The teams’ paths crossed for the second time in the quarterfinals. A year ago, Riga juniors defeated Daugavpils in a very intense duel in both games – at home with 65:60, away with full stands with 50:49. Katrīna Kalniņa scored 33 points in two games and provoked 11 points in the first match.
A year later, the initiative passed to Daugavpils. For the first time, the team coached by Gunt Endzel finished in ninth place in the main tournament of the Baltic League, and at the end of the regular season, they won five games in seven games. Twice against Riga juniors – away 81:61, at home 71:69.
The juniors prepared well for the playoffs and celebrated their success with 78:74 in the first quarterfinal match in Riga. Franciska Treilich, Liva Hermane and Charlotte Peterson scored 60 points as a trio. In the second game as well, despite the unavailability of Pētersones and Kalniņas, the intrigue remained until the end – in the 38th minute, four points separated the team total.
The lead changed 16 times in the first half. Junior long players Jennifer Riekst and Elsa Palma won a lot of possessions on offense, but the juniors did not have much luck with second chances. At the end of twenty minutes, Polina Tupalo scored four points in a row – 33:26, in the amount of 107:104.
The biggest turning point came early in the third quarter. Kinga Piedel and Mila Luzgina scored four long shots in a row, giving Daugavpils the biggest breakthrough. At the end of half an hour, the advantage of the home team reached 23 points – 61:38 (total 135:116).
The juniors showed character. Franciska Treilich, Kate Kondratieva and Liva Herman made a breakthrough at 5:20, restoring the intrigue in the game and the series – 66:58 in the thirty-seventh minute. Valerija Baranovska’s three-point shots saved Daugavpils from trouble – 72:58.
The fans loudly cheered the players throughout the game and greeted the Daugavpils girls with well-deserved applause at the end of the match. The team stood in the middle of the field and bowed to the supporters. In the semi-final series, up to two victories in Daugavpils’ games against TTT.
The second match of the quarter-finals, March 27, Daugavpils Palace of Culture and Sports
Daugavpils University – BS Riga juniors/LU 74:58 (17:15, 16:11, 28:12, 13:20)
Daugavpils: Piedela 25 (2p 1/3, 3p 7/12, 1p 2/2; 6ab, 4rp), Luzgina 12 (2p 2/4, 3p 2/3, 1p 2/2), Liepiņa 12 (2p 5/8 , 1p 2/2; 15ab), Baranovska 12 (2p 2/6, 3p 2/8, 1p 2/2), Tupalo 9, Millere 2 (10ab, three interceptions), Petrova 2; Feldmane, Baltace, Bondare, Bobiliova. Coach Guntis Endzels.
BS Riga: Treiliha 15 (2p 4/8, 3p 1/4, 1p 4/5), Hermane 12 (2p 3/10, 3p 2/6, 1p 0/2; 5ab, 4rp, three interceptions), Kondratjeva 8 (5ab , three caught), Rieksta 7 (6ab), Štelmahere 6, Palma 6 (6ab), Krumulda 4, Gabranova, Luse. Coach Aigars Nerips.
Judges: Andris Petrovs, Dāvis Graudiņš, Sergejs Komlevs.
In total 148:136 in favor of Daugavpils.
The playoffs until 2019 and from 2023 are played in series, with teams competing at home and away. Four years ago, the distribution of places in the tournament was determined by the LBS board, while in 2021 and 2022, the medals were distributed at the “Final Four” tournament in Liepāja.
“play-off” calendar of the Latvian championship
| Day | Time | The game | The result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.03 | 19:30 | BS Riga juniors/LU – Daugavpils University | 78:74 (+4) |
| 22.03 | 19:15 | TTT juniors – RSU | 58:83 (+25) |
| 27.03 | 18:30 | Daugavpils University – BS Riga juniors/LU | 74:58 (+16) |
| 27.03 | 19:30 | RSU – TTT juniors | OSC |
History
The Latvian championship is held for the thirty-third time, the LSBL playoffs will be held for the 28th time. TTT has 22 championship titles (1992, 1993, 1995, 2001-2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014-2023). RTU teams have reached the top step of the podium five times, three titles are for Cēsīm (2009, 2012, 2013), one each for “TTT Rapa” (1999) and “Avantis/Turība” (2006).
