JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
Will the team finally break through? Friday’s clash with rival from Toruń promised that yes, but only talk ended. Globus Sports Hall at Kazimierza Wielkiego 8. is for now besieged with victories of guests, not the hosts who have problems with breaking through Start failed to win a single home game. It did not happen this time, because the team from Lublin led in this meeting several times, but unfortunately did not maintain the winning streak.
Toruns started the game with two Trevor Thompson shots but later it was Lublin that jumped out to an even 14 point lead. In the beginning Start Lublin played well and they were building their advantage from the first minutes. Captain Mateusz Dziemba deserves special attention as he scored 10 points in the first 10 minutes. Despite changes in the lineup and consecutive assists from Maurice Watson they couldn’t close the gap and Twarde Pierniki lost the first quarter 13:27.
In the second half both teams started to play better and after Thompson and Aaron Cel three-pointer the lead was even 11 points. Lublin couldn’t break through Ivica Skelin’s tough defense. In the middle of the quarter Watson went off the floor and quickly picked up 3 fouls and that slowed down the visitors offense. In the second half the game was evenly matched and although Twarde Pierniki started the final quarter with eight points advantage, Start managed not only to make up for the loss, but even came out on top.
Players from Lublin managed to reduce the gap to five points. Last seconds of the game was a festival of dunks on both sides but Twarde Pierniki was leading 68:60.
It came to the end of the game where key actions belonged to Start because they quickly cut the deficit and with 4 minutes left they got one point lead. Thus, the end of the game promised to be very exciting.
Start Lublin regained the lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and led to 75-74 score. Time pressure motivated Twarde Pierniki from Toruń who were ready to fight for the win
After Skelin’s timeout it was Michal Samsonowicz three-pointer that got the lead back. Thompson was playing very well under the basket and he scored and grabbed rebounds. In the last minutes of the game both teams exchanged blows, but Watson’s free throws and points gave us the lead and 85:83 win.
Four home games and four defeats. Globus Arena is an impregnable fortress for the hosts so far.
Polski Cukier Pszczółka Start Lublin – Twarde Pierniki Toruń 83:85 (27:13, 13:30, 20:15, 23:17)
Twarde Pierniki:Trevor Thompson 23, James Eads III 12, Aaron Cel 11, Maurice Watson 10, Michał Kołodziej 9, Bartosz Diduszko 8, Jahenns Manigat 7, Michał Samsonowicz 3, Szymon Janczak 2
Start Lublin: Mateusz Dziemba 18, Doron Lamb 15, Jimmie Taylor 14, Joshua Sharkey 13, Quenton De Cosey 11, Tweety Carter 6, Mateusz Kostrzewski 4, Roman Szymański 2, Damian Jeszke 0, Bartłomiej Pelczar 0
