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| Photo: WKBL |
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] The Cheongju KB Stars secured their sixth regular-season title on Tuesday.
Cheongju closed out the regular season with a 94-69 road win over Busan BNK Sum at Sajik Gymnasium on March 30.
The victory left KB Stars with a 21-9 record, returning them to the top of the standings for the first time since the 2023–24 season.
Second-place Bucheon Hana Bank (20-9) could have matched KB’s 21-9 mark with a win in their final game, but KB holds the season series 4-2 and therefore clinched the title.
BNK Sum finished the regular season in fourth at 13-17.
That said, BNK Sum’s place in the postseason isn’t finalized. If fifth-place Asan Woori Bank (12-17) wins its final game, both teams would finish 13-17 and split their head-to-head series 3-3. In that scenario, Woori Bank would take fourth on point differential and BNK Sum would drop to fifth.
BNK Sum will remain fourth only if Woori Bank loses its last game.
Park Ji-su led KB Stars with a dominant 29 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Kang I-seul added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists; Heo Ye-eun posted 14 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists; and Sakai Sara contributed 11 points.
For BNK Sum, Kim Sonia recorded a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. Park Hye-jin, Lee So-hee and Byun So-jung each scored 10 points, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
KB seized control early. In the first quarter, Kang I-seul, Sakai Sara and Heo Ye-eun hit consecutive 3-pointers to set the tone. Park Ji-su then began to establish herself in the paint, scoring consistently, while Sakai and Na Yoon-jeong connected on long-range shots to stretch the lead. KB closed the first quarter up 26-14.
BNK Sum fought back in the second. Lee So-hee and Kim Sonia chipped away at the deficit, and an outside shot from Park Hye-jin pulled BNK to 37-39. But Park Ji-su took over late in the half, and KB went into the break up 47-40.
The third quarter proved decisive. Park Ji-su, Sakai Sara and Kang I-seul combined to explode offensively, pushing the lead past 20 points. BNK Sum’s shots stopped falling, and KB extended the margin to finish the period leading 73-48.
With the momentum firmly in their favor, KB Stars ran the fourth quarter under control and closed out a convincing 94-69 victory.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
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