Napoli Basket defeated Longobardi Scafati 106-90 in the third-place match of the Trofeo Basilicata, marking the first derby of the season between the two Italian clubs. Led by coach Josip Repesa, Napoli controlled the pace for the majority of the contest, overcoming a second-quarter push from their opponents to secure a decisive victory.
How Napoli Built and Maintained Control in Matera
The matchup opened with a tight first quarter before Napoli tightened its defensive rotation. According to reports from the tournament, the team established momentum behind persistent perimeter scoring from Ramsey, White, and Jakimovski, who paced the offense with 24 points. That outside shooting helped carve out a 31-20 lead at the end of the opening ten minutes.
Napoli pushed its advantage further in the second frame, opening with a 10-2 run that stretched the margin to 19 points at 41-22 near the 12-minute mark. However, Scafati mounted a resilient response before halftime. Lever anchored the comeback alongside supporting contributions from Johnson, Mascolo, and Nevels, narrowing the gap to just four points at 52-48 before Napoli recovered to take a 56-51 lead into the locker room.
Scafati’s Struggles and Second-Half Adjustments
Scafati struggled significantly from beyond the arc throughout the evening, finishing 7-of-29 on three-pointers for a 24 percent conversion rate. Defensive lapses allowed Napoli to surpass the century mark with three and a half minutes still remaining on the game clock.
Bucchi’s squad faced mounting rotation challenges. Already missing Ceron since the semifinal round, Scafati lost Johnson during the second half when he rolled his ankle after landing on an opponent’s foot. Despite the physical setbacks, Moore orchestrated the offense effectively with assists to Lever and Onyema, helping Scafati stay within striking distance before Napoli pulled away for good in the final period.
Match Statistics and Individual Scoring
Box scores released following the final buzzer underscored the offensive output from both rotations:
- Napoli Basket (106): Jakimovski 24, Ramsey 20, White 15, Spissu 14, Sankare 11, Caruso 8, Faggian 7, Seljaas 7, Brown 0. Coach: J. Repesa.
- Longobardi Scafati (90): Lever 20, Nevels 16, Moore 13, Mascolo 13, Onyema 11, Johnson 8, Horton 5, Offurum 4, Iannuzzi 0, Spinelli n.e. Coach: P. Bucchi.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring favored Napoli across three of the four periods: 31-20, 26-31, 23-21, and 26-18.
Next Steps on the Calendar
Fans looking for further updates on club rosters and league schedules can follow official announcements through regional sports networks and league portals as tip-off for the regular season approaches.
Related reading
