By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Israel seemed unstoppable, almost getting three wins out of three in Montpellier, but Elmedin Kikanovic took matters into his own hands and stole the overtime win for the Bosnians (86-84). Kikanovic sent the game in overtime with a three at the buzzer and also made the winning shot!
Israel had a strong start in the game, leading 29-16 by the end of the first quarter and letting their opponents know of their intentions. However, the second quarter belonged to Bosnia and Herzegovina and by the end of the third they had managed to tie the game at 60-60, despite a 51-35 lead by Israel.
The fourth period was a nail biter with both teams chasing the win and the lead constantly changing hands. The score was 75-72 with 5 seconds to go. That’s when Kikanovic drilled a three-point jumper from Nemanja Gordic’s assist to tie the game and take it into overtime. Both teams fought hard and the Bosnians had the last offense at 84-84 with only 5.6 seconds before the expiration. Renfroe, who was crucial at the end, passed the ball to Kikanovic once again, who didn’t miss the opportunity and scored before the buzzer.
Bosnia and Herzegovina were saved by the second unit, getting a whopping 46 points off the bench. Nemanja Gordic (1 rebound, 2 assists) scored the most for Ivanovic’s team with 22. Andrija Stipanovic got 16 points and with a spectacular 18 boards he completed a double-double. American-born playmaker Renfroe tallied 12 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, and Marko Sutalo contributed another 12. Kikanovic was the undisputed man of the match, with 17 points, 3 boards and 2 assists.
“At the end we scored some incredible shots,” Kikanovic said after the game. “They were up 6 in overtime, but we showed our character. And we won, which is important for our self-confidence. Somehow I got the ball and threw up the shot. It was the last second and I made it. At the end of overtime, Alex (Renfroe) did a fantastic job. He gave me the pass somehow and it was an easy way for me to finish.”
Team captain and Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi had another amazing game, dropping 29 points but also collecting 6 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. D’or Fischer scored 12 and had 8 boards plus 2 assists, Gal Mekel added another 14 plus 7 assists, and Lior Eliyahu finished the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
Israel’s coach, Erez Edelshtein, unsurprisingly grumbled about the way his team lost the game, saying, “We led for 35 minutes and at half time, we led by ten. We had opportunities at the end to make smart fouls and avoid overtime. But even the smartest and most experienced players in the game go with their instincts. This is an unnecessary loss for us. We knew the Bosnians could come back, they killed us on the boards with 19 offensive rebounds and we missed too many free throws and that’s why we lost the game.”