BC Prievidza’s TIPOS SBL playoff campaign got off to a good start. On Friday evening, the Miners beat Nitra Blue Wings 87-76 in Sportova hala and took a 1-0 lead in the quarterfinal series.

The first big moment of the night came even before tip-off when the home crowd was introduced to new BC mascot Baník Jano. In the game, however, the guests drew first blood when a Michael Fusek dunk made it 0-2 - it should be the Blue Wings’ only lead of the evening.

After that, the hosts’ offensive machinery started to get in gear. In particular Marc Loving was unguardable early on, showing his full range of skills with off the dribble threes, spin moves to the basket and off-hand finishes. Center Hunter Dean, who played his first minutes after an extended injury absence, converted an and-1 to end the first quarter at 26-19.

A Dalibor Hlivák three and Keith Jordan’s “alley-oop reintroduction” after injury extended the lead to double figures early in the second stanza. But Nitra were not done yet and came back to tie the game three minutes before halftime. Buckets by Loving, Jordan and Samuel Kincel after one of BC’s 17 offensive rebounds had the Miners enter the locker room with a six-point advantage (47-41).

More of the same in the third: Seven quick points by Jordan Johnson, layups from Kincel and Lukas Bolek and Hlivák with a huge corner three made it plus eleven again, but one more time, the visitors managed to hang around and came back to within three (63-60, 28.).

However, in the final period, Baník Jano’s descendants were not to be denied any more. Hlivák’s third triple of the night, Johnson’s mid-range pull-up and C.J. Jackson’s step-back three left Blue Wings grounded, especially since BC’s defense now picked it up, as well. When Keith Jordan swatted away Milan Ziak’s three-point attempt, the series opener was all but wrapped up. Time now to capitalize on the good start and try and steal one on the road this upcoming Tuesday.