BK Jindřichův Hradec beat Litoměřice BK 76:70 in the First League on Thursday evening. The visitors took all three points away from home, which is not what you expect when one side sits eighth and the other third. The match ended with the away scoreline standing, and that is the headline for a game that defied the order on paper.
By then it was clear Jindřichův Hradec had the sharper edge in the final quarter. They did not camp in the final third for long stretches, but when they moved the ball they found seams Litoměřice could not close. And here's the thing — the home side switched off at the back just enough times for the visitors to punish them.
We had called an away victory before kickoff, with 79 per cent confidence. It felt right because Jindřichův Hradec had been scoring freely in their last five games, four of them wins, while Litoměřice had lost four of their previous five. The numbers were not flattering for either side, but the trend favoured the visitors.
The result leaves Litoměřice on 22 points from 18 matches, still third, but now with a game in hand over the sides above them. Jindřichův Hradec move to 14 points and remain eighth, though the gap to safety is narrowing. Both clubs have played 18 games, so there are still plenty of points to be had.
What matters now is whether Litoměřice can hold their ground at home. They have been inconsistent — the recent run shows it — and a loss like this is a doubt that will not go away quickly. Jindřichův Hradec, meanwhile, came from the dead and kept their heads. That is a sign of a side that knows how to finish games.