Lietuvos Rytas claimed an 84-59 win over KK Cibona Zagreb in the Siauliai Nike International Junior Tournament on Friday afternoon, topping Group A on basket difference and going into the final of the competition. A shutout fourth quarter was key for Rytas, who kept Cibona to just 9 points in the final period. Lukas Motiejunas and Norbertas Giga were Rytas’ top scorers with 15 points, while Regimantas Miniotas and Augustas Suliauskas both contributed 10 points each. For Cibona, Lovro Mazalin (19 points) and Marko Arapovic (18 points) both outscored any Rytas player, but were the only ones on their team in double-digits.

There was no separating the two teams in the opening quarter, until Marko Arapovic hit a three-pointer for Cibona and Bruno Skokna sent down a free throw to establish a 16-24 advantage. The second period was when Lietuvos Rytas came into its own, as the sharp shooting Lukas Motiejunas hit three consecutive shots from outside the arc, the Lithuanian defense limited Cibona to 12 points (only 7 from open play) and its offence put in a huge 29 points. Lietuvos Rytas went into halftime 45-36 ahead, and maintained a solid cushion in the third quarter as it again outpointed Cibona. Cibona was locked out by the tight Rytas defense in the final period, only scoring its first basket –an Arapovic shot from inside- six minutes in. Rytas was too far ahead for any Cibona recovery by then, and cruised to an 84-59 victory and the top spot in Group A.