Derthona Bears – Europromotion Legnano 74-72
Derthona Bears – Europromotion Legnano 74-72
Derthona: Greene IV 17, Cosey 22, Alviti 5, Ricci G. 4, Sanna 2, Conti, Mascherpa 3, Ricci F. ne, Garri 8, Pilati, Billi ne, Cucci 13. Coach Cavina
Legnano: Navarini 1, Maiocco 3, Frassineti ne, Rinke ne, Palermo 12, Martini 13, Inhedioha 9, Sacchettini 2, Gastoldi, Raivio 23, Mosley 9. Coach Mattia Ferrari
REFEREES: Terranova, Saracens, Tallon
NOTE. First half: 38-36. Partials: 25-16, 13-20, 14-22, 22-14. Spectators: approximately 700.
CASALE MONFERRATO. Derthona beat Legnano 74-72 on their debut with two bombs in the last thirty seconds by Cosey. The Lions lead for the entire first half, then Legnano reverses the inertia of the match, but in the end it is the American who takes the cover of the first match. Not being able to count on the injured Reati, Cavina chooses Cosey, Greene, Giampaolo Ricci, Garri and Sanna. The Legnano Knights quintet is made up of Mosley, Inhedihoa, Palermo, Raivio and Maiocco. With a nice movement with his back to the basket, Ricci scores the first two points of the season for the Lions. Maiocco penetrates and Mosley corrects with a tap in. The first partial of the match is the result of Greene: two penetrations plus a foul which are worth 8-2 for the Lions. Derthona defends strongly, Inhedioha brings Legnano to -5. Four minutes into the first quarter, Derthona leads 15-10. But a long shot from Rinke and a free throw from Raivio bring the match back to a point. Cavina uses the bench and makes Alviti, Conti, Cucci and Masherpa make their debuts. The Lions give the match a push at the end of the first 10' with Alviti (5 points), and Greene again (11 points in the first period alone). It ends 25-16 for Derthona.
The Lions start the second period with Conti, Greene, Alviti, Cucci and Mascherpa. Cucci scores, but immediately afterwards Martini penetrates and finds the assist for Raivio (29-23). Mascherpa's bomb 6' from the end of the first half pushes back Legnano's comeback attempt: halfway through the second period Tortona remains ahead by 4 points (34-30). Ricci wins the offensive rebound which brings Derthona back to +8: 38-30 with three minutes left in the period. The Lions struggle to score and Legnano comes close with a 6-0 run. Derthona goes into halftime with just one basket ahead of Legnano: 38-36.
The black and white team leaves the locker room determined and Cosey scores four consecutive points. The Lions remain in front, but Legnano doesn't give up and Cavina chooses a low quintet with Cosey, Alviti, Greene, Cucci and Sanna. It is the moment of greatest difficulty for Derthona who no longer finds the right spacing and the way to the basket. Legnano takes advantage of this by moving ahead by one point (43-42) with a bomb from Inedioha. When the lead becomes 47-43, again with a penetration from the former Latina power forward, Cavina calls a timeout. Two minutes from the end comes Legnano's maximum lead (53-46) with the Tortona team holding eight points in the quarter. Sanna runs to the basket after a steal and Cosey gives a breath of fresh air with his stop and shot, but the quarter ends 58-52 for the guests.
The final period begins and Martini's dunk is worth +8 for the guests. Maiocco scores from three, Cosey responds on the opposite side. He tries to give Cucci an adrenaline rush with an offensive rebound and a bomb: Derthona comes forward with a penetration by Greene (61-65) in the middle of the quarter. Cavina rotates all the players he has available and with 2'30'' from the end Derthona is still alive (65-68). An eight meter bomb from Cosey gives the tie (70-70) with PalaFerraris exploding. The American again scores the +3 from long range with thirty seconds left and with two free throws gives the first success.
