Nový Jičín saw off Vysoká 80-68 in the First League on Saturday, keeping themselves top of the table while Vysoká remain in seventh place. The match was played at Vysoká's home ground and the visitors managed their lead without ever really letting it slip. It was a straightforward evening for the leaders, who needed no more than that to extend their advantage at the top.
Nový Jičín have been the steady side this season, and this result adds to a pattern of consistency. They sit four points clear of whoever is second, though the gap could shift depending on results elsewhere. Vysoká, meanwhile, have lost eleven of eighteen games and are not going anywhere near the upper reaches.
We had called for the away win before kick-off, giving it 54 per cent confidence. That was not a blind guess — Nový Jičín have been the more reliable side and Vysoká have struggled to put wins together. The prediction held up, as it often does when the form is this clear.
Vysoká's recent record has been mixed, with two losses and three wins across their last five outings. They beat ČZ Academy 84-73 and edged past Sokol Prague B on a couple of occasions, but those results do not hide the bigger picture. They are still fighting to find a rhythm after eleven defeats.
Nový Jičín's last five shows a similar pattern — four wins and one loss. They lost to Slovan Liberec on both occasions they met them, but they bounced back with three straight victories against Svitavy. That kind of response is what separates them from the rest of the pack.
The result leaves Nový Jičín at the top with fourteen wins from eighteen games. Vysoká have seven wins and are still looking for that consistency. The table tells the story — one side is building, the other is trying to find its feet.