Magnolia Campobasso Defeats Tortona: A1 Series Away Win Streak

AUTOSPED G BCC DERTHONA TORTONA – THE MOLISANA MAGNOLIA CAMPOBASSO 51-61 (13-14, 27-31; 41-45)

TORTONA: Fondren 5 (1/3, 1/2), Conte 6 (1/4, 0/4), Penna 5 (0/4, 1/4), Fontaine 7 (2/5, 1/4), Kunaiyi 4 (1/1, 0/1); Toffolo 5 (1/4, 1/2), Suarez 9 (2/5, 1/2), Leonardi 5 (0/0, 1/4), Dotto 5 (1/3, 1/3), Melchiori (0/2, 0/1). Ne: Arado and Cocuzza. All.: Cutugno.

Campros: Morrison 9 (3/8, 1/1), Simon 2 (1/5), Makurat 2 (0/3, 0/3), Madera 10 (5/9), gray 20 (7/11); Giacchetti 4 (2/2, 0/1), Meldere 11 (4/5, 1/2), Trimboli 3 (0/2, 1/4), Miccoli (0/2), Ceré. All.: Sabatelli.

REFEREES: Pellicani (Gorizia), Gai (Rome) and Occhiuzzi (Trieste).

NOTE: observed a minute of reflection in memory of Mario Blasone, a deserving coach of excellence. Injury (problem with the flexor of the left leg) at 36’47” (41-55) for Morrison (Campobasso), who never returned. Unsportsmanlike foul at 38’18” (42-59) for Makurat (Campobasso). Free throws: Tortona 12/14; Campobasso 8/10. Rebounds: Tortona 30 (Kunaiyi, Toffolo and Fondren 5); Campobasso 45 (Gray 12). Assist: Tortona 12 (Fondren 4); Campobasso 13 (Trimboli 8). Score progression: 5-8 (5′), 20-19 (15′), 33-39 (25′), 39-53 (35′). Maximum advantage: Tortona 2 (16-14); Campobasso 7 (42-59).

Seven out of seven away from the Arena. Molisana Magnolia Campobasso confirms its beauty away from Molise and, in a second round of applause, achieves its third consecutive success in as many matches in an open streak which, among other things, compared to the first leg sees the rossoblù with two points more than the identical period of rounds in the first half of the regular season.

And so, with a dominant team defense, a double-double Gray (twenty points and twelve rebounds with a rating of 25), well supported by the other totems Madera and Meldere, the rossoblù conquer the ‘facility’ of the Cittadella dello Sport in Tortona and can now count on a six-point margin over the Piedmontese and Geas, their closest pursuers, consolidating their third place, in a match, among other things, in which they do – at partial – every quarter.

ROSSOBLÙ INERTIA It is Gray himself who is the inspiration for the Campobasso team at the start. Madera and Giacchetti make the rossoblù escape at +5 (3-8). Meldere launches the #steelflowers in double figures, but it is Gray with four points at the end of the set that seals the first external advantage (13-14).

DOUBLE POSSESSION After a series of overtaking and counter-overtaking – the first sutured by Gray, the second with an arrow from captain Trimboli’s triple, the third with Morrison’s and the fourth with Madera’s basket – Meldere’s triple opens up a double possession full of margin starring the same Latvian totem (25-31) with four points to manage at the long interval.

SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Gray and Simon maintain the momentum, then Madera widens the margin (31-37). Giacchetti maintains the momentum of the two full possessions, then, in transition, Meldere scores the +8 (33-41). Madera again and then Morrison, almost at the siren, confirm the lead up to 37-45 in the 30th minute.

DOUBLE DIGIT Morrison again scores the +10 which becomes +12 on Meldere’s basket (37-49). Morrison confirms the advantage of four full possessions by opening a 6-0 run completed by four consecutive points from Gray for +16 (39-55). The rossoblù totem also scores with Makurat who, from free throws, launches the rossoblù to the maximum margin of 17 (42-59). The rest is a progressive approach to the last siren, which lets the Molise team’s party begin, winning by ten (51-61) over their opponents.

FROM THE CHANGING ROOMS Obviously the Campobassane coach Mimmo Sabatelli was beaming, having received particularly relevant answers (if there had ever been any need) from his group.

«We knew that we couldn’t be the ones in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup – he argues – and, as I asked the girls during the week, we would have to have a totally different approach. The girls interpreted the match in the best possible way, doing what we had prepared on a defensive level with some aspects refined and slightly modified compared to last Sunday’s match. Reshanda (Gray, ed.) in the area was monstrous, but I have to compliment them all for how they interpreted the match and how they managed to hold one of the best attacks of the tournament to just 51 points, just three points more than the 48 we had to deal with at half-time in the last match.”

«If we defend, we know – he continues – that that type of mentality gives us even more strength and, in the circumstance, we also managed to forcefully limit both Fondren and Kunaiyi.”

On the six points over his pursuers, Sabatelli prefers to gloss over: «We will probably have to do without Morrison in the next few days due to a small problem. Now we enjoy the ranking, but there are aspects to still work on and we will dedicate ourselves to doing so and then, only at the end, verify the results obtained.”

RETURN TO THE ARENA For the rossoblù, in perspective, after almost a month of absence, on Sunday 18th there will be a return to the Arena for the home match against San Martino di Lupari.