The derby is black and white: Novipiù Casale Monferrato – Orsi Derthona 68-76
Novipiù Casale Monferrato – Orsi Derthona 68-76
(13-15, 26-27, 44-54)
Casale Monferrato: Tolbert 14, Nikolic 3, Denegri, Tomassini 16, Natali 2, Blizzard 13, Di Bella 7, Martinoni 8, Severini 5, De Ros ne, Bellan ne, Ielmini ne. All. Ramondino
Derthona: Greene IV 17, Cosey 18, Alviti 5, Ricci G. 17, Taverna ne, Conti 3, Mascherpa, Ricci F. ne, Garri 14, Apuzzo ne, Cucci 2. All. Cavina
Referees: Perciavalle from Turin, Foti from Milan, Buttinelli from Cerveteri (Rm).
Notes: T2: Ca 21/43, De 22/33; T3: Ca 6/17, De 6/22; Tl: Ca 8/10, De 14/21.
The derby rule is also confirmed in its fourth act. Thus a more Leonine Derthona than ever conquered PalaFerraris, the fourth away success out of the four matches between the two teams, at the end of an intense and vigorous match, which enthralled the two thousand and more - among whom the over four hundred people from Tortona in tow – gathered in the basin of via Visconti.
The Juventus apotheosis materializes in the second half of the match, after a first half of the match characterized by low scoring and low shooting percentages, with Derthona particularly able to maintain control of the operations and the advantage at half-time despite the 8 % (1/13) from long range.
In the second half of the match the percentages rise and it is Derthona, with Cosey's triple, that makes the first mini-stretch. The Lions gain strength in defense and set the tone with three-point plays from Cosey and then Ricci, for 38-50 in the 27th minute. Novipiù tries to close the gap at the end of the period (44-54 in the 30th minute), but Orsi, with five consecutive points from Ricci, prints the maximum advantage in the 32nd minute (53-64). In the final, Tomassini and Blizzard led Novipiù's comeback, which reached 68-72 at the start of the last minute, but two free throws from Greene and a nice basket from Ricci on an offensive rebound made it 68-76.
