BC Prievidza have confirmed their recent run of good form with two more quality Tipos SBL victories. The Miners blew out a shorthanded Spisski Rytieri Nova Ves team 94-61 on December 29 and then brought in the new year in emphatic fashion with a huge 87-76 away win at Levice, putting an end to the Patriots’ 13-game league winning streak.

In either game, Head Coach Gareth Murray received important contributions from a variety of sources, testament to a newfound roster balance. Versus Spisska, no Prievidza player spent more than 29 minutes on the court, while nine Miners gave 15 or more minutes and seven scored at least eight points. Noteworthy performances came from the Slovak side of the squad: Backup center Samuel Kincel went 4-of-5 from the field for eight points, Tomáš Mrviš scored another eight and dished out four assists while captain Marek Jašš provided stellar defense and collected another four caroms.

Aside from the “usual suspects” Keith Jordan, Daishon Smith and Hunter Dean continuing their all-league campaigns, recent outings have been marked by the “renaissance” of floor general C.J. Jackson, who scored 14 and 15 points apiece, and the emergence of latest acquisition Marc Loving. After literally being slowed down by back problems since his arrival in Slovakia, the former ESPN Top100 high school recruit is starting to show his full versatility and posted averages of 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists over the last two contests.

All in all, BC have managed to close the gap on the league’s top-ranked teams and are showing impressive signs of progress. Now local rivals MBK Handlova come into town with their 13-5 record, good for second in the SBL table. A packed športová hala will be rocking for another edition of the eternal derby.