Biella-Derthona 80-78, the news
Connecting rod 80
Tortona 78
Angelico Biella: Ferguson 14, Hall 17, Massone, Venuto 10, Pollone L. 7, De Vico, Udom 10, Pollone M., Wheatle 5, Rattalino, Tessitori 17, Pasqualini. All. Michel Carrea
Tortona Orsi: Greene 14, Cosey 21, Alviti 7, Ricci 16, Sanna, Taverna, Conti, Mascherpa, Ricci 16, Garri 11, Apuzzo, Cucci 9. Coach Cavina
Referees: Galasso, Dionisi and Caforio.
Note. First half: 42-46. Partials: 23-23, 19-23, 20-17, 18-15. Spectators: approximately 1500.
BIELLA. Only a spell in the last eight seconds by Ferguson gave Biella the victory after Derthona had almost always been in front throughout the match. Carrea chooses Venuto, Feruson, Hall, Tessitori and Wheatle for the starting quintet, on the opposite side Derthona starts with Sanna, Ricci, Greene, Cosey and Garri. The first three points of the match came from Ferguson who inaugurated his game from the corner, for Derthona the first basket was a nice two-man game between Garri and Ricci followed by another bomb from Ricci. Midway through the first quarter it's 11-8 for the Lions. Derthona's first break comes with a bomb from Cosey which gives it 14-8. The Lions maintain the lead despite a very inspired Hall on the opposite side (8 points in the first 10'). Biella comes back down by three with the former Venuto, but the Lions are driven by an amazing Ricci who scores 12 points in the first quarter alone. It ends 23-23 with a penetration by Luca Pollone at the siren.
The second period begins and Angelico takes over, Pollone scores from long range and Udom with a dunk (and a free throw), coach Cavina calls a time-out to stop the inertia (29-25 for the locals). Derthona reacts: a tap in by Alviti, a long range basket by Cucci and a free throw by Garri bring the match back to a draw (31-31) halfway through the second period with Ricci on the bench because he already had two fouls. The match is point to point. Derthona finds good spacing with Cucci (7 points in the period) and with Greene's first basket of the match: at 1'13'' Dethona still finds itself ahead by 4 points, an advantage it maintains until the long siren (46-42 ).
Four points from Tessitori at the beginning of the third period and the Angelico counter-break is made (46-46). Ricci's first two points of the second half and Greene's three-pointer give the Bianconeri guests a five-point lead. Cavina's small quintet (Ricci and Cucci together) suffer in the painted area, but find good shots from the perimeter with Greene. In this phase of the match Cosey is the main weapon of the Juventus attack, on the opposite side Biella relies on Hall and Wheatle. Three minutes from the end of the period the guest's advantage was eliminated (60-60). It ends 63-62 for Derthona.
The last 10' began with two free throws from Garri and two from Hall and until mid-period he scored little until Alviti also entered the game with a bomb and Cosey gave an important shoulder with 4'41'' left: the Lions they try to make the decisive break (71-66). Ferguson becomes the protagonist with five consecutive points that bring the game back to a draw (73-73). We go the other way and Cosey penetrates and scores the extra free throw. One minute from the end with Derthona up by one point, the former Venuto spends the bonus and sends Cosey from the line. The American's hands don't tremble (78-75), we go the other way and Udom scores a three. Eight seconds from the end, the two-ball after a shot on the second iron by Ricci rewards Biella. Last possession for Ferguson who works magic and gives Biella the victory. Three seconds from the end, the last contested episode: Cosey's throw-in and Udom's suspicious foot.
Coach Demis Cavina's comment: “It was a beautiful match, lost due to episodes that could have been positive on both sides. I congratulate Biella and my boys. I'm left with the feeling of a great match lost with some episodes like the coldness of Udom and Ferguson at the end."
