Södertälje Kings saw off Hogsbo Basket 93 to 85 in the Swedish Basketball League on Tuesday evening, a result that keeps them fifth in the standings while Hogsbo remain ninth after another defeat. The hosts had been expected to take this one, and they did, though not without Hogsbo keeping things tight for long stretches. and here's the thing — you could feel the away side refusing to let go until the final minutes.
Södertälje shot 31 from 76 field goal attempts, which is not the most efficient night, but they made up for it with 24 successful free throws and seven three-pointers. Hogsbo were slightly better from the field at 29 from 59, yet their five three-pointers and 22 free throws simply weren't enough to keep pace. The difference came in the boards — Hogsbo grabbed 43 rebounds to 32, but Södertälje's 10 steals kept their offense moving.
We had called for a home win at 65 per cent confidence, and that prediction held up. Södertälje's recent form had been nothing to write home about — losses to Borås and inconsistent results — but they found a gear when it mattered. to be fair, Hogsbo's away record of seven wins and 23 defeats means they rarely get the upper hand in these fixtures.
The Norwegian visitors had come to town looking to extend their winning streak, but Södertälje's defense looked sharper than it had in the previous two matches. Their six blocks and 13 assists showed a team that was moving the ball and protecting the rim when needed. Hogsbo's 17 turnovers told their own story — too many careless possessions at crucial moments.
By then, the game was slipping away from the visitors. Södertälje had built a cushion through their offensive rebounding — 12 to 12, yes, but they converted more second chances into points. Hogsbo's 24 personal fouls also told you where the pressure was building, where the hosts were finding their rhythm.
The result keeps Södertälje five points clear of the teams around them, while Hogsbo's gap to safety remains a concern. They had beaten Norrköping 85 to 81 just four days ago, so this wasn't the worst night of the season — but it was another reminder that consistency is what separates the contenders from the rest.
