Defence and second chances decide a gritty CLN 3 contest

In a game that rarely reached the heights of an offensive showcase, Advokatska komora Niša edged Wersirius United 45–35 on Saturday at OŠ "Ivo Andrić" Niš. The low final score reflected a contest dominated by physical defence, contested boards and a few decisive sequences down the stretch.

The teams traded momentum through four quarters — a 13–7 opening frame gave one side early control, a 12–4 response in the second produced a halftime advantage for Wersirius United, but the balance shifted again after the break. The third and fourth periods were where the match was decided: 13–7 and 15–9 runs respectively sealed the outcome for Advokatska komora Niša.

Mladenović Aleksandar was the unmistakable figure of the night. He finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds (including eight offensive boards) on 8-of-14 shooting, adding three assists and an efficiency rating of 26. His interior presence — crucial putbacks, timely two-point baskets and clutch free throws at the end of the third quarter — underpinned the winning side’s late run.

Support came from Aleksić Ivan, who contributed 13 points and a number of hard-earned baskets in the final quarter, while Pešić Petar supplied two momentum-shifting triples, one in the first period and another in the fourth. On the glass, Vasić Vukašin (4 points, 11 rebounds) helped sustain extra possessions that turned into second-chance points.

Wersirius United relied on strong individual efforts to stay in contention. Petrović Filip hauled in a remarkable 17 rebounds alongside six points and a key long-range make that briefly erased the deficit in the fourth. Mišić Nemanja scored 14 and was instrumental during the mid-game surge that handed his team a halftime lead, while Živković Boris added 10 with a pair of important triples.

Offensive struggles were evident across the box score. Apart from a few bright spots, shooting percentages were modest and turnovers were kept at bay by disciplined ball control on both sides. The winning margin was built less on scoring bursts than on rebounding dominance and a willingness to scrap for extra possessions.

For the standings, the result completes round 12 of the CLN 3 season and offers a reminder that, in tightly contested league play, rebounding and interior toughness can be the decisive factors when points are at a premium.

This post is generated by AI.