Reggio Calabria 75 Derthona 66
Defeat for our boys in Legnano against Reggio Calabria. Bears still without Alex Simoncelli who has been out for a few days now.
At the start the Reggio team were effective in attack and sharp in defence, where they forced Tortona to make almost all the mistakes in their decisions. Ghersetti and Brackins who, in less than 5', brought Reggio to a double-digit lead at 6-16.
Brackins dominates in attack and finds no one under the basket who can contain him.
3' from the end of the quarter Garri enters but little changes and Reggio ends the first quarter clearly ahead 30-9
Even in the second period the same common thread; Reggio has control of the game and Spinelli and Mordente manage the possessions while Brackins is unstoppable.
Up by 20, coach Benedetto begins to rotate his players, while Cavina stretches the defense and with some recoveries that generate points on the counterattack, he closes the second quarter down by 15. The scoreboard says 46 to 31 for Reggio.
In the second half, however, a different game begins. Reggio no longer scores and, two baskets in a row by Tortona, reopen the game with Benedetto who stops everything with a timeout.
Upon returning to the field, first Spissu and then Marks allow Tortona to get within 8 (47 to 39).
Reggio always maintains a gap of around 10 points, until the third buzzer at 57-48
Last quarter in which the race becomes even more competitive. Tortona takes the lead 63-58 but Spinelli's experience keeps Reggio ahead.
Spissu scores a triple for -3 and at 1'51” there is still one game left.
But a counterattack by Brackins allows Reggio to gain the decisive advantage. The final says 75 to 66 for the Calabrians who will be Tortona's opponents also in the championship.
Derthona : Brooks 11 Marks 16 Offenses 9 Ammannato 12 Spissu 7 Bianchi 4 Maghèt 3 Garri 4.
Viola: Spinelli 10 Mordente 9 Freeman 22 Brackins 16 Ghersetti 7 Roller 4 Lupusor 4.
