This match fell on the day of the spring equinox – is it a good omen? Especially, if you remember that on the eve of the previous equinox, September 21, Lokomotiv Kuban beat CSKA in the semi-finals of the VTB United League Super Cup.
Howbeit, the score was opened by guests – Ruslan Abdulbasirov put the ball back after a miss by Alexander Platunov. At first Loko struggled to score: Okaro White made 1 point from a free-throw line, then in the middle of the 3rd minute Andrei Martyuk added 2 more – 3:6.
Soon, however, the hosts’ persistence in posts yielded result – White put in 2+1, equaling the score. After that, the teams began exchanging interceptions: BJ Johnson – White – Richard Solomon – oops, nope,
Moments later, Vladislav Yemchenko from behind the 3-point line brought Loko ahead for the first time in the game. And after another 30 seconds of playing time, Alexander Shcherbenev added his 3 points to the red-green scorebox – 17:13!
PARMA did not even think of giving up: Reese also showed that he can hit 3-pointers, then Solomon scored 2+1. Shcherbenev was precise twice from the free-throw line, but Johnson with the mid-range buzzer-beater left the last word in this quarter for PARMA – 21:19 in favor of the guests.
when it was Loko’s turn, Platunov scored from under the hoop. But then PARMA made one more interception (by Isaiah Reese) and the 7-footer Abdulbasirov impressed the audience with his 3-point throwing skills – 11:6 for PARMA.
The teams were defending much better than scoring. However, Kirill Yelatontsev managed to get 2+1, and Jaylen Barford boldly broke under the hoop and scored while falling – 11:13.
Moments later, Vladislav Yemchenko from behind the 3-point line brought Loko ahead for the first time in the game. And after another 30 seconds of playing time, Alexander Shcherbenev added his 3 points to the red-green scorebox – 17:13!
PARMA did not even think of giving up: Reese also showed that he can hit 3-pointers, then Solomon scored 2+1. Shcherbenev was precise twice from the free-throw line, but Johnson with the mid-range buzzer-beater left the last word in this quarter for PARMA – 21:19 in favor of the guests.
In the second period, Reese and Johnson scored 2 points each before someone of Loko got an answer – Barford made it from the long range. But Reese immediately also scored a 3-pointer.
PARMA defended very fluidly and tightly: in the next attack, the guests forced Loko to violate the 24-second rule. Luckily, the Krasnodar team was better in the very component in which the opponents occupy the first two places in the league – we mean rebounds. By the 16th minute, Lokomotiv Kuban managed to collect 22 versus Perm’s 13, including 10 in the opponent’s post. This allowed the hosts to take the lead again after another Barford’s 3-pointer – 33:32.
Solomon tried to complete an alley-oop after a pass from C.J. Bryce, but was fouled by Martyuk and hit only one free-throw out of two. In the response attack, the situation was repeated in a mirror way: Solomon, with a violation, prevented Martyuk from scoring from above – that’s how the PARMA center received the 4th foul and went to the bench to cool down a bit.
As soon as it seemed that the game became completely defense-oriented, the action suddenly exploded: in just 2 minutes of net time, Johnson scored under pressure from Yelatontsev, Barford made a 3-pointer once again, then Reese was forgotten under the basket and acted mercilessly, Barford also scored 2 without hesitation, Bryce took advantage of the quick break, Reese and White exchanged 1+1 from the free-throw line – 42:43 half a minute before the big break!
Loko rushed into attack, which could have given them the lead after two quarters (the last time this happened was a damn long 1.5 months ago, in the cup game vs Uralmash). Barford twice lifted Platunov into the air with fake movements at the 3-point line – it’s a pity he didn’t score. And then Abdulbasirov did it after a similar trick – so, the Permians went to the locker room, leading in the score, 45:42.
The same Abdulbasirov was the first to appear in the scoresheet of the 3rd quarter. Right after, Dmitry Uzinsky made a great fight in the opponent’s post also scored. Stanislav Ilnitsky’s seemingly desperate 3-pointer found his way into the hoop – just to be answered by Martyuk’s putback dunk after Barford’s shot – 47:50.
Yemchenko blocked a Bryce’s shot, Martyuk scored 2+1 – Loko might have taken the lead if Ilnitsky had not scored one more 3-pointer seconds earlier, 52:53. Then Ilnitsky and Bryce scored 2+1 in two PARMA attacks in a row, Reese added 3 points. Loko at the moment only managed to upper their score from the free-throw line (thumbs up to Maurice Ndour, who continued not to miss a single free throw after joining Loko). However, the score 61:68 a minute before the end of the 3rd quarter could not instill much optimism in the 2,600 spectators who visited Basket Hall this evening.
Sorry for jinx, Maurice! On his 15th free-throw attempt in Loko colors, Ndour’s streak was interrupted. 62:70 before the 4th quarter – do the omens really not want to work in favor of hosts this evening?..
However, in the very first seconds of the final ten minutes, Yelatontsev made a furious dunk. Johnson immediately appeared under the unguarded hoop and didn’t miss. Barford scored 2 points, but Abdulbasirov responded with a 3-pointer! Kirill Temirov implemented a difficult 2+1 and seconds later ran into a fast break, fooling Bryce twice – but crashed into Ilnitsky and got an offensive foul. Bryce took his revenge straight off the ice with a fine long-shot – 69:78. But then DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell finally started scoring – his 3-pointer brought Loko back into the game.
Four minutes before the end, another shot by Akoon-Purcell (this time a 2-pointer) brought Loko within two attacks, 74:78. And immediately Solomon received his 5th foul, this time leaving the court completely. Reese scored a mid-range shot, but White with another 2 points and Akoon-Purcell with a three reduced the gap to a minimum – 79:80! It is noteworthy that the latter one did all this, hanging already on 4 fouls.
Martyuk equalized, making 1 free-throw out of 2. Johnson scored a 2-pointer, and White made the crowd shout with a 3-pointer! Lokomotiv is ahead, 83:82. But look at this Reese! Is it Steph Curry? Or is it Damian Lillard? No! It’s PARMA’s point-guard scoring from the logo! 83:85 with 2 minutes left.
White was fouled and successfully converted both of his free-throw attempts. It’s equal again – 85:85. PARMA rushed into attack that should give it the lead – and Bryce, in the fight with Yemchenko, hit him in the teeth, which the judges could only see after a video review. Yemchenko missed both free-throws (oh, those free-throws of his), but seconds later made the crowd forget his misses. He put Reese on the 3-point line out of countenance, then ran to the PARMA hoop, received the pass – and gracefully deceived Johnson, who was preparing to make a vicious block – 87:85!
Next Permian attack resulted into Platunov’s miss, bat Burford didn’t score either! So, it’s Reese to decide the game outcome. Or is it Yemchenko again?! Loko guard blocked Reese’s shot! And it was enough time for Barford to make a fast break and set the final score – 89:85.
Loko beats PARMA for the first time this season and overtakes Zenit in the number of victories. The next match for Krasnodar team is March 26. The current league champion, UNICS, will come to the Basket Hall. See ya!