Bauska Beat Saldus in Latvian National Basketball League

Bauska defeated Saldus 85:68 in the National Basketball League, Latvia's second-tier basketball championship, on 12 November. It was the only game played that day, and it gave Bauska their fourth win of the season. They now have a 4-2 record in the league's Western group.

How the game unfolded

The hosts took control early. After the first four and a half minutes, Saldus trailed 12:2. Kaspars Baumanis then scored five quick points to start the visitors' comeback, and Raitis Špels cut the gap to a single shot. Saldus could not level the score or take the lead, though, and Bauska won the first quarter 19:15.

In the second quarter, Viktors Iļjins scored effectively close to the basket and added a three-pointer. Nikolajs Zotovs hit another three just before the halftime buzzer, and Bauska went into the break leading 47:29.

Kristaps Mediss opened the second half with a hook shot, followed by two points from Ričards Greitāns, who was making his debut for Bauska. Once the lead grew beyond ten points, the outcome was largely settled. Bauska led 68:44 going into the final quarter. Saldus narrowed the margin somewhat, but the win was never in danger. Kristiāns Zarumba scored the final two points of the game.

Top performers

Zotovs led Bauska with 15 points. Iļjins, the league's leading performer, collected 11 points and 16 rebounds. Zarumba and team captain Gundars Brička each scored ten, while Mediss added seven and Greitāns six.

For Saldus, Špels was the top scorer with 14 points. Roberts Rozentāls and Kristers Ķeķis each had ten, and Reinis Krūmiņš, Roberts Šmīdriņš and Rodrigo Jānītis scored eight apiece.

Saldus have one win and four losses in the Western group standings.