Happy Casa Brindisi abandons League A with a 94-75 defeat in Brescia which had no meaning other than finishing the championship with their heads held high. For Brescia, however, the victory was needed to fuel the hope of improving the third position for a better placement in the Scudetto play-off grid.
Coach Sakota’s boys, orphans of playmaker Laquintana in the pits due to an ankle problem, held off the home team for 30 minutes
Before talking about the news it is good to underline the banner of the ultras curve of Brescia with the writing “We are waiting for you in A” aimed at the 50 diehard Brindisi fans present today at Palaleonessa. A certificate of esteem towards a fan base that in recent years, and even in lower categories, has always stood out for its presence and correctness, always supporting its favorites.
As regards the match, in the first period Germani started better than the Brindisi and with the Akele / Bilan duo who put Brescia ahead in the score by 10 points (12-2) after 4 rounds of the clock. The reaction of the guests was not long in coming and after a triple from Laszewski came Bartley’s basket for -4 (14-10) and at the end of the period also two free throws from Morris who closed the first 10 minutes at 22-20 from the line .
The game remains substantially balanced even at the beginning of the second period with Happy Casa putting their noses ahead thanks to an inspired Morris first with the basket to make it 22-23 and then with a triple he brings his team to a score of 33-34 after 6 minutes. Then the Brescia zone ordered by coach Magro puts the guests in difficulty as they lose two banal consecutive balls, allowing the Leonessa players to change the inertia of the match and extend it to 47-36 after two free throws scored by Della Valle . At the end of the period Washington is smart to take a foul from an opponent and score three points from the free line which are worth the 47-39 with which we go to the long interval.
In the third period the teams are unable to get the better of each other. Brescia is always dangerous from underneath the boards and Della Valle is hot, making the triple to make it 55-45. Bayehe tries to keep his team afloat with a three-point game (57-50) but then the physical strength of the hosts begins to dig a gap between the two teams. Cobbins raises his voice and it is he who dunks the maximum advantage at +14 (65-51), Brindisi attempts a mini recovery and we go to the final break with the scoreboard reading 69-60.
In the last 10 minutes it is the Leonessa who takes control of the match. Four consecutive three-point actions resulting from three triples and a trip to the line with three free throws made by the usual Della Valle mark the decisive streak of the match at +17 (58-61) which virtually closes the match in the 33rd minute. Then wet powder for about three minutes of Brescia which serves Brindisi to shorten the gap to the score of 81-68 but once again it is Germani who in the final takes the maximum advantage with the former Burnell (94-74) with the match concludes with a score of 94-75 after a last free throw from Sneed which ends this unfortunate season for the Southern Star.
Brindisi was relegated after 12 seasons in League Two together with Carpegna Prosciutto Pesaro defeated in Venice while Brescia, despite the victory over Brindisi, finished third at the end of the regular season surpassed only by Virtus Bologna and Armani Milano.
Germani Brescia – Happy Casa Brindisi 94-75 (22-20, 25-19, 22-21, 25-15)
Brescia : Christon 6, Gabriel 15, Bilan 9, Burnell 12, Massinburg 5, Tanfoglio 0, Della Valle 18, Petruccelli ne, Cobbins 8, Cournooh 5, Akele 15, Porto 0. All. Magro
Toasts : Morris 16, Malaventura ne Laquintana ne, Sneed 10, Laszewski 8, Smith 4, Seck ne, Lombardi 6, Bartley 6, Riismaa 3, Bayehe 12, Washingotn 10. All. Sakota
Referees: Rossi, Borgo, Capotorto
Dario Recchia
