Monferrato > Novipiù is there! The rossoblu prevail over San Severo 82-78 and remain in the running for the playouts

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Basket Series A2

Top scorer of the evening Kodi Justice, author of 21 points and capable of dispensing 6 assists in 28 minutes of use on the parquet

Martinoni in the basket against San Severo (photo Monferrato Basket)

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The matches without appeal of the clock phase begin. In anticipation of Saturday at the “PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris” two teams collide fighting to avoid direct relegation: San Severo with 12 points in the standings is looking for the coup away, Novipiù, stuck at 10, can no longer afford missteps . In the first half fear is the eleventh protagonist on the pitch: the two teams chase each other with continuous partial and counter-partial, without ever expressing their potential and ending the first 20′ in substantial parity. The return to the locker room is providential for both teams: in the second half it seems to be watching another game, with baskets and entertainment. Stellar third quarter of Novipiù, which finds fluidity and chorus and escapes on +13. In the final we witness the vehement reaction of the Apulians who, with Daniel and Raivio, drag the match to the last seconds. In the end, however, Casale wins and takes us up 2-0 in the double confrontation with Alianz Pazienza San Severo.

For the last one at the “PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris” of the Salvation Group, coach Comazzi lined up Ellis, Justice, Sarto, Carver and Martinoni in the duel. The first rossoblu points of the match are scored by Justice from the arc. Special defensive treatment that Novipiù reserves in San Severo in the first minutes: basketball manages to produce good shots, but is imprecise in finishing. After 5′ the first time-out of the match, when the scoreboard scores 13-8. San Severo seems impatient to shoot: instead seraphic Martinoni who, with the 2+1 game, leads Monferrato Basket on the double possession full advantage. Jerkovic and Tortù bring Allianz Pazienza back into contact, while the nightmare of free turnovers returns to Novipiù. Bogliardi’s triple plus immediate foul silences the Palazzetto and brings San Severo forward at the first siren: 18-20.

It starts again at a lower pace: try to light up Daniel, who builds a basket solo by slaloming in the rossoblu defense. Bogliardi’s point number 9, decisively in the evening (100% shooting for him in the 12th minute), forces coach Comazzi to call him on the bench; out of the time-out Martinoni stops the partial of 0-15 opened by the guests (20-25). San Severo had to resort to numerous fouls to contain Novipiù: on balance the strategy paid off and, after 5′ of the second quarter, Novipiù only had 5 points scored in the half. Martinoni is the first player of the evening to reach double figures making the momentary 27-32. Positive phase for Novipiù, which with Ellis reaches 32 all. San Severo is no longer able to build the game: coach Comazzi tries to maximize the moment by drawing the last possession of the first half, which Sarto transforms into a triple of 37-33 on which the two teams go to the locker room for the long interval.

Daniel and Lupusor arrive in the second half with a notable proactive push, but Justice and Ellis reply with heavy baskets from behind the arc. Novipiù doesn’t miss a shot: coach Pilot stops the match at 48-37 (23rd minute). Monferrato Basket is a fury, San Severo continues to build open shots and the match gains in spectacularity. Daniel is replaced after a beautiful step-back basket, a decision not too appreciated by the number 22 of the basketball team. Carver puts his mark on the match, scoring the 59-48 (28th minute). The third quarter ends with Sarto’s basket: the partial 62-51.

At the start of the last half Justce punishes Daniel’s defensive choice with a triple, who tries to concentrate the game on himself. Leggio takes the chair, good at finding space in the box and punishing the defense in recovery with lightning strikes; his 4 consecutive points which fix the gap on +10 (69-59 in the 33rd minute). Tortù and Daniel, with their energy, manage to put Raivio back into the game who, with a 2+1 game, brings basketball to within 5 (71-66 in the 36th minute). Sarto commits his fifth personal foul and has to abandon the match. Allianz Pazienza is not a team to give up and 2′ from the siren they go back to within 3 (73-70). The American Justice makes an enormously important three-pointer, for the game and perhaps for the season, chasing San Severo two possessions down (78-72). Martinoni calls the fans to rally – they are possessions of capital importance. Fabi keeps basketball in the game with a triple 30” from the siren; Justice fails to close the accounts and the guests have 16.9” to extend the match. Coach Comazzi calls the systematic foul and Raivio, from the line, makes only 1/2 (78/76 at 11” from the siren). San Severo also resorts to a foul: Justice is glacial and places a 4-point gap between the two teams. Raivio flies away for a basket support, Novipiù has the ball in hand with 2 seconds and 8 tenths left on the clock. Ellis has the lucidity to get up to attempt a shot from long distance, but is fouled: with three free throws he is the closer of the match. It ends 82-78.

All the starting quintet of Novipiù finished in double figures. Ellis finishes with 10 points, Sarto stops at 13. Carver is surgical with 14 points, the result of a 7/7 from two. Martinoni ends the match with some mistakes, but an excellent double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds). Justice top scorer of the evening, author of 21 points, 6 assists and +21 overall rating. The shooting percentages reward the guests, with 50% of shots transformed into points against 47% of Novipiù (8/27 from long range). Percentages of achievement very similar to the range: 41.7% for Novipiù (with 2/13 from three) and 41.4% for Allianz Pazienza. The final count of rebounds sees Monferrato Basket prevail by very little (37 to 35). Difference between the two teams in the calculation of assists (23-13 for Monferrato), one of the keys to the match.

This is coach’s comment Stefano Comazzi after the game: «First of all I want to thank the public of Casale because, despite the unusual time of a particular day, they responded well. He understood the importance of today’s match making himself heard from the first to the last minute. Our fans supported us even when we were at -8 in the second quarter, a really delicate moment from which the team came out great. I thank my players for today’s performance: they played the game that needed to be played. We have never disunited and, above all, we bring home two very important data: the first is that we are still alive, the second is that we have finally shown that we too can win matches point by point. In the end we made some adequate defenses. The game numbers say 23 assists against 11 turnovers and 5 players in double figures. Those who took the field gave his contribution. Now it is useless to start making calculations. This week we will have to work with our heads down aware that everything will depend on us and that next Sunday we will have to go and play another great game in Chieti…”.

NOVIPIU’ MONFERRATO BASKETBALL – ALLIANZ PATIENZA BASKETBALL SAN SEVERO 82-78 (18-20; 37-33; 62-51)

NEWMORE: Justice 21 (3/4, 4/10), Carver 14 (7/7), Martinoni 13 (5/11, 0/2), Tailor 13 (2/4, 3/5), Ellis 12 (3/8 , 1/5), Valentini 5 (1/3, 0/2), Leggio 4 (2/2, 0/1), Formenti (0/2 from three). Wreath, Apples and Poom ne All. St. Comazzi.

SAN SEVERO: RAIVIO 17 (7/12, 0/2), Daniel 15 (6/8, 0/2), Bogliardi 11 (1/2, 2/4), Fabi 9 (1/4, 2/5), Sabatino 8 ( 1/1, 2/3), Tortù 8 (4/5, 0/1), Lupusor 4 (2/4, 0/1), Pazin 3 (0/1, 1/2), Jerkovic 2 (1/ 2, 0/1), Petrusevski 1. All. D. Pilot.