Analysis · Finnish Korisliiga, round 6

Aatu Kivimaki's 40 points cannot stop Lahti in overtime

Kivimaki shot 8/10 from two and 6/8 from three, yet Lahti Basketball took overtime 13-7 to beat Kauhajoki Karhu 108-102.

By Nicholas Crow, General Manager, TeamKeysPublished 2026-10-223 min read

Lahti win overtime 13-7 despite Aatu Kivimaki's 40 points

Lahti Basketball beat Kauhajoki Karhu 108-102 by winning overtime 13-7, even though Aatu Kivimaki scored 40 points for the visitors. Karhu had taken the fourth quarter 34-28 to force the extra period.

Kivimaki finished with 40 points, 7 assists and a PIR of 38 in 36 minutes. D'Maurian Williams was the next highest scorer in the game, with 29 for Lahti.

The performance sits well above his season profile. His TeamKeys Rating of 42 for 2026/2027 ranks him 46th of 62 rated players in the league, so this was a night far beyond his usual level.

Finnish KorisliigaLahti Basketball vs. Kauhajoki - Game Highlights

How Aatu Kivimaki built his 40-point line

Kivimaki built his 40 points on efficient shooting at every level: 8/10 inside the arc, 6/8 from three and 6/7 at the free-throw line. He scored from distance, attacked the basket and converted when fouled.

He also created for team-mates, adding 7 assists against 3 turnovers. His work on the glass was limited, with 1 rebound in 36 minutes, and he recorded no steals or blocks.

Jerrell Bellamy did the rebounding for Karhu, posting 21 points and 14 rebounds. That beat his season averages of 12.2 points and 12.6 rebounds over 5 games, while Erik Sajantila added 18 points but shot 4/11 from three.

Why Lahti still beat Karhu: balance, Carver and the bench

Lahti won because their scoring was spread across several players, while Karhu leaned heavily on one. D'Maurian Williams, Jackson Threadgill, Aaron Carver and Jalen Barr all scored at least 15 points.

Williams led with 29, going 8/12 from two and 4/8 from three, though he made only 1/4 free throws and committed 5 turnovers. Carver was the steadiest presence, with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks and no turnovers for a PIR of 31.

Barr gave Lahti 15 points off the bench in 20 minutes, missing none of his 6 two-point attempts. Lahti had won the first quarter 22-18 and the third 26-24, with the second level at 19-19.

Best players of the game

Player	Points	PIR
AKAatu Kivimaki (Karhu)	40	38
ACAaron Carver (Lahti)	17	31
JBJerrell Bellamy (Karhu)	21	30
DWD'Maurian Williams (Lahti)	29	19
ESErik Sajantila (Karhu)	18	16
CCChandler Cuthrell (Karhu)	13	11

Lahti vs Karhu standings and the 23 October rematch

The result leaves Lahti fifth of 12 at 3-2 and Karhu eighth at 2-4, and the two teams meet again on 23 October 2026. Karhu get an immediate chance to answer a defeat that wasted Kivimaki's best work.

Lahti's form reads L, W, W, L, W, and they share a 3-2 record with fourth-placed Vilpas. KTP lead the table at 6-0, ahead of Honka at 5-1 and Kipina at 4-1.

Karhu's form of L, L, L, W, L shows how much they need a win. If Kivimaki repeats this line, they will need more help around him than Bellamy and Sajantila provided.

All figures come from the official box score of Lahti Basketball against Kauhajoki Karhu, Finnish Korisliiga round 6, played on 21 October 2026.

Questions people ask

Who was top scorer in Lahti vs Karhu?

Aatu Kivimaki of Kauhajoki Karhu was the top scorer with 40 points in 36 minutes. He shot 8/10 from two, 6/8 from three and 6/7 from the free-throw line, adding 7 assists, but Lahti Basketball still won 108-102 after overtime.

How did Lahti beat Karhu in overtime?

Lahti Basketball won the overtime period 13-7 to beat Kauhajoki Karhu 108-102. Karhu had won the fourth quarter 34-28 to force the extra period, but Lahti's balance, led by D'Maurian Williams with 29 points and Aaron Carver with 17 points and 12 rebounds, carried them through.

When do Lahti and Karhu play next?

Lahti Basketball and Kauhajoki Karhu face each other again on 23 October 2026 in an immediate rematch. Lahti go in fifth of 12 with a 3-2 record, while Karhu sit eighth at 2-4 after Aatu Kivimaki's 40 points went unrewarded.

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