2014/2015 Eurochallenge Last 16 set

The Regular Season has ended and the 2014/2015 Eurochallenge Last 16 has been locked, with the clubs now heading into the winter break awaiting the next phase of the competition.

The final round of Basketball decided plenty of late arrivals into the next round, while there was heartbreak and jubilation on the courts around the continent. The remaining five places were tied down across the groups, with some places being decided at the death. Here is how the action played out in the groups that still had qualification places up for grabs.

Group A
Den Bosch and Ratiopharm Ulm headed into this round locked on three games apiece, but the Dutch club knew a victory would guarantee a spot in the next round at the expense of the Ulm team. As it was, Den Bosch could afford to lose their road tie against Södertälje and still progress as Ratiopharm slipped to defeat away against Group A winners Enel Brindisi.

It was a mini classic in Sweden as Södertälje needed two overtime stanzas to record a 115-108 victory that ended the clubs’ 2014/2015 Eurochallenge season.

Group B
Energia Rovinari entered the Last 16 despite losing its final Group B game 97-74 at down and out Lukoil Academic Sofia in Bulgaria. The loss kept the Romanian team on 3-3, but they held second place despite Kormend landing on the same record with a victory over group winners Tartu Rock in Estonia. The Hungarians will feel hard done by, but in the end Energia had a superior point’s advantage and will make the journey deeper into the competition.

Group G
The Antwerp Giants progressed to the Last 16 of the 2014/2015 Eurochallenge season by getting the required victory over KTP-Basket. The Belgian team used home court advantage to sweep to a commanding 98-81 victory that saw the club through with a 3-3 record. Bonprix Biella missed out after losing 88-74 on the road at Le Mans, losing the head to heads with Antwerp and leaving the tournament on a 3-3 record.

Group H
The most heart-breaking game of the night came in Lithuania where hosts Siauliai lost on their own hardwood to Usak Sportif. The visitors travelled to Lithuania and secured a 75-78 wait that sent the Turkish team into the next round at the expense of their hosts. It was down to the wire in the game, but with regulation time fading Courtney Fells drained from beyond the arc to snatch the qualifying victory.