovo 2009 in the best game in EUROHOLD Balkan League history

BC Rilski Sportist won a very important game which will most probably be enough for the team to qualify for the Final 4. The squad from Samokov won a real thriller away against KK Kumanovo 2009 by a score 117-114. It was an incredible battle from start to finish which had to be decided after two overtimes. Both teams fought very hard and it can be said that this is the best game in EUROHOLD Balkan League five year history. Now both teams have 4 wins and 4 losses and are close to the Final 4. In the next round on March 26th Rilski will host Levski while Kumanovo is playing at home against Teodo.
Kumanovo started very well and scored the first 8 points in the game and the team continued to have the lead in the following minutes. With less than four to go Aleksandar Kostoski made a triple to make it a 9-point game and then both teams exchanged 3 points. Rilski though finished the first quarter on a 6-0 run and Kumanovo led 22-19 after ten minutes.
The visitors started good the second quarter and took its first lead of the game at 26-24. The home team responded with an 8-0 run to regain the advantage and in the next minutes both squads continued to play an interesting game. The match was even until the end of the first half that finished 45-42 for Kumanovo.
The second half started very even with both teams exchanging baskets. At one point the hosts made a 9-2 run which gave them a double digit advantage for first time in the game at 65-55. Rilski immediately responded with a 10-0 run to tie the game and Uros Lukovic dunked for the last points of the third quarter which finished 67-65 for Kumanovo.
The hosts scored the first six points of the last quarter but then Rilski responded with two triples to make it once again a 2-point game. Marjan Mladenovic answed with a very important three-pointer for the hosts and soon the team had an 8-point lead. Rilski didn′t give up and scored another triple and later with 02.32 minuts to play they tied the score at 81-81. Kostoski scored for Kumanovo but Terry Smith added another triple for the visitors. Then Anthony Lee-Ingram responded with the same and Braxton Dupree made just one free throw. Then Kostoski missed but Dejan Mikic made a put back for 88-85 with 68 seconds to go. Both teams missed during their offensive plays and then Angelo Caloiaro scored under the basket to make it just one point game with 25 seconds left. Lukovic was fouled and made just one free throw but Ivica Dimcevski grabbed the rebounds. Then he missed under the basket and Smith tied the game making both free throws. In the final seconds Kostoski couldn′t score and the game went to overtime.
With a lucky triple by Kostoski the hosts took the lead at 94-93 and then both teams missed. Lukovic answered with a tough basket but missed the free throw and then Branko Mirkovic tied the game at 96 points with a triple. Kostoski put once again the hosts up after scoring with 01.06 to play and Mirkovic couldn′t make a three-pointer in the next offense. Then Lee-Ingram was fouled and converted both free throws but Anthony Gugino scored another three-pointer for Rilski. Kostoski responded with another basket but Smith added a new triple and tied the game. Kostoski made a mistake in the next offense and Rilski missed so the game went on to a second overtime.
The teams exchanged 4 points and then Lukovic put the hosts up by 1. Rilski responded with a triple by Mirkovic and a basket by Stanislav Vaklinov and went up by 4 points with minute and a half to go. Kostoski scored another triple to bring the hosts back in the game and after a Smith miss the visitors grabbed the rebound and had a new offense. The American scored two free throws with 52 seconds to go but Lee-Ingram answered with the same for the hosts. Then Rilski missed but the hosts couldn′t grab the rebound once again and the team from Samokov had a new offense. Mirkovic was fouled and scored twice and then Marjan Janeski added a new basket. Mirkovic once again was fouled and once again he didn′t miss which was enough for Rilski to get the victory.
Top scorer for the winners was Angelo Caloiaro with 23 points as Terry Smith had 22.
Incredible game for the home team had Aleksandar Kostoski who finished with 43 points and 11 assists while Uros Lukovic had 23 points and 13 reobunds.

---

FULL STATS FROM THE GAME KK KUMANOVO 2009 - BC RILSKI SPORTIST SCHEDULE AND RESULTS FROM TOP 6 IN EUROHOLD BALKAN LEAGUE
 
CURRENT STANDINGS IN TOP 6 OF EUROHOLD BALKAN LEAGUE