Kandava Scores 110 in Bauska to Hand the Hosts Their First Defeat of the Season

In Thursday's game of the Latvian National Basketball League (NBL), Kandava's "Anzāģe/Turība" beat the hosts "Bauska" 110-92 in Bauska. The result gave Kandava a fourth win of the season and made them the only team in the Western Group yet to lose. For Bauska it was the first defeat this season. The two sides had battled for bronze medals last spring.

Lead built in the first half

The visitors were sharp on offence from the start, scoring 32 points in the first quarter and 33 more in the second. Guntars Strāķis hit the last three-pointer of the half, and the team coached by Raimonds Feldmanis went into the break ahead 65-41.

Early in the third quarter, with the deficit at 27 points, Bauska's playing manager Ivars Zemītis scored seven in a row. The hosts' comeback was slowed by the visitors' accurate long-range shooting. After a three-pointer by Nikolajs Zotovs, the gap before the final quarter had shrunk to 13 points (70-83). In the last period Strāķis again scored from distance, and Markuss Mamajs's free throws pushed Kandava past the 100-point mark.

Top performers

Strāķis was the winners' most productive player, making six of 11 three-point attempts, scoring 20 points and stealing the ball four times. Mamajs added 19 points and ten rebounds, Eduards Avotiņš scored 17, Dāvis Skreiveris 16, Artūrs Grīnbergs 15 points with five assists, and Mārtiņš Zviedris 11.

For Bauska, Zotovs scored 20 points. Zemītis recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Nauris Bikovs scored 15 and Gundars Brička 13. Veterans Kristaps Mediss and Viktors Iļjins managed five and four points respectively.

In the Western Group standings, Anzāģe/Turība lead with a 4-0 record, while Bauska are second at 3-1.