Red Star downs Buducnost 83-69 in Adriatic

The top two teams in the Adriatic league locked horns and Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) Telekom Beograd prevailed over Montenegrin club KK Buducnost Voli Podgorica 83-69. The 2014 league finalists are off to yet another stellar start this season and have thus far shown no signs of slowing down. They are now 6-0 and now the solo leaders of the league. This is Buducnost’s first loss for the 2014/15 season and are now in second place with a 5-1 record.

Both clubs started off the game at a slow pace while trying to get into some kind of offensive rhythm going. The visiting team from Montenegro secured themselves a slight edge after 12 minutes with the scoreboard at 14-17. The action heated up in the second frame with Buducnost’s shooters finding their range, allowing them to extend their lead to 34-40 at the end of the first half.

Crvena Zvezda held tough. After the break, they kept Buducnost in check on the defensive end and even cut their lead down to five as both clubs headed into the final period. It was in those final 12 minutes of basketball that Red Star showed why they are such a dangerous team. They almost willed themselves en route to their victory with 29-10 dominant fourth quarter, all on strong teamwork and clean execution.

Jaka Blazic led all Red Star scorers with 18 points off the bench. Boban Marjanovic chipped in 12 points and 17 rebounds. Marcus Williams and Nemanja Dangubic added 11 points each. J.R. Reynolds was the top performer for Buducnost. He ended the night with 18 points and four assists. Suad Sehovic contributed 15 points points as well.

Crvena Zvezda is playing well overall. In the Turkish Airlines Euroleague they are in second place in Group D with a 2-1 record, just a game behind Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. Their success this early is almost the mirror opposite of their Serbian rivals, BC Partizan NiS Beograd, who are uncharacteristically struggling. They are 2-4 in the Adriatic league and a dismal 0-3 in Eurocup play.