La Briosa Barcellona 65 Orsi Tortona 66
Barcelona: Centanni 7, Pellegrino 6, Loubeau 14, Smith 22, Migliori 16, Fallucca 0, Bianconi 0, Maccaferri 0. All.Bartocci.
Tortona: Spissu 9, Marks 11, Reati 8, Brooks 22, Garri 8, Simoncelli 3, Bianchi 5, Antonietti 0, Maghet 0. Coach Cavina
We knew it would be a treacherous trip due to the distance, the fact that it was midweek, and the physical problems that have been plaguing the roster at coach Cavina's disposal for some time but in the end two precious points arrived for the ranking considering that our opponent from on Sunday, Siena lost at home against Omegna.
Tortona starts with Spissu, Marks, Reati, Brooks and Garri. Garri takes two triples in sequence which remain short on the first iron and ends up on the bench replaced by Antonietti but in the meantime Barcelona immediately takes a 6-0 lead. The first Juventus point was scored by Reati who scored 1/2 from the line. The Piedmontese struggle in attack but force Barcelona to replace Loubeau who was already burdened with two fouls. The first triple from Brooks arrives which brings his team back to 6-4 and Marks scores the first external advantage with a basket and a foul. The external partial stops at 9-0. Brooks scores again from 3, already reaching 8 and immediately responds to Smith in a balanced match for the moment even if Tortona wastes something in attack. The Sicilians are more reactive and at the end of the first quarter Barcelona is ahead by two points at 16-14.
Triple by Captain Simoncelli at the start of the second quarter for the new external advantage but Barcelona often finds the rim for easy baskets with Garri in difficulty both in defense and in attack but then finds 6 consecutive points for 25-20 for the Bianconeri, forcing coach Bartocci to ask for a minute. Upon returning, Smith reduces the gap to 17 personal points. Now the guests seem more productive in attack but Barcelona remains in contact until the long break when the scoreboard says Barcellona 32 Tortona 35. Brooks is the best scorer of his team with 12 points.
We start again along the same lines as the first two quarters with Tortona unable to extend the lead. Marks finds two points at the end of a sequence of errors on both sides. Game that doesn't take off and the Sicilians remain in contact exploiting a clear superiority in rebounding and actually find the advantage at 46-45. Reati's first triple sends Tortona ahead by 1 at the last half-time at 50 to 49.
The pace is still low and Brooks reaches 20 but the match remains point to point with Barcelona who believes in it at this point. Brooks isn't of the same opinion and brings his team back ahead with a great dunk. Garri doesn't find the triple to extend despite the space and time available while Marks scores 4 consecutive points of vital importance for the plus 5 outside. An advantage that in a game with such a low score could be decisive, given that Migliori scores a very heavy triple and immediately after goes to the line to seal the tie at 62. Brooks loses a bloody ball with a step violation less than 2 minutes from the end but the Sicilians don't take advantage of the opportunity, finishing the 24 seconds with the ball in their hands. Garri misses twice but after another local error Reati finds the plus 2 and immediately after Spissu on a solitary counterattack the plus 4 21 seconds from the siren. Migliori scores another triple which reopens the game once again. Barcelona makes a series of fouls as they are not yet in the bonus to eventually bring Spissu to the line who misses both free throws. Smith calls timeout as if he were in the States, wasting precious time and in the end the two points are for Juventus. 66 to 65 the final.
