Derthona Basket 92 VS Latina Basket 82
(28-18 52-41 71-60 92-82)
Sunday 15 February 2015, 18.00 pm
Palaoltrepò Voghera (PV)
Tortona Bears: Rotondo 6, Carosi ne, Gioria12, Venuto 3, Simoncelli 8, Strotz ne, Losi 9, Crockett 6, Valenti 14, Tavernari 8, Galloway 26. Coach Cavina
Benacquista Latina: Banti 9, Santolamazza 2, Ihedioha 17, Uglietti, Cantone 12, Portannese 19, Austin 10, Di Ianni ne, Ianes 1, Reed 12. Coach Bartocci.
Coach Cavina talks about the best offensive game of the year and Tortona brings home two important points that keep her in contact with the playoff zone and aware that she can play and win with anyone. Latina is without Nardi and the bears start off fast with a triple from Tavernari and a basket from Crockett. Tavernari comes out due to a physical problem that will limit him in the rest of the match and is replaced by Gioria, who puts his signature on the match with 10 points in the first quarter. The defenses are not the strong point of this start and Tortona begins to extend up to 20-9 thanks to an excellent impact from Valenti which becomes 28-18 at the first interval.
At the start of the second half Valenti is still leading the Orsi (30-18) but Ihedioha (15 points at halftime) is the only one who allows Latina not to sink even if the scoreboard says 44-27. Tortona plays well, passes the ball around, everyone collaborates and the score at halftime reads 52-41 thanks to a triple by Losi.
However, Latina remains involved in the match and when the locals take a breather, even due to foul problems, they are ready to return. At 1'28” the scoreboard says 66 Tortona 60 Latina but 5 consecutive points arrive from Galloway and Losi for the 71-60.
Latina arrives several times just 5 points behind, sometimes even with the ball in hand but the lions always chase them away. At 36' the score is still in balance (77-72) and at that moment Simoncelli takes command of the match. Two triples interspersed with another triple from a sumptuous Galloway (26 points for him at the end) and it's 86-79 with less than two remaining. Tortona is precise from the line and the last two baskets by Valenti and Portannese do not change the outcome of the match which ends with the victory of Orsi Tortona with the final result of 92-82.
