An electrifying second-half performance propelled BC Prievidza to a commanding 83-59 home win over BC Balkan Botevgrad from Bulgaria. The Miners improve to 4-1 and solidify their 2nd rank in the Group J standings.

The home team could not buy a bucket in the first half: With 18 seconds to go, C.J. Jackson converted a difficult off-the-dribble three-point attempt that cut the Balkan lead to two points (26:28, 20.). That is noteworthy in particular because BC had missed their previous FIFTEEN attempts from beyond the arc. Shots were not only not falling, they were not even thinking about it. Only a valiant defensive effort, highlighted by spectacular Denis Krestinin and Keith Jordan swats, kept the hosts in the game.

However, after the break the Športová hala faithful witnessed a complete transformation. All of a sudden, the Prievidza offense started clicking, with floor general Jackson orchestrating an 18-8 run, scoring ten points himself and assisting on two Daishon Smith threes and a Hunter Dean dunk. Now BC’s beautiful brand of basketball was back: Smith stayed scorching hot from the perimeter, Keith “Air” Jordan roamed the passing lanes and turned his steals into highflying throwdowns at the other end, Remu Raitanen found himself at the end of some exquisite ball movement and knocked down two threes.

BC’s fourth win in five group stage games has them travel to undefeated group leaders Bilbao Basket with a 4-1 record. Only the ten group winners and the six best second-place finishers make it through to the next stage featuring the competition’s top sixteen teams.

Photo: Vladimír Králik