It was the fourth game between Anwil Wloclawek and Energa Czarni Slupsk this season and the fourth that went the Rottweilers' way, although on Sunday it was a narrow escape. Thanks to Jordan Callahan and Danilo Mijatovic who both scored 19 points, Anwil beat Energa Czarni 78:77 and grabbed its first victory in the TOP6 round.
When Energa Czarni Slupsk players performed its best at the beginning of the game, they easily grabbed a nine-point lead winning 20:11. At that moment it seemed that the guests may win and beat Anwil for the first time this season. Garrett Stutz showed off, scoring seven points in low-post while Derrick Zimmerman and Rocky Trice did a great job on the perimeter, especially in defense.
Everything changed when the coach Milija Bogicevic decided to put Mikolaj Witlinski and Danilo Mijatovic on the court. The Serbian forward turned out to be the best shooter that evening for Anwil, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds even before the break while 19-year-old Polish added a great level of determination and willingness to fight, noting six rebounds.
Thanks to both above-mentioned players Anwil got back to the game and found its rhythm in the second quarter, letting Energa Czarni score only 10 points. The hosts were leading 38:32 after a half and 57:54 after the third quarter.
The game was more than tight, but Paul Graham and Mateusz Kostrzewski opened the final victory for Anwil, as they made nine points in a row and Anwil was winning 66:56. When Seid Hajric made an easy lay-up, the Rottweilers took the biggest game margin (70:58) and it seemed we have a winner...
However, nothing further from the truth. Anwil had nine points more than Energa Czarni just 34 seconds to go (77:68) but the guests needed only 26 seconds to score... nine points (78:77) and they even had a chance to beat Anwil for the first time this season and the final ball was in their hands seven seconds before the buzzer... Rocky Trice got a good pass from Zimmerman but he missed a shot that sent Anwil to the locker room with the first victory in the TOP6 phase.
Anwil Wloclawek - Energa Czarni Slupsk 78:77 (20:22, 18:10, 19:22, 21:23)
Anwil: Callahan 19, Mijatovic 19, Kostrzewski 14, Sokolowski 7, Graham 6, Hajric 6, Pamula 5, Witlinski 2
Energa Czarni: Mokros 16, Trice 16, Stutz 13, Hulls 9, Nowakowski 7, Zimmerman 6, Taylor 5, Snieg 3, Jarmakowicz 2, Gruszecki 0