It is not possible to imagine a better year culmination as Anwil Wloclawek won their seventh game in a row. The Rottweilers beat their longtime opponent Slask Wroclaw 78:60 in the game witnessed by the crowd of fans that was finishing the "Holy War" competition with a standing ovation.
Last time the Champions' Court arena was fully-crowded almost a year ago, when Asseco Prokom Gdynia came to Wloclawek in February. Unfortunately Thunderous fans' support didn't help at that time as Anwil Wloclawek lost that battle 59:71. On Monday, the arena got crowded to the final seat once again as all the tickets had been sold hours before a game. Luckily, this time the players as well as the fans rose to the challenge.
Anwil started the game easily, winning 9:4 in the middle of the first quarter and finishing it 19:9. Slask Wroclaw didn't have any answer to quick and artful play of the hosts that reached a 15-points lead at the beginning of the second quarter when Deividas Dulkys completed three free throws and added a triple within barely a couple of seconds. Anwil were leading 27:12 then and later needed only to procect that margin.
Dulkys had 12 points in the first half but he wasn't the only one person who was starring against Slask. Seid Hajric baffled Slask's gameplan as he dominated the low-post area, scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds in just 14 minutes spent of the floor before the break. Thanks to these to guys, Anwil were leading 41:28 and continued to play at their best after the interval. Unfortunately, at the end of the third quarter, the hosts lost their consistency and let the guests cut the almost whole lead. When Dominique Johnson finished a fast break with a dunk, Slask were only a step or two behind Anwil, losing only 50:55. The final result was still open...
What is worth adding, the headcoach Milija Bogicevic didn't ask for a time-out, believing that their players are able to get the rhythm back. And it happened. Anwil improved their defense and didn't take any rash decisions. When it was possible, the hosts used fast breaks in order to score easy baskets but when Slask players weren't late in defense, they slowed down the pace of the action, waiting patiently for an open shot. Mateusz Kostrzewski made a triple that settled down the nerves (60:52), Dulkys followed in his footsteps a minute later (65:53) while Keith Clanton and Michal Sokolowski added some effective lay-ups or dunks and finally the Rottweilers trimmed the game 78:60. It was the seventh game won in a row for Anwil.
Anwil Wloclawek - Slask Wroclaw 78:60 (19:9, 22:19, 14:20, 23:12)
Anwil: Dulkys 22, Kostrzewski 13, Sokolowski 13, Hajric 12, Clanton 8, Mijatovic 7, Katnic 3, Witlinski 0, Warszawski 0
Slask: Sulima 12, Johnson 11, Malasevic 11, Hyzy 6, Miller 6, Gabinski 4, Gibson 4, Kikowski 2, Mroczek 2, Parzenski 2, Skibniewski 0