First away defeat for the Purple basketball. Reggio’s team fails to achieve this feat in overtime as they come very close to the outside goal Palapadua Of Ragusa against a strong, well-prepared team who were right overall thanks to a splendid evening shooting from long range.
Reggio, author of a dazzling and probably unexpected start to the championship, takes advantage of the good things done, pays a low percentage to free throws and the injury suffered by Captain Thomas Binelli (nothing serious from the information received) and will try to redeem themselves in the inside a championship that promises to be balanced, exciting and vibrant. Ends 105-98.
The offensive start of Brown and Gaetano compensated for the excellent sprint of Tyrtyshnyk, who scored 11 points in 10′ with three shots from beyond the arc. Sorrentino scores a great basket coming off the bench, the attacks prevail over the defenses and in the 5th minute a triple from Cioppa puts a timid possession between the teams (15-12). In the back-and-forth, Mavric makes room for an attacking rebound (20-23), Sorrentino hits a three-pointer, Vavoli closes an excellent counterattack but Brown again sets the tone with a jumper at the siren (27-25). The first half of the second quarter mirrors the first. Virtus attacks well with double play, but loses a few turns in defense. The first to make the difference is Calvi: two triples and a defensive recovery by Recupido’s big man give Ragusa their first mini-escape (44-39). Brown scores +8 against a zone attempt. At halftime the scoreboard reads 49-43 for the home team.
After the interval Virtus seems to have more. The defense tightens and open shots arrive in the other half of the field: Simon and Cioppa punish from the arc, Reggio gets closer (59-55) with a minibreak of 0-5, but then two baskets from Gaetano – the last favored by an assist from Epifani – they give the margin back to Ragusa (65-55 at 28′). Epifani again discards a chocolate for Calvi, which pushes Virtus to +12. Sorrentino’s triple completes an 11-0 run and rewrites the maximum lead (70-55). A couple of offensive mistakes give the guests hope again: 70-58 in the 30th minute.
Viola are a solid team and call everything into question: partial score of 7-0. Virtus relies on Brown, who reciprocates the trust with two triples and a masterful penetration to make it 78-67 (in the 34th minute). Vavoli scores a triple for +13, then is forced to the bench with five fouls. Calvi follows him for a questionable whistle on an attacking rebound and Recupido, with Gaetano at four, has to make a virtue of necessity. Reggio practically never gives up: two baskets from Aguzzoli bring them back to within one possession (83-80 with 2′ to go). Back and forth between Gaetano and Mavric. Unsportsmanlike in Sorrentino: Simonetti makes 1/2 on free throws, Maksimovic scores the counter-overtaking triple, but Simon is devastating from the corner: 88-86 Virtus with 22″ to go. Tyrtyshnyk goes 2 of 2 from the foul line with 10 seconds on the clock. Ragusa’s last possession is lost with an impossible shot from Sorrentino: it goes to overtime.
Virtus, with the long team eliminated (former Gaetano also out), relies on archery and puts its nose back ahead with triples from Simon and Brown (94-92). It’s a very heavy basket from Epifani, the first of his match, which digs the new furrow for the home team: 97-92. Simon scores the new triple of +6 (100-94) with 56″ left to go, decisive for the final plus seven.
Virtus Ragusa-Viola Reggio Calabria 105-98 d1ts
The power of Ragusa: Brown 23, Piscetta, Epifani 3, Cioppa 9, Simon 16, Cascone ne, Guccione ne, Vavoli 11, Sorrentino 8, Gaetano 23, Mirabella ne, Calvi 12. All.: Recupido
Viola Reggio Calabria: Aguzzoli 18, Riversata ne, Simonetti 5, Konteh, Maksimovic 16, Mavric 21, Mazza ne, Seck 2, Binelli, Tyrtyshnyk 36, Russo ne. All.: Cigarini
2023-11-12 21:45:19
#Viola #Basketball #defeat #overtime #Ragusa #pitch
