Derthona-Scafati 96-91: the news
VOGHERA. Derthona beat league leaders Scafati with a great performance on both sides of the pitch. Six players in double figures (double double by Brooks) and a Simoncelli who split the match in two in key moments. The winning team of the final eight arrives at PalaOltrepo to face the Lions. Crow, Majo, Simmons, Baldassarre and Spizzhichi, the quintet chosen by coach Perdichizzi. Cavina chooses Spissu, Reati, Marks and Garri. The leaders Givova immediately start strong. After two baskets in the painted area, three long shots arrive (two from Baldassarre and one from Spizzichini) for the first extension of the match for the guests. 6' from the end of the first quarter Scafati leads 17-8. For the Lions two penetrations, one by Reati and the other by Marks, pick n'roll between Simoncelli (in as first rotation in place of Spissu) and Brooks. After the initial difficulties, Derthona benefits from the plays on both sides of the pitch by Simoncelli, Garri starting to make himself heard in the painted area. With 2'42'' left in the first quarter, Scafati's lead is reduced to 3 points (21-18). Spissu's third foul complicates Cavina's plans tremendously, but Simoncelli's three-pointer at the end brings the Lions back down by a basket (23-26).
The captain starts the second period with the same attitude and evens the score (26-26). Givova has great rotation, Perdichizzi throws in Loschi and Rezzano, in the middle of the first period the former Ammannato and Portannese had already entered the field. Tortona begins to make the weight of its defense felt in the match, Simoncelli runs away in transition and Rezzano commits an unsportsmanlike foul to stop him. The Lions are up by 4 points 33-29 with a super Simoncelli attacking the rim with his head down. With 4'28'' remaining Scafati scored only 6 points and already exhausted the bonus. Spissu returns and Mayo attacks immediately: stop and shot to bring Givova back to just one point behind. At the siren of the long break Baldassarre scores the fourth three-pointer of his game which is worth +3 for parity (42-42).
The third period starts and Marks enters the match. One-handed dunk and long shot. But Scafati counters from the arc with Crow and Majo. With 6'616'' left the score is 55-54 for Scafati. The race is point to point. Spissu scores five in a row and Tortona is up by 4 points with three minutes left in the third period. On the opposite side Majo replies, but it is still the Sardinian black and white point guard who has the hot hand and puts in the second bomb of the quarter. Reati from long range is also included in the match. It is the maximum advantage for the Lions (67-59). Scafati closes the gap, ending 67-64 for Derthona.
In the final period Tortona feels it can beat the league leaders. Bianchi and Reati score from long range and Leoni score 6 points with 47'8'' remaining. The Lions defend strongly, but halfway through the period they have already spent the bonus. At 4'24'' the lead becomes double figures (81-71). We go the other way and Majo scores and is fouled. Simoncelli steals and runs away in transition: Portannese commits an unsportsmanlike foul and the lead rises to 13 points with 3'17'' from the end. Scafati has a burst of pride with Majo and Crow: two minutes from the end Givova is 7 points down and still in the game. Two dubious decisions put Simoncelli and Brooks out of the game for five fouls (Spissu had already finished the match at the beginning of the quarter) and Givova went back three points down with Derthona losing the ball trivially. Scafati remained attached until the end, but in the series of fouls that led to free throws the Lions kept their cool and beat the league leaders 96-91.
TABLE
DERTHONA 96
SCAFATI 91
DERTHONA BEARS: Gay 2, Antonietti, Spissu 12, Iannilli 2, Reati 11, Bianchi 9, Marks 15, Simoncelli 22, Garri 12, Brooks 11. Coach Cavina
GIVOVA SCAFATI: Portannese 12, Crow 14, Spizzichini 3, Rezzano 3, Baldassarre 22, Mayo 22, Simmons 15, Loschi, Ammannato. Annex Perdichizzi
REFEREE: Boscolo, Terranova, Bramante
NOTE. First half: 42-45. Partials: 23-26, 19-19, 25-19,29-27.
