TikS – story of the winning shot

So far not many ‘stories’ to be told from my games in Scania Cup, but here is one.

Girls U14 final – TikS (Finland) vs Södertälje BBK (Sweden), game that was most of the time comfortably in the hands of the Finnish team.

But the game always lasts 40 minutes (at least), and SBBK put in a HUGE comeback as they levelled the game in the last minutes with a 10-0 run to level it at 48-48.

Then, it was pretty much destined to be a single basket game, both teams had chances, had time-outs

It goes to show that players have the belief they can make the shots when they count – with 7 seconds on the clock, the ball leaves the hands of #11 Elsa Rönkkö of TikS. She has round zero on the points scored in the game, but all the eyes on the arena on the high arch of the ball.

The ball flies, and a swish … it falls through the net and Rönkkö gives a MASSIVE celebration towards her teammates on the bench.

Time out – five second on the clock for SBBK to hit a three of their own, TikS manage to play smart defence and the shot that SBBK get up falls short.. ball bounces away, buzzer sounds and queue the wild celebrations of the Finnish team.

Photographers view

Rosenborg is not an easy arena to shoot when the home team plays, as it gets so packed – and when you move, you lose your spot on the sideline.

So – I made my way to the benches where the Finnish supporters sat, so I had a view of both benches. There were many plays with no basket, time running out and I thought we were heading for O.T.

TikS steal the ball, I lean forward, see player #11 shooting a long three – I don’t see it going in, but follow the player as she screams towards her bench. And then I know that the ball has hit the net and her team is FIVE seconds away from a win.

Goes to show, sometimes it is good to look for that different angle for the photos.