Erste Liga starts in Montenegro

The Erste Liga in Montenegro got underway on Saturday evening with three games scheduled, with all ten clubs taking to the hardwood around the country over the weekend. The 2014/2015 season should be another of tight Basketball action in the Erste Liga, while reigning champions KK Budućnost Podgorica will be the team to beat once again.

The champs have of course won every edition of the Erste Liga stretching back to the league’s inception in 2006 and will enter the fray later. While KK Budućnost fight in the Eurocup, the rest of the teams will see which is in the best position to dethrone the powerhouse.

The pick of Round 1’s games saw two Balkan League teams go head to head as Mornar Basket Bar played host to. The visitors emerged with a 67-71 win and will feel it was deserved after they controlled much of the game. The hosts made it interesting though and tied proceedings in the fourth quarter, but Sutjeska rallied in the dying seconds to win the game.

Danilovgrad are debutants in the Erste Liga, but the team used home court advantage to claim an 80-77 win over Primorje 1945 Herceg Novi. The visitors led 16-17 after ten minutes, but Danilovgrad responded in the second frame 20-11 to make it 36-28 at halftime. In the third quarter the hosts extended thanks to a 23-12 run. With a 19 point cushion the hosts looked comfortable, but Primorje hit a huge 37 points in Q4 to make it tense, but Danilovgrad held on for the win.

Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje mastered Lovcen Cetinje 77-68 at home to get its 2014/2015 season off to a good start. The hosts had the pace through the opening stanza as they put together a 21-14 run to lead at the first split. In the second frame the visitors improved and won the period 16-20 to cut the deficit to 37-34 at the long break. Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje extended by two points (19-17) through the third quarter to lead 56-51 after 30 minutes. A 21-17 last stint ended any Cetinje hopes as the home contingent eased to victory.