Orka edges Radost in LWB U15 thriller

In a tight LWB U15 encounter on 31 January 2026 at OŠ Ivanovec, ŽKK Orka (ORK) nipped ŽKK Radost Čakovec (RAD) 44–41 in Round 3 of the 2025/26 season. The scoreboard told the story of momentum swings: Orka built a cushion through the middle quarters, while Radost answered with a furious fourth-quarter surge that fell just short.

Quarter-by-quarter the game unfolded as follows — ŽKK Radost Čakovec: 9, 10, 2, 20; ŽKK Orka: 6, 16, 10, 12. Orka’s dominant second and third quarters put them in control, but Radost’s 20-point fourth nearly erased that advantage and made for a nervy finish.

Juras Dora was named player of the game after a rugged performance for Orka, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds — a hard-nosed double-double that helped secure possession and second-chance opportunities. Support came from Ečimović Ani, who added 10 points and 10 rebounds, anchoring Orka’s interior presence throughout the contest.

Radost’s attack was led by Podobnik Saša, who poured in a team-high 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting and drained two triples while also converting at the free-throw line. Her late scoring runs and composure at the stripe kept Radost within striking distance and set up the dramatic closing moments.

The game featured a number of key sequences recorded in the match log: Orka surged in the second quarter through consecutive baskets and free throws; the visitors extended their lead in the third as Novosel Ljubica and Juras Dora added crucial points; and Radost countered in the fourth via inside work and timely foul shooting from Podobnik Saša and others. Ultimately a final free throw by Bračun Bela pushed Orka to 44 points and proved decisive.

Individual contributions on both sides underlined the collective nature of the game. For Radost, Glavina Kim and Kovačić Lena chipped in with important baskets and floor balance, while Marinković Vita Lucia and Novosel Ljubica supplied key rebounds and free throws for Orka. Coaches on both benches will take heart from the fight shown by these young players and from the lessons of managing momentum in close fixtures.

In short, a tactical middle game from Orka combined with grit on the boards and clutch free-throw execution were enough to withstand Radost’s late rally. The 44–41 scoreline reflected a contest decided by a handful of plays — and by composure in the closing moments.

This post is generated by AI.