Sverdlovsk Region picked up the pace as the game went on and put the game out of reach in the second half, routing Orenburg Region, 82–56.

Quarter scores: 21–15, 22–14, 24–21, 15–6

The quarterfinal started with a closely contested battle, with neither team able to build a significant lead for much of the opening minutes. As the first quarter progressed, however, Sverdlovsk Region began to pull ahead. Three-pointers from Sazonova and Tretyakova gave the home team a seven-point cushion, and Dmitrii Donskov’s team held a comfortable 21–15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter opened with a long-range shot from captain Shilova, and it sparked another run by the home team. Just two minutes later, Sverdlovsk Region had stretched their lead to 13 points, and Dmitrii Donskov’s team continued to methodically pull away, forcing Orenburg Region to make more mistakes on offence and putting the visitors under pressure. The margin never reached 20 points, though, as Orenburg managed to slow the home team’s momentum and narrow the gap slightly. Sverdlovsk Region, however, remained in control and took a 43–29 lead into halftime.

The first four minutes after the break were played at a high pace, with both teams scoring on almost every possession. The tempo then slowed slightly, but Sverdlovsk Region once again found success from beyond the arc. Sazonova continued to knock down three-pointers, helping the home team extend their advantage to 20 points. Orenburg responded with a few three-pointers of their own late in the quarter, but Yekaterinburg still held a commanding 67–50 lead heading into the final quarter.

The final 10 minutes followed the same script, with Sazonova hitting another three-pointer to put the game out of reach. Just four minutes into the quarter, the hosts had stretched the margin to 26 points, firmly controlling the boards and the tempo of the game, while Evgeny Ivanov’s team was unable to mount a comeback. The final buzzer sealed a convincing 82–56 victory, sending Sverdlovsk Region through to the semifinals of the Spartakiad of the Strongest, where they will face Moscow Region once again. The game is set for tomorrow, with tip-off at 6:00 p.m.

Dmitrii Donskov, head coach of Sverdlovsk Region:

“The game went our way. If you look at the two rosters, we had roughly the same number of key players who can make a difference. Our players are more skilled, which was reflected in the score and throughout the game. We won every quarter and maintained control of the game. The main goal was not to give our key players too many minutes, because tomorrow’s game against Moscow will be a tough one.

Sverdlovsk Region: Maiga (17 points, 7 rebounds), Klyundikova (double-double: 15 points, 10 rebounds), Sazonova (14 points, 5 rebounds), Shilova (10 points, 7 rebounds).

Orenburg Region: Mukhina (16 points, 2 rebounds), Andrushchenko (10 points).