Anwil Wloclawek saw off Donar Groningen 97-81 in the European Basketball League on Thursday evening. The hosts took control early and did not look back. By then, the visitors were already playing catch-up.
Donar sit fourth in the table after eight games, five wins and three defeats. They had come into this fixture with some momentum, but the recent results tell a different story. Their last five outings include three losses to Leiden alone.
The home side's own form has been uneven. They dropped points against MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza and Zielona Góra in May, but then beat Traktor Sopot 94-79. Against Dźika Warszawa they lost 73-78 before recovering with a 96-83 victory over Śląsk Wrocław.
And here's the thing about a margin like that. A sixteen-point difference suggests the game was decided long before the final buzzer. Donar were out of sight by the time the third quarter ended.
To be fair, the visitors did not travel to make up the numbers. Their record shows they can compete, but consistency remains a question. Three defeats in eight games is a tally any side would want to improve on.
The result leaves Anwil Wloclawek with something to build on. Donar Groningen now face a run of fixtures where every game matters. Fourth place is no guarantee of anything when the table shifts.
