Only three days after a deflating loss at Spišská Nová Ves, BC Prievidza bounced back in impressive fashion and beat league leaders Patrioti Levice 97-79 at a packed športová hala. The turnaround in results was preceded by a turnaround in attitude, mindset and approach.
At 8 o’clock on Wednesday evening, the outlook was dire for the Miners: They had just been demolished 115-76 by Spisski Rytieri on the road while not showing any signs of fight, pride or cohesion. And things were not going to get any easier with TIPOS SBL leaders Patrioti Levice coming to town just three days and a couple of practices later.
However, after hours of team talks, film study and individual conversations, you could feel a wind of change blow through the Prievidza streets. Even the sun decided to cautiously reappear after it had rained all Thursday, perfectly mirroring the bleak mood in town. Welcome to the silver lining!
And from tip-off on Saturday evening, the last clouds gave way to bright sunshine as the hosts delivered one of their finest all-around performances of the season backed once again by an amazing home-court atmosphere.
The “little things” have almost become a basketball cliché, but exactly those set the tone for the night. An alert help rotation here, taking a charge there, the extra effort to contest a shot or to crash the boards for an offensive rebound. Inch by inch, Al Pacino. The ability to withstand the inevitable Levice run and enter the locker room with a ten-point lead. Then, in the second half, the shots started falling because that is how basketball works, rewarding you for playing the right way.
Individual stand-outs? Of course: Jordan Johnson carried BC in the first twenty minutes, relentlessly attacking the basket again and again. When the Levice defense keyed in on him after the break, it freed up Keith Jordan’s scoring arsenal, from post-ups to threes and transition baskets. C.J. Jackson, who had been a model professional when sitting out the previous game, provided heady ballhandling and playmaking. Marc Loving used his entire tool box of shooting, length, slo-mo-but -quick-mind game. Hunter Dean might not have had his usual touch but he battled his way to a huge double-double. Dalibor Hlivak and Lukas Bolek, who gave the starters some breathers and converted a couple of big shots.
Did you notice? Not a single number was mentioned. For good reason: This night’s MVP award goes to the TEAM! 43 to 29 rebounds. 50 to 26 points in the paint. 15 to 4 second-chance points. 18 to 9 fastbreak points. These are the stats that matter. And build the foundation for that final number on the scoreboard: 97-79.