Enisey defeats Avtodor in VTB United League
Week 8 of the 2014/2015 VTB United League tipped off with just one game on Saturday with the rest of the round’s action to be played out through tomorrow and Monday. The weekend’s action got underway with a clash between Russian clubs Enisey Krasnoyarsk and Avtodor Saratov, with the hosts claiming an important victory.
Enisey Krasnoyarsk vs. Avtodor Saratov, 90-85
Enisey added another win to its record by downing Avtodor at home, moving the club to 3-5 in the competitive mix found in the middle of the 2014/2015 VTB United League standings. As for Saratov, the Russian club continues to struggle and sits on a poor 2-7 record. The hosts laid on 23 assists through the game in an unselfish attacking display that allowed four players to score in double digits.
In the first quarter the scoring was consistent from both teams as the players drove to the basket regularly through a frame that saw plenty of action in the paint at either end. At the end of the ten minute opening frame, Enisey held a lead, but it was slender at 25-24. The hosts struggled to maintain their scoring in the second quarter while Avtodor kept hitting the bucket for points. The visitors won the period 16-21 to snatch the advantage at halftime, with the scoreboard reading 41-45. Enisey Krasnoyarsk got back on track early in the third and found a balance between attack and defence through the stanza to tie the game. The final split buzzer sounded and the score had been locked at 67 apiece, making it anybody’s game. In the final act Enisey carried its momentum from Q3 and outpaced the Saratov contingent down the stretch to collect the win.
Sava Lesic led the winning effort with 16 points and 9 rebounds. He was followed by Elmedin Kikanovic with 13 points and 7 boards, Terrico White with 12 points, and Evgeniy Kolesnikov with 10 points.
Leading the scoring for the losing effort was Courtney Fortson with a game high 26, while he backed his impressive scoring up with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Also in double figures for Avtodor were Jeremy Chappell with 15 points and Kyrylo Fesenko with 10 points.