Video: The Liepaja girls become the champions of the Latvian Youth Basketball League

On Saturday, the teams were separated by 1-4 points in all games. The finalists followed the tradition, keeping the intrigue about the winner until the last 6.5 seconds of regular time.

In the golden game, 40 management changes were recorded, thirteen times the result was a draw.

“RBJSS Rīdzene” – a team with many youth national team candidates – was in the lead after the first, second and third quarters.

The team coached by Ingūnas and Edgars Markūnas stood out with good ball movement and excellent game discipline, making only nine mistakes in 40 minutes.

Liepaja was not the favorite against this background, but the little players from Kurzeme finished their attacks more aggressively, and Kitty Muzikante became the final’s best sniper from the three-point line.

In the fourth quarter, Liepāja women got ahead more often, however, they could not feel safe until the very end.

Daniela Gunter’s long shot allowed the Pārdaugava team to equalize the result – 65:65.

In the following episodes, Amanda Baumgarte and Tina Graus took care of catching Kurzem women, but 53 seconds before the end of the regular time, Aleksandra Stepanova received a long pass under the opponent’s basket – 71:72.

“RBJSS Rīdzene” collected the norm of team notes a long time before, so every more aggressive action in defense was punished. The Liepaja team had to fight for the next opportunity – a note against Madara Šmiti was whistled when the captain won the rebound in the attack.

Šmite restored Liepāja’s lead 22 seconds before the end of regular time – 73:72. As it turned out later, her free throws were the winning points, but the last attack of the Pārdaugava girls still had to be withstood.

Luize Bērziņa missed a two-point shot, but won the rebound with 6.5 seconds left for RBJSS Rīdzene. The team brought the ball into the game twice after the one-minute break, but instead of the expected shot, a rare mistake was made.

Cindy Mishchenko kicked the ball to the opponent and with the final signal determined the final result – 75:72.

Both teams played in the final for the third time. “RBJSS Rīdzene” finished in second place in 2013 and 2024, but in 2015 lifted the champion’s cup. Liepāja earned silver in 2017 and 2019, while in the third attempt, they climbed to the champion’s throne.

The laureates were awarded by Latvian national team players Vanesa Jas and Enija Vīksne. Ilze Jākobsone, Kate Vilka, Luīze Sila and 2023 Latvian champion Dominika Paļulīte attended the game in person.

RBJSS Rīdzene – Liepāja Sports Games School 72:75 (21:18, 17:18, 16:16, 18:23)
RBJSS: Amanda Baumgarte 22 (2p 8/17, 3p 1/4, 1p 3/5; 8ab, eff 19), Madara Kilpe 10, Tina Grausa 9 (four interceptions), Zane Straudovska 9, captain Aleksandra Stepanova 8 (six interceptions) , Daniela Günter 5, Emilija Trofimenko 5, Elīna Briede 2, Luīze Bērziņa 2, Grieta Roze, Dārta Mālniece; Tishan Taylor. Coaches Ingūna Markūne, Edgars Markūne.
Liepaja: Kitija Muzikante 17 (3p 5/14), Madara Šmite 13 (1p 9/10; 10ab, eff 19), Maija Aploka 11 (10ab, 7rp, eff 23), Sanija Brikman 9, Cindy Mishchenko 8, Kristine Dreimane 7, Andīna Sudmale 4, Ance Kochetkova 4, Marta Kaupmane 2, Arnita Melne; Paula Putniņa, Tīna Schwartze. Coaches Rūdolfs Rozītis, Įrts Splīte.