Derthona defeated in Pistoia
Estra Pistoia-Bertram Derthona 84-71
(23-17, 45-30, 57-54)
Scoreboards:
Pistoia: Willis 16, Della Rosa 3, Moore 16, Stoch ne, Saccaggi 2, Del Chiaro 4, Dembelè ne, Varnado 7, Wheatle 11, Hawkins 15, Ogbeide 10. All. Brienza
Derthona: Zerini 1, Ross 10, Dowe 8, Candi 3, Tavernelli ne, Strautinš 1, Baldasso 16, Kamagate 12, Severini 10, Obasohan 2, Weems 2, Radošević 6. Coach De Raffaele
Bertram Derthona's winning streak was interrupted in Pistoia when the championship resumed. Against the Tuscan team, the Bianconeri chased the score for large stretches of the match, overtaking in the third half before suffering the decisive attack from their opponents. The next championship match will be Sunday 10 March at 16.30pm at PalaEnergica against GeVi Napoli.
The first quarter was characterized by Pistoia's precision in shooting from outside and by Bertram's ability to find effective solutions to stay in contact: in the final stages, Hawkins' three-point basket set the score at 23-17 in the 10th minute. In the second half, the match continues to flow on the edge of balance, before with some three-point plays and offensive fluidity, the hosts place the lead beyond double figures: at half-time Pistoia ahead 45-30.
Bertram returns from the locker room with another face in defense, limiting Estra's attack and reducing the gap action after action: the open partial of 2-19, sealed by Ross' three-point play, is worth the Juventus advantage ( 47-49) in the 26th minute. In the final minutes of the period, Willis, Hawkins and Moore bring the team coached by Brienza back ahead: in the 30th minute the score is 57-54. Pistoia begins the last quarter with a 9-0 which brings the gap back beyond double figures (66-54) and, despite Derthona's attempts to return, continues to find baskets from outside which push it back to +14 (77- 63) in the 37th minute. In the last minutes the team coached by Brienza keeps the distance unchanged and wins 84-71.
So coach Walter De Raffaele at the end of the race: “We had a very bad impact on the match, not understanding what we needed to do to compete and play for the match. In the first two quarters we were very close and Pistoia, due to the talent and quality they have, systematically punished us. The third quarter was what we had to do for forty minutes, then when we turned the game around, we didn't have the strength to continue. Pistoia found talented baskets there and extended them. We know that there are still nine battles, we need to continue working, roll up our sleeves to cover the limits and try to enhance the strengths we have. The championship is long and difficult, I keep thinking one race at a time. We cannot lose the thread from a defensive point of view, however during the match we had some lapses that we cannot afford.".
