Il Monferrato > Monferrato Basket fails to impose itself at the “Pala Ilio”, overtaken by Trapani 77-73

Item “

Basket Series A2

In the second half, Monferrato Basket relies on a super Ellis, author of 21 points (with 7/9 shooting) and 5 assists for an overall rating of +29

tu sg

Novipiù tries to overcome the difficulties of the last few games in a decisive match against 2B Control Trapani, beaten in the first leg at the “PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris” with a gap of 5 points. The tension plays tricks on both teams in the first half. After a rather effervescent start, with Mollura and Carver finding good solutions, the quality of the game drops drastically, with many mistakes on both sides and rather trivial turnovers. Trapani is less fickle and manages to get, dragged by Mollura and Stumbris, up to +15, before suffering in the last minute of the first half a counterbalance by Novipiù who sends the teams with a gap of 8 points to the locker room. At the beginning of the second half, the limits of Trapani also emerge, also incredibly distracted on the pitch. With patience but above all with a super Ellis, Novipiù gets back into the game by impacting 2B Control on 66, on the run from the first minute. In the final, rather episodic, Mollura finds a very heavy triple and Stumbris on the 24” siren makes a 2+1 game that will be decisive. In the last possession, Novipiù defended the difference between the baskets, little consolation because the 77-73 represents the eighth defeat in the last nine games for the rossoblùs.

News in the quintet for coach Valentini, who lines up Formenti at the duo as well as the confirmed Ellis, Redivo, Carver and Martinoni. The first rossoblù points are scored by Ellis, who replies to Mollura’s trip to the lunette. The start of the match was very pleasant: protagonists in the rossoblù house were the big holders Carter and Martinoni, who tried to remedy a few too many distractions in the setting phase and entering the games. Mollura’s triple of 15-8 is a good opportunity for the rossoblù bench to rally the players; coming out of the timeout Formenti finds a nice personal partial, Trapani replies with a triple from Stumbris. Redivo finds the 21-18 bomb from afar 2′ from the first mini-half, but Novipiù’s attack is often inaccurate. The first quarter ends 23-19. Confused phase at the start of the second fraction; try to put Leggio in order with a triple from a very clean corner. Monferrato Basket fails to shorten coach Parente’s formation, remaining 3 possessions behind (32-23 in the 14th minute). Mollura reaches 12 personal points and coach Valentini has to catechize him again on the bench. Even Trapani wastes a lot in the offensive phase, in a match characterized by many oversights. Stumbris scores the triple of +15 (40-25 in the 18′), propitiated by an attitude of Novipiù that is really too compliant, now also in defense and rebounding. 2B Control takes off the accelerator with one minute left until the interval; Formenti and Ellis take advantage of it. As the teams head to the locker room, the scoreboard scores 40-32.

It starts again with a couple of good Novipiù offensive solutions that are not transformed into points for rather trivial mistakes. The rossoblùs are also struggling in the rebound fight, the house specialty. Leggio and Redivo, challenged in the three-point shot, brought Novipiù back to within 3 (41-38 in the 24th minute). “Small” quintet for coach Valentini, with Martinoni fighting in the area and 4 outsiders. Thanks to the foul bonus spent early by Novipiù, 2B rebuilds a good margin from the line (48-38). Also in this phase the rossoblùs do not sin of lack of creativity in attack, but only of concreteness, throwing well-constructed schemes to the nettles. Valentini’s energy is a factor in the third quarter finale; with him on the field Novipiù is back on -3. We go to the last rest with 7 points to divide the two formations (52-45). Redivo and Ghirlanda find two very heavy triples at the beginning of the last period. Massone scores his triple of the match, trying to redeem a truly lackluster performance. Ellis puts on a superlative performance, bringing Novipiù three times up to -1 (63-62 in the 36th minute). Formenti doesn’t take advantage of his teammates’ offloads, failing many rather “open” triples: Ellis makes up for it, bringing the match to 66 all. Mollura makes a very heavy triple despite a splendid defense from Ghirlanda, scoring the 71-66 at 1’42” from the siren. Redivo, with great experience, wins a foul on the three-point shot bringing Monferrato Basket up to 71 from the line. Trapani bungles in attack, but at the last second finds a 2+1 game with Stumbris. Redivo has to shoot from midfield, 2B Control goes to the line with Massone who scores only one free throw of the two available. With exactly 24” on the clock, with a score of 75-71, coach Valentini stops the match. Redivo makes a mistake on the throw-in, Trapani goes on the counterattack in an open field and goes up +6, also overturning the difference in baskets compared to the first leg. Ball to Redivo who finds a basket with a very high difficulty coefficient and Novipiù again at -4 with 6” from the siren. Coach Parente draws a pattern for Stumbris who can’t find the basket. The verdict sees Trapani win 77-73 but, consolation for coach Valentini, the difference in baskets is still in favor of the rossoblù.

Two players in Novipiù jerseys finish the match in double figures: Redivo scores 18 points, with 3/7 from behind the arc. Ellis ends the match with a personal haul of 21 points, 5 rebounds (second behind Formenti), 5 assists and +29 rating. With him on the pitch the plus/minus balance is +6. Novipiù has a relatively high scoring percentage (47%) but has taken few shots; 2B Control finished the match with 38% field goals but shot 11 times more. At halftime the shooting percentages of the two teams saw Monferrato at 44% (with 5/12 from three), while 2B Control, ahead in the score, followed in this statistical relief with 33%, but with 9 shots attempted in more. The Monferratos succumbed in the rebound fight 40 to 29 (with the big men Martinoni and Carver respectively captured 1 rebound and 5). 13 turnovers for the rossoblùs

2B CONTROL TRAPANI – NOVIPIU’ MONFERRATO BASKETBALL 77-73 (23-19; 40-32; 52-45)