Honka Playboys 67 BC Kyiv 80

Finnish Champions Honka suffered another defeat at home in the FIBA Europe League. But it was not all doom and gloom in Helsinki as Honka fought opponents Kyiv for 30 minutes, and it was only in the last quarter that the Ukrainians were able to pull away for the win.

Honka struggled at the start of the game and were unable to register any points for 6 minutes. Kyiv though could not take advantage and only managed 8 points of their own. The Finns soon discovered their shooting touch and finished the quarter 2-points adrift, 15:17.

The 2nd quarter followed a similar pattern. Kyiv established a 12-point advantage, but an 11-0 run from Honka brought the game back to 32:33 at the half.

It was in the 4th that Kyiv took a stranglehold on the game. With the Honka big men in foul trouble, Kyiv went on a 13-0 run which effectively won them the game. Kyiv center Steven Goodrich was the main catalyst as his two 3-pointers sparked his side’s winning run.

Goodrich finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. John Celestand added 20 points and Andriy Lebedyev had 18.

Stephen Rich and Steven Woodberry led Honka with 12 points each.