Gold stays in Yekaterinburg: Sverdlovsk Region defeat Moscow Region in the final

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Yekaterinburg withstood the visitors’ pressure, came out stronger after halftime and closed out the decisive game with a convincing 78–60 victory. Zhosselina Maiga was named to the All-Tournament Team, while Maria Klyundikova was named MVP of the Spartakiad of the Peoples of Russia.

Quarter scores: 20–12, 16–24, 25–17, 17–7.

The final got off to a fast start for the home team, as Sverdlovsk Region went on a 6–0 run and held Moscow Region scoreless for nearly four minutes. Dmitrii Donskov’s team controlled the game, and although the visitors gradually cut the deficit, Yekaterinburg responded immediately. Zhosselina Maiga’s three-pointer restored the cushion and gave the home team a 20–12 advantage.

The second quarter opened with a brief scoring drought, but Sergei Danilin’s team then picked up the pace and narrowed the gap to one point. Sazonova and Nuritdinova traded long-range shots, and when the visitors took the lead for the first time, Dmitrii Donskov called a timeout. Klyundikova then went to work around the basket, scoring repeatedly from close range. Late in the quarter, Maria first came up with a block, then found Tretyakova, who hit a three to tie the game at 36–36 heading into halftime.

After the break, the home team once again took the initiative. Two three-pointers, first from Sazonova and then from Klyundikova, gave Sverdlovsk Region a two-point lead, but Moscow battled for every possession and stayed level. The turning point came when Maria Ilina scored five straight points, helping Yekaterinburg build their first truly significant cushion. The scoreboard read 61–53 heading into the final 10 minutes, with the hosts now holding a comfortable advantage.

In the final stretch, Sverdlovsk Region quickly extended their lead into double digits, while the visitors, despite their attempts to get back into the game, could not bring the margin back to within striking distance. Dmitrii Donskov’s team remained firmly in control, with the closing minutes giving way to a celebration as the final buzzer approached. 78–60 — Sverdlovsk Region captured the Spartakiad gold, with Zhosselina Maiga named to the All-Tournament Team and Maria Klyundikova taking home MVP honors.

Sverdlovsk Region: Klyundikova (25 points, 13 rebounds), Maiga (19 points, 8 rebounds).

Moscow Region: Nuritdinova (24 points, 3 rebounds), Lyulina (12 points, 4 rebounds).

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