Novipiù Casale 56 Orsi Tortona 60: the match report
Farmhouse 56
Tortona 60
Casale: Saunders 3, De Nicolao, Bray 6, Tomassini 14, Natali 7, Blizzard 12, Martinoni 6, Gospelov 6, De Ros, Ruiu, Fall 2, Valentini. All. Ramondino.
Tortona: Spissu 10, Frattallone, Tava, Reati 7, Bianchi 7, Marks 13, Simoncelli 6, Garri 4, Maghet, Antonietti 1, Riva, Brooks 12. All.Cavina.
The derby: all in one evening in a packed Palaferraris in every order of places for supremacy in the province and two important points in terms of the playoffs. In the end, coach Cavina's boys prevail, recovering from a 10-point deficit, 60-56.
Coach Cavina, always dealing with injury problems, starts with Spissu, Simoncelli, Reati, Brooks and Garri. The first basket of the match was scored by Martinoni in a tense start on both sides. The pace is low and 4 in a row from Simoncelli give the guests the first lead (7-9 in the 5th minute). The percentages are low and Tortona does not capitalize on some good opportunities to score points, even allowing a few too many offensive rebounds (there will be 5 at the end of the first quarter). Garri almost scores at the siren and at the first mini break the scoreboard says Casale 11 Tortona 15.
Casale remains attached to the game thanks to offensive rebounds while Tortona struggles to find rhythm in attack. The score remains low but the tension is palpable on both sides. Blizzard finds the first triple of his evening and brings his team within 2 (18-20) midway through the second quarter. Tortona wastes opportunities on the counterattack and, without overdoing it, Casale scores at 21 one minute before the break. Yes goes to the long break at 22-21 for Casale. 27% from the field for the hosts, 31% for the guests while the 26 rebounds to 16 for Casale are the key to the match.
It resumes with two free throws scored by Natali who gives the home team the maximum advantage, 24-21, which becomes 28-21 in an amen after a placed shot by Martinoni and a dunk on the counterattack by Natali. Reati breaks free from 3, ending an offensive shortage that was becoming worrying, but Casale seems to have returned to the field more determined. With 6'20” left in the third quarter, coach Cavina calls the minute at 31-24 for Novipiù. Reati's three points are Tortona's offensive turnover in the middle of the third quarter. Casale continues to dominate rebounding and extends the lead (35-26 at 3'20”). Brooks puts 7 almost in a row and brings the lions closer by taking advantage of his physical superiority. We go to the final break at 39-35 for Casale after a 9-4 run for coach Cavina's boys.
At the start of the last quarter a technician arrives on the guest bench which Casale does not convert. Bianchi's triple reignites the curve and brings the lions back to within 2. Garri devours the equalizer and Blizzard immediately punishes from 3. New 5-0 partial with Spissu's triple for the new tie at 43. Spissu's magic on the siren puts Tortona ahead by 2, forcing coach Ramondino to ask for a timeout at 46-48 outside, 4'25” from the siren. Marks first on the counterattack and then from 3 he extends to plus 6 with 3 minutes to go. Casale increases the pressure and comes back into contact, but Simoncelli suffers an unpleasant foul and makes the two free throws for the plus 4 on the outside. On the systematic foul Spissu only scores a free throw followed by Tomassini's triple. Offenses from the line closes it with a two out of two. It ends 60-56 and the party is all black and white.
