No Time for Overtime: Olympians Edge Hawks 101-99 in Nail-Biter
Vance's Late Heroics Secure Thrilling Road Win for Athens
MILAN – In a contest that had fans on the edge of their seats from tip-off to the final buzzer, the Athens Olympians narrowly defeated the Milan Hawks 101-99 in a Pro League thriller. The game, a back-and-forth affair that saw multiple lead changes, was ultimately decided in the final possessions, with Athens capitalizing on crucial plays to secure a vital road victory.
The Hawks, playing in front of a raucous home crowd, came out with intensity, but the Olympians matched their energy. The first half was a tight battle, with neither team able to establish a significant advantage. Milan’s offense found rhythm through Elara Ortega, who poured in 16 points and added 5 rebounds. Kwame Nkosi provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, showcasing his all-around impact.
However, Athens found its crucial contributions from multiple sources. Sophie Lane led the charge for the Olympians with 17 points, while Javier Lopez added 17 of his own. The story of the game, however, was the clutch performance of Priya Vance. Despite a modest scoring output of 14 points, Vance hit two critical three-pointers in the closing minutes, including the go-ahead shot that silenced the Milan arena.
“We knew this was going to be tough, playing on the road in a place like this,” said Olympians Head Coach, Maria Lopez. “But our players showed incredible resilience. Priya stepped up when we needed her most. That’s the kind of play that wins championships.”
The Hawks fought valiantly in the final minutes, with Nkosi orchestrating plays and looking for scoring opportunities. A late steal by Leo Braun gave Milan a chance to tie or take the lead, but a final shot attempt fell short. “It’s a tough one to swallow,” admitted Hawks forward Elara Ortega. “We played hard, but they made one more play than us. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Key Notes:
- Athens Olympians out-rebounded Milan Hawks 52-48.
- Priya Vance hit two crucial three-pointers in the final minutes.
- Kwame Nkosi recorded a double-double in assists and rebounds (5 AST, 7 REB).
- Athens Olympians shot an impressive 38.6% from three-point range.