Šakiai Vytis-VDU (14-5) won the URBO-NKL game of the week, securing their third consecutive victory. Eriko Kučiauskas’s team, which had a 17-point lead, won a thriller on their home court 90:87 (18:29, 32:20, 25:12, 15:26) against the depleted Vilnius Ryto-2 (8-11) youth team.
Vytis-VDU, which has an equal balance of wins and losses with Kėdainiai Sports Center, climbed to second place in the tournament table due to a better point ratio. The Vilnius team, which stumbled for the third time in a row, is in eleventh place.
The Vilnius team got off to a successful start and took a double-digit lead (17:7) halfway through the quarter, which they maintained until the quarter buzzer – 29:18.
After a little more than a quarter and a half, the visitors’ lead became a record (47:32). However, in the next four minutes before the long break, Rytas’ substitutes scored two points, while Šakiai went on a 16:2 run and turned the game around (50:49).
Vyčio-VDU’s offensive wave did not subside in the second half of the game. Halfway through the third quarter, after a three-pointer by Čelka, the hosts’ lead reached double digits (63:53), and after 8 consecutive points by Rokas Norutis, it was 15 points (71:54).
With 5.5 minutes left on the clock, Šakiai maintained a solid lead (83:71), but then the visitors showed their iron character. In the decisive stretch, the young team from the capital went on a 16:5 run, and with 80 seconds left, Vilnius cut the deficit to a minimum (87:88).
After that, both teams exchanged unsuccessful attacks, and with 9 seconds left on the clock, Kajus Leliukas corrected the hosts’ position (90:87). After a minute’s break, Danielius Kasparas, left unmarked at the corner of the three-point line, had a chance to force overtime, but his attempt flew wide.
Šakiai guard Titas Januševičius scored 26 points (7/13 two-pointers, 3/6 three-pointers, 3/3 free throws), grabbed 4 rebounds, stole the ball, recorded 1 assist, and generated 22 efficiency points in almost 32 minutes.
Leliukas, who became the hero of the match, scored 11 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, stole 3 balls, made one assist, blocked one shot, and recorded 21 efficiency points.
Information from nklyga.lt




