The most productive player in the ranks of “Liepājas” was Roberts Bērziņš, who scored 17 points (1p. 1/1, 2p. 5/12, 3p. 2/4), collected three rebounds, returned five assists and intercepted two balls sent by the opponents.
“Brno” started the game with a press and controlled the situation on the field from the very beginning of the match. Liepāja basketball players made several mistakes and the guests used them. In the fifth minute, the Czech “Brno” was already 13 points, but after the first quarter it was already 23 points – 31: 8. In the second quarter, too, households did not find a solution to Czech accuracy, and the deficit continued to grow. At half-time, Brno already has a 30-point advantage – 55:25.
The performance of Liepaja residents did not improve sharply in the second half either. They were able to make a breakthrough in the third quarter and regain 13 points, but in the final quarter, the Czechs regained and even increased their lead. Brno basketball players scored 18 of the 27 long shots today and celebrated a convincing victory with a 40-point lead.
For the Brno basketball players, this was the last game of the regular season and they have secured second place with five wins in seven games.
“Liepaja” – “Brno” 64: 104 (8:31, 17:24, 25:20, 14:29)
Liepāja: Bērziņš 17, Krastiņš 14, Siliņš 11, Hlebovickis 10, Vītols 3, Jakubauskis 3, Salmiņš 2, Raimo 2
Brno: Balints 26, Djurčičs 17 (11 atl.b.), Marko 17, Mikelsons 13, Madens 12 (11 rez.p.), Korners 9, Jokls 5, Krakovičs 3, Pursls 2
Liepāja falls Short: A Post-Game Breakdown wiht Coach Jānis Scroders
After a tough 104-64 loss to Brno in their final regular season game, I sat down with Coach Jānis Scroders to discuss the match and what lies ahead for the Liepāja basketball club.
Moderator: Coach Scroders, it was a challenging night for your team against Brno. What were your main takeaways from the game?
Coach Scroders: “It was a challenging game, no doubt. brno came out with extraordinary intensity from the start, pressing us and capitalizing on our early mistakes. We dug ourselves into a big hole in the first quarter,and sadly,we couldn’t quite recover from that.”
Moderator: Brno shot an incredible 18 of 27 from three-point range. Did their accuracy surprise you, or were there defensive adjustments Liepāja could have made?
Coach Scroders: “We knew Brno was a strong shooting team, but they were certainly on fire tonight. I think we could have done a better job contesting shots, closing out on their shooters more aggressively.We gave them too much space, and they made us pay for it.”
Moderator: Despite the deficit, Liepāja managed to rally in the third quarter, outscoring Brno by 13 points.What sparked that brief comeback?
Coach Scroders: “Our guys showed great resilience. We made a few adjustments at halftime, emphasized better shot selection and ball movement. The players responded well, dug deep, and found a bit of rhythm. but ultimately, Brno’s lead was too much to overcome.”
Moderator: looking ahead, Liepāja finished the regular season with a (insert their final record). What are your thoughts on the team’s overall performance this season?
Coach Scroders: “It’s been a mixed bag this season. We’ve had our moments, flashes of brilliance, but also some frustrating inconsistencies. I’m proud of the effort and determination the players have shown, but we need to be more consistent and disciplined to compete at the highest level.”
Moderator: What are the next steps for the team as we head into the playoffs?
Coach Scroders: “We need to learn from this game and make adjustments. We’ll analyze the film,identify our weaknesses,and work on them during practice. The playoffs are a new challenge, a fresh start, and we’re going in with the mindset to compete and give it our all.”
Moderator: Coach scroders,thank you for your time and insight. I’m sure the fans are eager to see what the playoffs bring for Liepāja.
What are your thoughts on liepāja’s performance? Can they turn things around in the playoffs? Share your opinions in the comments below!
