Groningen completes treble with Dutch league win

Groningen

Donar Groningen completed an historic season in the most emphatic of fashion. The club won the Dutch Basketball League (DBL Eredivisie) with a crushing 85-55 win over Zwole in Game 5 of the finals series, allowing the club to win the series 4-1.

It was a sixth title in Groningen history and allowed the club to retain the DBL after winning it last season. However, this win goes beyond that as the club completed an unprecedented treble of Dutch Basketball trophies. Earlier in the campaign, Donar had already secured Supercup and Cup to set up this historic haul.

The team did in style too and this season has simply been a class above the rest of the league. Indeed, Groningen won the Regular Season with a 26-2 record, six more wins than any other club managed during 2016/2017.

With home advantage, the defending champs took the lead in the opening minutes and never looked back. The first quarter ended with Donar holding a six-point lead at 20-14, before the hosts extended with a secure 19-13 run in the second frame. At the halftime buzzer, the champs looked dominant with a 39-37 advantage through the long break. The momentum stayed with Groningen in the third act as the team drained 24 points to Zwole’s 12 points. It was enough for a 63-49 lead through thirty minutes. The game was beyond the guests, and that showed in the fourth as Donar eased to victory with a 22-16 run.

The champs were hot from the charity strip, claiming 17 of its 21 attempts for 81 percent accuracy. Donar also doubled the assists of Zwole (20-10) to share the offensive duties.

Lance Jeter paced the win with 22 points and 6 rebounds, while Chase Fieler added 21 points and 4 scoring passes. Drago Pasalic added 11 points and 9 points to the victory cause.

Clayton Vetter was on a lone crusade for the fallen Zwole as he dropped in 21 points and took down 9 boards in the losing effort.

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