By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Seven unanswered points down the stretch got the job done for Partizan NIS against SC Derby, 93-83, Saturday.
Zach LeDay ended up with 12 points after scoring five in the 7-0 sprint turning up an 88-82 lead down the stretch. The Dallas-born forward/center grabbed five rebounds as well.
Explosive guard, coming out of Tennessee in 2016, Kevin Punter registered a team-high 17 points alongside four assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Dallas Moore packed 15 points, while Aleksa Avramovic returned to action after recovering from a positive COVID-19 test producing 14 points without missing a shot, 5/5 field goals plus 2/2 free throws.
Rodions Kurucs added to the list of unavailable players including Rade Zagorac, Nemanja Dangubic, and Dusan Miletic limited options for legendary head coach Zeljko Obradovic. However, Partizan improved to 13-2 in AdmiralBet ABA League and pushed the hosts down to 5-9.
The Montenegrin side shaped an eight-point lead early in the second half but did not hold on before faltering in crunch time. Bosnian center Kenan Kamenjas posted a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in the losing effort. Canadian guard Justin Edwards generated 18 points.
The remaining Regular Season Round 16 games were suspended due to COVID-19 cases affecting multiple teams of the regional league.
Crvena Zvezda mts carrying a slight lead over Partizan with a 13-1 record does not translate to first place in the standings based on the win-loss points system. The Belgrade rival jumped to 28 compared to the 27 of the team coached by Dejan Radonjic.
Photo Credit: ABA-liga.com