In the last match of the 2023/24 regular season, Germani Brescia beat Happy Casa Brindisi and finished in third place behind Bologna and Milan.
THE MATCH
The news (Source Brescia Basketball Press Office) – It is Germani Brescia who finds the first basket of the match with Nicola Akele, while for Brindisi it is Bayehe who responds immediately on the other side. Akele’s subsequent triple immediately puts the blue and whites back in the lead and Bilan’s 5 points in a row create an 8-0 run that sends Germani flying (10 to 2 the score in the 3rd minute). Brindisi, however, isn’t up for it and tries to make up for it with Laszewski’s triple and Sneed’s 3-point play (2+1) (14 to 8 score in the 5th minute). The guests close to -4 thanks to Bartley’s basket but Della Valle first from the line and Akele then give oxygen back to Germani returning to +6 (18 to 12 the score in the 6th minute). Massinburg’s basket is worth the new +8, but then comes Brindisi’s 0-6 run with triples from Riisma and Laszewski that bring the guests back to -2 (20 to 18 score). Cobbins’ basket 30” from the end allows Germani to extend the lead but Morris’ free throws almost at the end set the score at 22-20 at the end of the first half of the game.
The second quarter opens with Morris’ triple which gives Brindisi the first lead, but Germani is quick to regain command with baskets from Cournooh and Burnell (score 26 to 23). Morris’ triple scores a new tie at 26-26, then a back-and-forth between the two teams with neither of them able to take a break. The basket from a fiery Morris gives the guests a new lead at 33-34, but here comes Germani’s 8-0 run which allows Coach Magro’s team to extend to 41-34 and forces Coach Sakota to time out. Upon returning to the field, Brindisi still struggles to find the back of the net and Christon’s basket takes Brescia’s lead to 9 points. Morris’ basket closes the gap but the 4 points in a row by the Valle captain make it +11 at 47 to 36. Washington’s 3 free throws at the end set the score at 47-39 at the end of the first half.
The third quarter opens with Laszweski’s basket which makes it -6 for the guests, but Germani responds immediately with a mini partial of 5-0 with Christon’s basket and Akele’s triple (52 to 41 the score at 22 ‘). Bayehe and Sneed try to keep Brindisi in touch, but captain Della Valle’s triple keeps Germani’s lead in double figures (+10 at 55 to 45). The guests manage to close to -7 thanks to Bayehe’s 3-point play (2+1 for him), but for the blue and white it is Jason Burnell who takes his teammates on his shoulders by finding 4 points in a row (61 to 51 the score at 26′). Brindisi is no longer able to find the back of the net and Brescia takes advantage of the opportunity to escape to +14 thanks first to the basket from underneath and then Cobbins’ dunk which forces Coach Sakota to time out with 3′ left to play in the third quarter. Sneed’s triple finally unlocks his team and Bayehe’s free throws are worth -9 (67 to 58 score in the 28th minute). In the final Gabriel makes 2 of 2 from the line but Morris’ basket sets the score at 69-60 at the end of the third quarter of the game.
The fourth quarter opens with Della Valle’s triple which brings the lead back to 12 points for Brescia, while for Brindisi it is Bayehe who responds, but here comes another 9-0 run for Germani thanks to triples from Cournooh and Gabriel and Della Valle’s 3 free throws with Germani flying to +19 (81 to 62 score in the 33rd minute). Brindisi tries to reopen the game by returning to -13 a couple of times, but first Bilan and then Burnell are good at keeping the guests at a distance and Gabriel’s triple with 3′ to go is worth +18 (88 to 70 the score ) and definitively closes the games. The match ends with the final score of 94-75 in favor of Germani Brescia.
THE SCORESHEET
Germani Brescia-Happy Casa Brindisi 94-75 (22-20, 47-39, 69-60)
GERMANI BRESCIA: Christon 6, Gabriel 15, Bilan 9, Burnell 12, Massinburg 5, Tanfoglio, Della Valle 18, Petrucelli, Cobbins 8, Cournooh 5, Akele 16, Porto. All. Skinny
BRINDISI: Morris 16, Malaventura, Laquintana, Sneed 10, Laszewski 8, Smith 4, Seck, Lombardi 6, Bartley 6, Riisma 3, Bayehe 12, Washington 10. All. Sakota