LSBL playoff history
| Year | Champions | Finalists | Third place | Semi-finalists | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | TTT Riga 2 | RSU 0 | Liepaja/LSSS 2 | BS Riga juniors/LU 0 | Gunta Baško |
| 2022 | TTT Riga 75 | RSU 64 | Liepaja/LSSS 74 | Daugavpils 58 | Daugile Šarauskaite |
| 2021 | TTT Riga 85 | Liepaja 58 | LU 89 | BS Riga juniors 69 | Jessica Thomas |
| 2020 | TTT Riga | Liepaja/LSSS | RSU | TTT juniors | – |
| 2019 | TTT Riga 3 | TTT juniors 0 | Liepaja/LSSS 2 | RSU 1 | Kate Chair |
| 2018 | TTT Riga 3 | Liepaja Paper 0 | TTT juniors 2 | RSU 1 | Gunta Baško |
| 2017 | TTT Riga 3 | Vega 1/Liepāja 0 | RSU 2 | TTT juniors 1 | Gunta Baško |
| 2016 | TTT Riga 3 | Vega 1/Liepāja 0 | TTT juniors 2 | RSU/Mark 0 | Zenta Melnik |
| 2015 | TTT Riga 3 | Cesis 1 | RSU/Mark 2 | University of Latvia 0 | Anna De Forge |
| 2014 | TTT Riga 3 | Cesis 2 | RSU/Mark 2 | Vega 1/Liepāja 1 | Kristine Karkliņa |
| 2013 | Cesis 3 | TTT Riga 1 | Liepāja Paper 2 | RTU/Mark 0 | Anda Eibele |
| 2012 | Cesis 3 | TTT Riga 1 | RTU/Mark 3 | Liepāja Paper 1 | Kimberly Butler |
| 2011 | TTT Riga 3 | RTU/Mark 0 | University of Latvia 3 | TTT juniors 0 | Dita Krumberg |
| 2010 | TTT Riga 3 | Cesis 2 | RTU/Mark 3 | Liepaja metallurgist 1 | Tan White |
| 2009 | Cesis 3 | TTT Riga 0 | Liepaja metallurgist 3 | TTT Juniors 2 | Kristen Mann |
| 2008 | TTT Riga 3 | Cesis 0 | Avantis/Turība 3 | Liepaja metallurgist 2 | Ieva Tare |
| 2007 | TTT Riga 3 | Avantis/Turība 0 | Cesis | RTU/Klondike | Elina Babkina |
| 2006 | Avantis/Turība 3 | TTT Riga 1 | Cesis | RTU/Klondike | Elina Zike |
| 2005 | TTT Riga 3 | RTU/Klondike 0 | Avantis/Turiba | LU/Kolibri | Ieva Tare |
| 2004 | TTT Riga 3 | RTU/Klondike 0 | Liepaja “Lauma” | Avantis/Turiba | Ieva Tare |
| 2003 | TTT Riga 3 | RTU/Klondike 0 | Liepaja “Lauma” 3 | TTT Juniors 2 | – |
| 2002 | TTT Riga 3 | RTU/Klondike 1 | BK TTT | Liepaja “Lauma” | – |
| 2001 | TTT Riga 3 | RTU/Klondike 0 | Rapa/Riga flower | University sports | – |
| 2000 | RTU/Klondike | University sports | TTT Rap 2 | TTT/47. vsk 1 | – |
| 1999 | TTT Rap 3 | University sports 2 | RTU/Klondike | TTT | – |
| 1998 | RTU/Klondike 3 | TTT Rapa 1 | Liepaja “Lauma” | LSPA | – |
| 1997 | RTU/Klondike 3 | TTT Rap 0 | University sports | Liepaja “Lauma” | – |
| 1996 | RTU/EKJU/Arkadia 3 | TTT 0 | Liepaja “Lauma” | Tukums/Durbe | – |
The first four Latvian championships
| Year | Champions | Second place | Third place | Fourth place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | TTT 139 | Arcadia/RTU 129 | Liepaja “Lauma” | Variant/Colors |
| 1994 | Arcadia/RTU 177 | TTT 171 | Variant/Colors | University sports |
| 1993 | TTT 17-1 | Jurmala BSK 15-3 | Arcadia 13-5 | Varsity Sports 10-8 |
| 1992 | TTT 16-1 | Jurmala BK 13-4 | LSPA 8-9 | Varsity Sports 8-9 |
Note. The classification of the Latvian championship in 2020 was determined by the decision of the LBS board.
Resources used:
LSBL 2024: calendar, live broadcasts and news archive
LSBL 2023: calendar and news archive
WBBL and LSBL 2022: calendar and news archive
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