Kumanovo won group A after a dramatic comeback victory in Samokov

KK Kumanovo 2009 won group A in EUROHOLD Balkan League after the team finished the first stage with 95-90 overtime victory away against Rilski Sportist. Both teams played a dramatic match that had to be decided in extra five minutes. The home team twice had the chance to win but Kumanovo made a comeback and is going home with smiles. With this result Kumanovo finished first in the group with 5 wins and 3 defeats while Rilski is second with 4-4. However in the next round Kumanovo is entering with 0-2 record while the team from Samokov with 1-1.
 
8 points in a row for Kumanovo shortly after the middle of the first quarter broke a tie game. Then the visitors continued to lead taking even a 10-point advantage as at the start of the second half both teams started exchanging threes. However Kumanovo made a 12-4 to go up by 11 points but Rilski responded quickly. The hosts had a chance to tie the score but Norfleet made only one free throw and the Macedonians led by 1 after ten minutes.
 
In the third quarter the visitors had a small lead but Rilski was close. With 24 seconds to go in it the hosts finally managed to go up by a point and it was the score after 30 minutes.
 
In the last quarter Rilski continued to have the lead which went to 5 points first and later to 7. Kumanovo though didn′t give up and after 6-0 run cut their deficit to 1 with 1.36 to go but then Bozov converted a lay up to put the hosts up by 3. The visitors cut one point of the deficit and after Rilski missed twice, Sasa Avramovic went to the line. However he missed two free throws but Djekic grabbed the rebound and also was fouled. He made both free throws and tied the score and after Bozov missed  at the end, the game went to overtime.
 
In the extra period Rilski took a 4-point lead but Kumanovo tied the game. Then Bozov scored but Djekic responded with a triple to put the visitors up by 1 with 56 seconds to play. Then Norfleet lost the ball and after him Filipovic scored a three-pointer which decided the outcome.
 
Branislav Djekic was the hero for the winners with his 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Marjan Janeski and Vukasin Mandic had 15 points apiece as six players scored in double figures.
 
For the home team Yordan Bozov had 23 points while Julian Norfleet added 20 and 6 rebounds.

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FULL STATS FROM THE GAME BC RILSKI SPORTIST - KK KUMANOVO 2009