NIKE IJT Madrid 2008, report: Cibona 72- 74 Lietuvos Rytas
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In another close game in the Nike Junior Tournament Lietuvos Rytas earned its first win in the games after a thriller, 74-72, against Cibona Zagreb. Marius Zimnickas hit a big three pointer with 17 seconds on the clock to set the game score after Cibona started with a 2-14 lead. Augustas Peciukevicius led Rytas in a big performance and leadership with 23 points and six rebounds, Zimnickas added 13 while Ovidijus Varanauskas scored 12 and Edvinas Jezukevicius finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Cibona's leading prospect - Tomislav Zubcic led the way with 24 points and 19 boards while Leon Radosevic scored 14 with 10 rebounds.
Cibona opened with a blitz and used Zubcic to take a 2-14 lead after four minutes. Ovidijus Varanauskas stepped up for L. Rytas to make it just an eight point game at the end of the first quarter, 17-25, but Cibona was still dominating. L. Rytas got tougher on defense as Evaldas Kairys with blocks and team pressure on the ball limited Cibona's offense. Rokas Jukonis and especially Peciukevicius stepped up as the teams entered the half time break separated by only four points, 32-36. Jezukevicius, who dominated the paint on the defensive end, illustrated a post-up play to make it just a 40-41 game after 25 minutes, and soon Peciukevicius put his team on top for the first time 45-43. L. Rytas continued to lock the paint but Cibona hit from long range to enter the last quarter with a 47-49 lead. Cibona's constant turnovers didn't allow them to take a strong lead again, as the Lithuanians took advantage of that. Peciukevicius continued to display his offensive diversity and only Zupcic with a couple of big plays kept Cibona in the game, 63-63 with four minutes to play. Jezukevicius and Zubcic exchanged points as the teams entered the last 30 seconds tied at 71-71. Dino Hodzic in an aggressive penetration drew a foul but connected only the second, and for the last 26 seconds L. Rytas called a time-out, to answer with a big three pointer by Zimnickas, and now it was Cibona's time out with 17 seconds on the clock. Hodzic missed his attempt to win the game, and Jukonis secured the win from the line.
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Euroleague.net
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