Rovno secured a 87:79 victory over Staryi Lutsk in the Superleague FBU on Friday evening. The home side had the crowd behind them and managed to see out a close contest against a stubborn opposition. It was not the most graceful performance, but the result stands.
Five places separate the two sides in the table, and that gap showed through on the court. Rovno sit fifth with eleven wins from twenty-four games, while Staryi Lutsk occupy ninth place with just four victories. The hosts needed this kind of win to keep their ambitions alive.
Recent form had been mixed for both. Rovno lost their last outing 70:79 to Kyiv Basket but had won two ahead against Kharkiv Falcons. Staryi Lutsk were coming off an 88:86 win over the Falcons but had dropped points in other fixtures. Neither side was running hot, and that made the match feel more uncertain than the table suggested.
Our prediction of a home win came through, though at 54 per cent confidence it was never a certainty. And here's the thing — you do not win these games by being comfortable. Rovno found a way through when it mattered.
The visitors pushed hard in the second half and made it tight, but the home side had the experience to hold their nerve. Staryi Lutsk did not wilt, but one mistake ends it in these matches, and they could not find the edge.
Rovno move closer to the top half of the standings with this result. For Staryi Lutsk, the gap to safety remains a concern, and they will need to improve if they want to climb out of the lower reaches.