Balkan solidifies second spot in Group A with an impressive win over Maccabi

BC Balkan recorded its fourth win in Group A of Delasport Balkan League after beating Maccabi Next Urban Haifa at home. The Greens took 88-81 victory after leading from start to finish and controlling the match. The visitors tried hard to turn the score around but didn't succeed and the hosts celebrated. The hosts solidifed second place in the group with that win as they now have 4-2 record but have now their place in Stage 2 secured. The visitors in the meantime now have 2-3 record and are tied with Levski. On Friday those teams will meet again in Botevgrad but the match will count as a home game for Maccabi.

In a high scoring first quarter the teams exchanged baskets as it was Balkan leading but not by much. At the end of it the difference was just 2 points and in the second The Greens continued to be ahead. In the middle of it they took their largest lead going up by 8 but Maccabi didn't allow the difference to become bigger. Balkan managed to stay in front as at the end of the first half the home side was up by 7.

The hosts controlled the match in the third quarter as they were ahead and were note allowing the visitors to come closer. Few minutes before the end of it Balkan took its first double-digit lead but Maccabi finished it a bit better to cut the deficit to 7 once again and stay with a chance in the final ten. Things continued in the same way with Balkan leading and Maccabi trying to get closer. In the middle of the quarter the hosts led by 7 but then in the next 2.30 minutes they scored 6 points in a row and practically decided the outcome.

Dimitar Dimitrov had a great game for the winners finishing with 27 points. Stanimir Marinov also did well by adding 19 points as Derrick Marks and DeVaughn Washington scored 10 each.

Kwame Vaughn had 24 points and 4 rebounds for the visitors.

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