Den Helder 72 – 80 Zwolle
BNXT League – 16 May 2026

Match Summary

Zwolle secured a hard‑fought 80-72 road victory over Den Helder in a tightly contested BNXT League matchup. The visitors used a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to pull away after the game had been tied at 58-58 heading into the final period. The win keeps Zwolle in the upper half of the BNXT standings, while Den Helder continues to search for consistency after a promising start to the season.

Key Moments

• Back‑and‑Forth First Half: Neither team led by more than six points in the opening two quarters. Zwolle held a slim 38-36 lead at halftime, with both sides shooting around 45% from the floor.
• Third Quarter Swing: Den Helder opened the second half with a 12-4 run to take a 50-42 lead, but Zwolle responded with a 14-2 surge of its own to regain a 56-54 edge heading into the final frame.
• Fourth Quarter Defense: Zwolle limited Den Helder to just 14 points in the fourth quarter, forcing four turnovers and contesting every outside shot. A 9-0 run midway through the quarter put the game out of reach at 74-62.
• Free Throw Advantage: Zwolle made 18 of 21 free throws (85.7%), compared to Den Helder's 10-of-16 (62.5%), a decisive margin in a low‑scoring contest.

Standout Performers

Zwolle’s Robin de Vries was the game’s high scorer with 22 points (8-of-14 FG), 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Center Tom van der Heijden added a double‑double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends. For Den Helder, guard Jasper van Leeuwen poured in 18 points and 6 assists, but his four turnovers in the fourth quarter proved costly.

What This Means

Zwolle improves to 15-11 on the season, solidifying their position in the top six of the BNXT League. Den Helder falls to 12-14 and risks slipping outside the playoff picture as the regular season enters its final stretch. Zwolle’s ability to close out tight games will be crucial as they face several direct rivals in the coming weeks.