Mornar competed for three quarters and suffered another defeat against Cedevita Olimpija: Matkovic as an insurmountable obstacle
0![Mornar competed for three quarters and suffered another defeat against Cedevita Olimpija: Matkovic as an insurmountable obstacle Mornar-Cedevita](https://basketballsphere.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Mornar-Cedevita.jpg)
Photo: ABA league
Mornar hosted the Slovenian representative, Cedevita Olimpija, in the 11th round of the ABA League, with the visiting team emerging victorious with a score of 86:74.
The opening period unfolded somewhat nervously on both sides. There were several turnovers, and the majority of points were scored in transition after such situations. Despite Cedevita Olimpija starting the game with a 6:0 run, Mornar bounced back, and there were five lead changes, with the guests holding a slim 18:16 lead after ten minutes of play.
In the second quarter, a significant battle took place between Jaka Blazic and Marcus Joe Weathers as the standout players for their respective teams. Despite Mornar taking a 22:18 lead after a 6:0 run, the remainder of the quarter belonged to the visitors, who secured a five-point lead, leading 40:36 at halftime. It’s worth mentioning that Mornar did not make a single three-pointer out of eight attempts in the first half.
In the third quarter, Cedevita Olimpija maintained its lead, and as time passed, Mornar managed to reduce the deficit from possession to possession. The third period was marked by Karlo Matkovic, whom Mihailo Pavicevic’s players couldn’t find a way to stop. As the teams entered the final ten minutes, the score stood at 62:59 in favor of the Slovenian representative.
Just as the home team narrowed the deficit to one point, Matkovic and Blazic extended the lead to a significant nine points, making it 77:68. The performance of the home team fell apart as they consistently struggled with shooting, and each time they missed open opportunities to score, they were punished on the other end. After a fast break where Justin Cobbs threw an alley-oop for Matkovic, giving Cedevita Olimpija an 81:68 lead, it was enough to pave the way for victory, which eventually happened.
The top scorer in the winning lineup was Karlo Matkovic with 24 points and nine rebounds. Jaka Blazic finished the game with 19 points. For Mornar, Marcus Joe Weathers stood out with 16 points.
In the next round of the regional competition, Mornar will be away to Borac Cacak, while Cedevita Olimpija will host Krka in a Slovenian derby.