Varese – Last home match of the bitter year for the Varese Women’s Basketball team which lost against the highly rated Pontevico: 45-54 final. A match in which the Varese team have a lot to complain about for the many opportunities left on the rim during the match. Lots of small details left by the wayside that cost the two points. We can mention the 3-pointer taken at the end of the 20th minute without committing a foul when Varese was not yet in the bonus rather than the many minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter when Pontevico left the door open, but the neroargento were not cynical. Having said that, Varese played a great match, fighting on equal terms against a deeper team in terms of kilos and centimetres. The reaction in the first period was excellent when with a clear 16-2 result of defense (zone) and counterattack Varese went from 2-9 to 18-11; less well at the break when Pontevico created the partial which was then never reabsorbed: from 36-38 to 39-49. Now in the last round we need to beat Robbiano to maintain fourth place in the standings while keeping an eye on the other results of today’s round.
Ready to go and 0-6 with two bombs from Racchetti Bernardelli for Pontevico after 2′. First internal basket that comes from a penetration by Rotta, then Varese wastes too much with Premazzi, but it is the same number 10 in transition who makes it 4-9 after 6′. 4 straight points from Colombo, good at being found on the drains: 8-9 in the 8th minute. Defense that scratches with the use of the area, Varese that believes in it: always in transition comes the first overtaking with Baiardo who receives from the arc and does not hesitate to shoot: bomb and 13-11 at -30″. Partial that widens to a 16-2 with Smaldone signing around and shooting the 18-11, then Pontevico finds the way to the basket again after 7′ with no money left: 18-13 at 12′. Bresciane recover and a counterattack from De Cristofaro arrives: two bombs spun for her and it’s 18-21 at 14′. Varese only draws a triple from Rotta following a good execution, then the neroargento get lost between trivial turnovers and a few too many dribbles: Pontevico escapes with Racchetti at 21-27 in the 18th minute. Guests who manage and reach +9 at 25-34, forcing Varese to take several shots at the end of the 24″: 27-36 at 25′. Varese gets to -5 with a nice solution from Baiardo’s dribble: 31-36 in the 27th minute. Run-up continues: Faroni receives from the arc and immediately shoots the triple, Premazzi flies on the counterattack and in the 29th minute we are at 36-38. Last disastrous action for Bosino’s morale: Varese does not commit a foul, the ball arrives at the last useful second in the hands of Catterina who scores a very heavy bomb: 38-44 in the 30th minute. Pontevico runs away with a 3-11 partial that seems to direct the match, but, after having reached the maximum advantage at 39-49, Varese builds a 4-0 partial that remains without follow-up for several minutes: 43-49 at 36 ′. The guests manage in the final and bring home a precious success in the fight for first place.
Varese Women’s Basketball – Pontevico Basket 45-54 (13-11, 21-29, 38-44)
Varese: Smaldone 4, Rotta 9, Sabatini, Faroni 3, Lanzani, Premazzi 9, Barone ne, Pedoja ne, Baiardo 12, Fiori, Centrella 2, Colombo 6. All. Anilons.
Matteo Gallo
