Rivne Claims Victory in Game Two of Super League Bronze Medal Series
In the second matchup of the Super League's bronze medal series, Rivne secured a hard-fought 92–87 win over the Kharkiv Falcons. This game carried enormous weight for both sides, as each team aimed to capture a medal in one of Ukraine's most prestigious basketball tournaments.
The contest was a back-and-forth thriller. Kharkiv came out firing, closing the first quarter with a commanding 31–18 lead. They maintained a 12-point advantage at halftime, but Rivne refused to give in. The third quarter saw a dramatic shift: Rivne dominated 21–11. With 46 seconds left in the period, a pair of free throws from Serhii Riabyi put Rivne ahead 58–57, though a three-pointer from Soloviov gave Kharkiv a slim 60–58 edge heading into the final frame.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kharkiv's Maksym Nikitin picked up his fifth personal foul on the first minute, putting his team in a tough spot. With just 1 minute and 35 seconds remaining, Kharkiv still led 84–83. However, Rivne showed greater composure down the stretch, closing the game on a decisive 9–3 run to snatch the victory.
Player Highlights and What's Next
Jaylen Dupree was the game's top performer, posting 24 points and 9 rebounds. Rivne's roster also featured:
- Jacobs (20 points, 4 rebounds)
- Timoshchuk (9 + 6)
- Bykov (15 + 4)
- Koroviakov (15 + 6, 4 turnovers)
- Dupree (24 + 9) – starter
- Ponosov (5)
- Riabyi (4)
- Sheptytskyi (0)
- Kravchenko (0)
Kharkiv Falcons' lineup included:
- Khokhonik (6 points, 8 assists)
- Klimov (13)
- Soloviov (13)
- Zaplotynskyi (10 + 6 rebounds)
- Nikitin (12 + 6 + 3 assists) – starter
- Kleban (12)
- Maksym Bezyma (8)
- Martynov (7)
- Mykyta Bezyma (6 + 4 rebounds)
- Shavharov (0)
- Nikolaichuk (0)
Game three of the series is scheduled for April 30, 2026, in Dnipro, promising another exciting chapter in the battle for Super League bronze. This playoff series highlights the intensity and rising talent in Ukrainian basketball, where every possession can swing the momentum and determine who walks away with a medal.
As Rivne celebrates their thrilling victory, the competition heats up in the Super League. In a similar vein, Kyiv-Basket has also made headlines by advancing to the finals after a decisive win over the Kharkiv Falcons. This sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the league, where every match could change the course of the championship.