Slovakia Wanted It More

SLOVAKIA 65 – CZECH REPUBLIC 58

Check Republic lead on the first stages of the game leaning on Jana Vesela to put their noses in front with 5 straight points from Ros Casares forward after a trey, 10-4, then Slovakia made a 6-0 run and tied the score after a jumper from Gina Palusna, leaving the Czechs scoreless for 2 minutes but the Czechs regained the lead with 5 straight points, a jumper from Tereza Peckova and a three pointer from Katerina Elhotova to make it 15-10 with two minutes remaining. Both teams struggled to score during the whole quarter. Ivana Jalcova closed the quarter closing the gap for the Slovakians,12-15.

Slovakia levelled the score again early in the second with five straight points from Zuzana Zirkova and a trey from Lucia Laskova. Katerina Elhotova regained the lead for the Czechs, 22-19, then  Milan Veverka put his stars back on court trying to control the game –Kulichova, Vesela, Viteckova and Bartonova- but their presence didn’t make a difference and the quarter continued with trading until the break, with an up and rising slovaks who finally put their noses in front after four minutes with a three pointer from Zuzana Zirkova, 24-22, however they couldn’t avoid reach the interval evened again, 35-35, after a tied second quarter as far as the game is concerned.

After the break the trade continued during the first half of the third, with the lead changing of hands three times, although both teams struggled in their shooting. Slovakia’s defense improved and step by step their worked on the defensive end paid off when Martina Gyurcsi made it 46-45 for Slovakia. Veverka called time out but after that Slovakia capped an 8-0 run in which was Gyurcsi’s basket to make it 50-45, knocking out the Czechs who didn’t score in four minutes, which served to Pokey Chatman’s team to keep ahead sicne they also struggled in their shooting. The Czechs scored again with 50 seconds Leith, when Katerina Bartonova made it 50-47 entering the fourth.

Slovakia took advantage of their momentum and tool control in the fourth against a Czech Republic who sometimes Lockheed apathetic, not even thinking in the next round. That  added to the lack of scoring made it seem as if nobody wanted to score but finally the Slovaks made a 9-2 run in the first 6:30 of the fourth. Katerina Elhotova was the only Czech to score in that sport and the Slovaks put ahead, 59-49, closing the game. Viteckova sparked and capped a 6-0 run to give some hope to her team after making it 59-55 with 2:10 remaining but Zuzana Zirkova, the best of the Slovaks yesterday iced the game with a jumper on the ensuing possession, making it 61-55 and holding Slovakia the victory which finally was 65-58.

Zuzana Zirkova had 18 pts, Martina Gyurcsi added 11 pts and 9 boards and Lucia Kupcickova scored 10 pts for Slovakia.

For the Czech Republic Eva Viteckova had 14 pts and Jana Vesela 12. Michala Hartigova had 11 boards and 6 pts.