Canadians in Europe: November 2nd - 5th

It was another busy week of basketball in Europe, in particular for Canadian players who were making waves and putting up big numbers in all of the major pan-national competitions. Here's the run down of all the results of the first week in November:

EuroCup Women

The Stars Keltern got their first win this season on the road in London, finally untangling themselves from the Lions in the fourth quarter after a close contest with nine lead changes. Keltern's eight point lead was reduced to one with just over a minute on the clock, to which the German team responded with six points unanswered to end the game and get the win. Alex Kiss-Rusk was superb on both ends, contributing sixteen points and thirteen total rebounds in Keltern's 68-61 win.

It was also a great night in Belgium for Aislinn Konig, who scored a game-high 30 points, followed by her team mate and compatriot Quinn Dornstauder who finished with 20 for Castors Braine in a commanding performance over Zabiny Brno. After a dicey start Castors became dominant in the low post, keeping Brno at a comfortable distance before sinking the dagger in the fourth. Led by their Canadian duo Castors got back to winning ways with victory 81 points to 65.

Also this week Ruth Hamblin scored eight and rebounded nine on the road for Olympiacos, who led their hosts Bydgoszcz from start to end in Poland. The Greek team made it look easy with twelve from beyond the arc and unstoppable inside play, they built a twenty point lead in the second half and left Bydgoszcz with no way back. Olympiacos move to 3-1 in the group with victory 87 points to 64.

It was less joyous over in Switzerland: though Fribourg compiled an early six-point lead and Abigail Fogg scored 21 points and grabbed eight boards for them, the Swiss team quickly found themselves put on the back foot by Dinamo Sassari. Their Italian opponents consistency from close range saw them lead by twenty-five points shortly after the start of the second half, which Fribourg could not come back from, relegated to the eventual 81-74 loss.

EuroCup

In an all-Spanish clash between Valencia and Gran Canaria, Dylan Ennis started for the latter and scored sixteen points as the visiting team grew a small lead into a double-digit one by the third quarter. With the game on the line Valencia took their chance to strike, a flurry of three-pointers bringing the gap down to just one point with seconds left. With Gran Canaria receiving possession, it was a done deal for them, earning a winning record while relegating Valencia to a losing one with a single-point result.

Tyler Ennis netted five points in his EuroCup debut for PTT Ankara, who led Slask Wroclaw by nine points at the end of the first quarter, only to see that lead go the other way. They were able to turn it around in the second half, largely from beyond the arc, and after outscoring Wroclaw 21-8 in the final period the Turks rounded off the win, 89 points to 73.

It was a slow night for both Melvin Ejim, who had just six points and five rebounds, and a disappointing one for Cedevita Olimpija, whose early lead over Bursapor was erased by the Turkish hosts' superior shooting. Cedevita's attempts to alter the course of the game were all denied by Buraspor, who kept up their close-range pressure to cruise home to victory, 93-84.

Both Andorra and hosts Hamburg Towers found exactly the same scoring chances, but stronger defence and accuracy from the field gave the Andorrans the edge. Hamburg had three moments when they were on the verge of flipping proceedings, but were not able to capitalise and Andorra took back control every time. Connor Morgan had five points and six rebounds for Andorra, the eventual winners by six points.

FIBA Europe Cup

Bouyed by 19 points and 8 rebounds by Phil Scrubb and 10 from Kenny Cherry, Avtodor Saratov amassed a double-digit lead over Zaragoza just before half time. Their confidence was shot when the Spanish team quickly closed the gap and held a narrow lead going into the very last stretch of regulation.

A late three from Scrubb tied the scores and sent the game to overtime, where he and Derek James put up a lot of crucial plays to keep Saratov in front. Thankfully for them Zaragoza kept coming up short from three-point territory, a final shot from Jaron Johnson sealed it for Saratov, who keep their perfect record intact with a win in overtime, 92-86.

Euroleague Women

Katherine Plouffe had six points and five rebounds for BLMA, who opened against TTT Riga with thirteen points unanswered. They then held Riga to six points in the second quarter, building an eighteen point lead the Latvian visitors were not able to come back from. Making over half their field attempts, BLMA ended their two-game losing skid with victory over Riga 63 points to 54.

Euroleague

Up against big hitters in CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce put their opponents to the sword early on and after holding on to a slender lead in the fourth quarter they sank the dagger. Despite CSKA matching them on offence, Nando De Colo put up eleven last period points to guide Fenerbahce to victory. The Frenchman was one of five Fenerbahce players to score in double digits, another being Marial Shayok who started and scored 12, as they got back to winning ways with victory in Moscow 82-91.