Horsens IC wins 2nd consecutive Danish Ligaen

Horsens IC has repeated as the champion of Denmark’s Ligaen, defending its title to claim a second consecutive league victory. The club downed the Bakken Bears 84-78 in the seventh and deciding game of the best of seven finals series.

In the decider, Horsens has home floor advantage and used it to take the lead with the first score and then controlled long periods of the game on the way to the title. Sure, the final score suggests the Bears were close, but for the most part Horsens IC dictated the pace in front of its own fans.

A high scoring first quarter saw both teams attack the bucket and produce a high scoring frame, which saw the hosts emerge with a 26-25 lead. It remained close in the second stanza, but once again Horsens had the advantage, a 17-15 run making it 43-40 through the long break. The home team kept extending in the third act, winning it 21-18 to ensure a 64-58 advantage through thirty minutes on the hardwood. Bakken rallied in the fourth and tied Horsens 20-20, but the game was decided already.

Nimrod Hillard IV topped the winning effort with 22 points, while Gabriel Lundberg produced 21 points and 8 rebounds. Marquis Addison and Jyles Smith followed with 10 points apiece.

Darko Jukic and Shawn Glover paced Bakken Bears with 17 points each.