Službena Web Stranica CroHoops Lige

Saso Ozbolt (photo by EuroLeague.net)

According to Jutarnji List/Gordan Gabrovec Slovenian NT veteran shooting guard Saso Ozbolt will engage preparation cycle with Croatian champion Zagreb CO.

30-Year old Ozbolt, who is known for his instant offense, will certainly face stiff competition for the starting shooting guard spot.

Croatian NT members Kruno Simon and Damir Rancic, as well as talented European phenom Mario Hezonja will also compete for the same spot.

PF Luksa Andric, Croatia (photo by CroHoops.com)

Croatia was able to win Great Britain by the final score of 75:70 (12:18, 23:5, 28:24, 12:23) for it’s second victory in London Invitational Tournament.

Host team was simply no match for Croatia which shot he ball 9-17 from the longe range distance during first three quarters of the friendly encounter.

Croatia had 63:47 lead just 10 minutes before the final whistle but Great Britain somehow managed to narrow the gap to only +3 points for Croatia (69:66).

Croatia then decided to exploit it’s inside advantage and managed to score couple of crucial baskets through C Ante Tomic and PF Luksa Andric.

SG Kruno Simon again paced Croatia with 16 points while F Joel Freeland had 22 points for Great Britain which played without star forward Luol Deng.

Day 2 Results:

China vs Serbia   53:87

France vs Australia   71:67

SG Kruno Simon, Croatia (photo by FIBA.com)

Croatian NT was able to successfully open it’s London International Basketball Invitational Tournament campaign with the initial 83:71 (20:19, 24:17, 18:16, 21:19) win over rival Serbia.

Croatia took the lead just before the end of the first quarter (17:16), led at the half by 44:36 and reached 16-point surplus midway the last quarter before managing to stay on the top.

Shooting guard Kruno Simon again displayed his excellent shooting stroke while leading the Croatia with 17 points (6-8 from the floor). C Ante Tomic added 13 points and 9 rebounds.

With both teams’ primary focus on Defense, Croatia managed to shot 20-25 (80%) from the line, while Serbia finished with just 12-24 (50%) makes from the line.

Complete Day 1 Results:

Australia vs China   71:43

Great Britain vs France   60:82

Zagreb CO edged Cedevita 85:89 after the game 3 overtime and by sweeping the final series won it’s first ever Croatian title. This accomplishment locked Zagreb CO as #1 team in 2010/11 Croatian Euroleague race and made the dream come true for the “Ants” from Trnsko.

Yesterday, SG Kruno Simon led the way for Zagreb CO with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while “U.S. connection” consisting of G Alex Renfroe & PF Josh Heytvelt combined for 28 points and 14 rebounds. Future Croatian NT PG Dontaye Draper had 20 points for Cedevita on 8-14 shooting.

General impression is that Zagreb CO head coach Ivica Buric made the right replacements at the right moments and was able to fully exploit great roster potential which was on his disposal. Cedevita’s coach Aleksandar Petrovic was not able to match that during the entire series.

COMING UP: MORE DETAILED ANALYSES…

CROATIAN LEAGUE MVP – LUKA ZORIC, ZAGREB CO
(photo by ezadar.hr)

Although Zagreb CO has recently been playing without their major season reinforcements, C Mario Kasun & G Alex Renfroe, it again managed to capitalize it’s interior presence and by winning Zadar 84:78 advance to Croatian A1 League Finals for the first time in it’s respectful history.

“Ants” were led by inside-outside punch of C Luka Zoric(22pts+7reb+5ast+3blk) & SG Kruno Simon(23pts+10reb), while the x-factor of the first game F/C Josh Heytvelt added 14 pts+9reb.

For Zadar it was SG Marko Car (26 points, 5 threes, 5 assists) & PF Brandon Brown (17pts+10reb) who made the game relatively close until the very end.

Zagreb CO is now awaiting for the winner of the heated local Cedevita vs Cibona semifinal series. Cedevita has the 1-0 lead.

6’11” JOSH HEYTVELT WENT 6-8 FROM DOWNTOWN

Croatian Cup winner Zagreb CO had no real problem with Zadar’s pressing defence and opened the semifinal series of Croatian League playoffs with convincing 79:98 road win on Visnjik.

Zagreb CO was able to explore it’s frontcourt size advantage and to install inside presence through C Luka Zoric (29pts+14reb+4blk) and PF Josh Heytvelt (25pts, 6-8 threes).

In the absence of Mario Kasun the above mentioned duet combined for 54 points and 14 rebounds while leading the Zagreb CO to 30:15 rebounding margin.

SG Kruno Simon chipped in 19 points to go along 8 rebounds and 7 assists. For the losing squad SG Marko Car scored 21 points along with 6 assists while Ive Ivanov chipped in 16 points.

After trailing by as much as 11:33 after 1st quarter Zadar was able to minimize the deficit and to trail only by 3 points at the halftime (39:42). Thanks to it’s pressing defense Zadar managed to stay relatively close until the 4th quarter.

Then Zagreb’s PF Josh Heytvelt made his impersonation of the legendary Reggie Miller scoring three-point goals almost at will on couple of consecutive possessions.

In the garbage time Zagreb CO head coach Ivica Buric gave the chance to talented youngsters Dominik Mavra and Mario Hezonja who scored the last minute three-pointer.

COMPLETE CROATIAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND SCOREBOARD