HC Dragunas Klaipeda secure 37:32 away victory over Granitas-Karys

January 17, 2026

HC Dragunas Klaipeda continued their strong run in the Baltic Handball League with an impressive 37:32 (16:17) away victory over Granitas-Karys on Saturday, 17 January 2026. Despite trailing by one goal at halftime, the visitors produced a powerful second-half performance to claim a convincing win and complete a season double over Granitas-Karys, following their 39:33 home victory earlier in the campaign.

Match overview

Granitas-Karys started the match energetically, racing to an early 2:0 lead through Simas Butkus and Gustas Rinkevičius. The home side maintained momentum in the opening quarter, building an 8:4 advantage by the 10th minute. However, HC Dragunas Klaipeda gradually found their rhythm, with Paulius Čėsna and Karolis Stropus leading the comeback. The teams went into the break with Granitas-Karys narrowly ahead, 17:16, after a tightly contested first half featuring multiple lead changes and strong attacking play from both sides.

Key moments

The turning point came early in the second half. HC Dragunas Klaipeda equalized at 17:17 in the 32nd minute and then began to control the tempo. A decisive run midway through the half saw the visitors pull clear, extending their lead to 27:34 by the 52nd minute. Granitas-Karys fought back bravely, reducing the deficit late on, but HC Dragunas Klaipeda remained composed in the closing minutes to secure the 37:32 final score.

Timeouts, suspensions, and missed penalties played a role in the match’s momentum, but HC Dragunas Klaipeda’s depth and efficiency in attack ultimately proved decisive.

Top performers

For Granitas-Karys,

• Benediktas Labutis led the scoring with 8 goals from 10 shots, including two successful seven-meter throws.
• Simas Butkus added 7 goals, while Ugnius Saliamoris contributed 4 goals, providing consistent pressure throughout the match.

For HC Dragunas Klaipeda,

• Paulius Čėsna delivered an outstanding performance with 8 goals, playing a key role in the second-half surge.
• Arvydas Bučius and Vasyl Havryliuk each scored 5 goals, while Lukas Juskenas was flawless from the seven-meter line, finishing with 4 goals, including all penalty attempts.