VHC Šviesa Turns Second-Half Surge into 31–27 Victory over Granitas-Karys

January 25, 2026

VHC Šviesa produced a strong second-half performance to defeat Granitas-Karys 31–27 in an intense Baltic Handball League encounter on Sunday afternoon. After trailing 14–15 at halftime, the home side showed composure, depth, and attacking efficiency to take control after the break and secure another convincing win over their league rivals.

This result follows the previous meeting between the teams earlier in the season, where Šviesa also came out on top with a 32–23 away victory on November 9, 2025, confirming their upper hand in the head-to-head matchup.

Match Summary

The match began at a high tempo, with Šviesa striking first through Alan Bogdiun, who would later emerge as one of the key figures of the game. Early defensive pressure and fast transitions allowed the hosts to build a 4–1 lead, but Granitas-Karys responded with discipline and effective seven-meter executions to stay close.

Despite several two-minute suspensions for the visitors in the opening quarter, Granitas-Karys gradually found their rhythm. Marius Kairys led the comeback with a series of goals late in the first half, helping his side overturn the deficit and take a narrow 15–14 lead into halftime.

The second half was marked by momentum swings until Šviesa found another gear around the 36th minute. With the score tied at 18–18, goals from Alan Bogdiun, Skirmantas Plėta, and Eimantas Sinkevičius sparked a decisive run that pushed the hosts ahead 22–18.

From there, Šviesa controlled the game with smarter shot selection and improved defensive balance. Although Granitas-Karys continued to fight back through Simas Butkus and Gytis Zadarnauskas, the gap remained intact. A late goal by Matas Aukstikalnis sealed the final score at 31–27.

Top Performers

VHC Šviesa

• Alan Bogdiun: 5 goals from 6 shots, instrumental during Šviesa’s decisive second-half run
• Matas Aukstikalnis: 4 goals, including the final goal of the match
• Ernestas Stvolas: Perfect shooting display with 3 goals from 3 attempts
• Skirmantas Plėta: 3 goals, all coming at key moments
• Šarūnas Ugianskis: 3 goals, including 3/3 from seven meters, despite two suspensions

Granitas-Karys

• Marius Kairys: Team-high 7 goals, constant attacking threat
• Simas Butkus: 5 goals, including multiple seven-meter conversions
• Gytis Zadarnauskas: 3 goals, strong contribution late in the match

Key Moments

• Early double suspension for Granitas-Karys (3rd minute) allowed Šviesa to build momentum
• Granitas-Karys turnaround late in the first half to lead 15–14 at halftime
• Decisive Šviesa run from the 36th to 39th minute, extending the lead from 18–18 to 22–18
• Clinical seven-meter shooting by Šviesa in the final quarter to protect the lead