ZRHK TENAX Dobele Secures Final Four Spot Despite Narrow Defeat Against Granitas-Karys

March 29, 2025

In a thrilling Baltic Handball League quarterfinal clash at Dobeles Sporta Centrs, ZRHK TENAX Dobele faced a narrow 35:36 defeat against Granitas-Karys. However, with a cumulative +7 advantage from the two-leg quarterfinal matchup, TENAX Dobele secured their place in the prestigious Final Four.

Match Overview The match was an intense back-and-forth battle, with the home side leading 17:16 at halftime. Despite a strong performance, TENAX Dobele couldn’t hold off Granitas-Karys in the final minutes, ultimately conceding a one-goal loss. However, their dominant performance in the first leg ensured their progression to the next stage of the competition.

Key Moments in the Game

• The game started with TENAX Dobele’s Antons Šuleiko scoring the opening goal in the first minute.
• Granitas-Karys responded quickly, with Modestas Štarolis and Simas Butkus leading their offensive charge.
• A crucial 7-meter goal by Ņikita Pančenko at the 29:51 mark gave TENAX Dobele a narrow halftime lead.
• Granitas-Karys found momentum in the second half, with Simas Butkus and Gustas Rinkevičius making key contributions.
• In the final minutes, Granitas-Karys managed to edge ahead by a single goal, but it was not enough to overturn TENAX Dobele’s aggregate lead.

Top Performers For ZRHK TENAX Dobele:

• Ņikita Pančenko led the charge with 8 goals, including 6 from the 7-meter mark.
• Nils Kreicbergs demonstrated sharp finishing with 7 goals.
• Kristers Plūme was instrumental with 5 goals in crucial moments.

For Granitas-Karys:

• Simas Butkus was the standout performer with 9 goals, including a successful 7-meter shot.
• Modestas Štarolis matched Butkus’ tally with 9 goals.
• Matas Jurkevičius provided key contributions with 6 goals.