Spark at the End of the Lake?
Slim picking for Friday night hoops!
Hmm, only about 15 games in all of Finland (according to the Tulospalvelu website) – so not much to choose from. Also – as I am NOT too familiar with the teams in the lower divisions and how they would look at it if I showed up there..
So, headed to Järvenpää (End of the Lake), to see Raiders Basket take on Kipinä (Spark) Basket face off in the Men’s D1A game.
Raiders Basket actually only have one win this season, and that was a THREE point win against Kipinä in November. So – can they make it two? The names of Oliver Rapo and Sami Tahvanainen might be marked with BOLD type in the scout for Kipinä!
The home team need to find the winning ways soon, to have any chance to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, Kipinä – they are in a three-way tie for the 2nd-4th spots, with JBA and Karkkila.
In their last game Kipinä, perhaps surprisingly felt the bitter chalk of defeat, as they lost to HBA, so they want to correct the course soon. Raiders – well, on a losing run since November – but when I last saw them play.. it did look like they could find the potion to win few more games.
Game
FIrst half – well, the first 10 went something like 9-25 to Kipinä, and that tells probably all one needs to know. And the 25-43 score.. just added to the advantage of the away team. Jalen McCoy and Joe Cookson doing most of the ‘damage’ in the scoring.
As a game, not much to write home about – ball goes in, goes out.. players run the court. But as always, well only my second time here, the venue is packed, so always fun to be at a game like that!
Second half – Kipinä found the range from behind the arc and sunk.. probably 7 out 9 three pointers in a row.. and 20-37 quarter sealed the game and left the last ten to just ‘be played out’
Joe Cookson cooks the game!
Kipinä forward Joe Cookson had yet another solid game and a double-double for 23 points and 10 rebounds. Double-doubles also for Jalen Mccoy and Ville Virtaharju!
I caught up with Joe after the game – to get few words about the game and season – check out the video below!
Stat Pack
COMING SOON!
What’s Next
Raiders head to east for their next game, and visit Lappeenrannan NMKY next Thursday. Kipinä on the other hand, they do not travel too much before the regular season ends, they have two local derby games coming – vs JBA and Huima. Then home against HNMKY, before traveling to league leaders AC Oulu and ending regular season at home vs Pyrintö Academy.
One could say, that it is both favourable and tough end to the season for Kipinä – local derbies are NEVER easy..
