Schio wins the championship final, Ragusa ends their season, but does so with their heads held high. Without Juskaite, the green-and-whites lead for almost the entire match against their more highly rated opponents who then prevailed only in the final by just one point, with the score of 67-68 at the end of an intense match, well played and participated by the public from Ragusa who rushed to Palaminardi despite the Rai live broadcast.
Ragusa starts strong. First points from Jasmine Thomas, then triple from Milazzo and then Thomas again for the initial 7-0. Guirantes stops the bleeding from Schio with a three-point play. Ragusa holds and the first half is balanced. Schio’s first lead comes 2’21” from the end of the first quarter with Sottana who scores the basket to make it 12-13, then three free throws from Thomas close the first quarter at 20-17 in favor of the hosts.
Verona equalized immediately in the second quarter, Jakubcova responded with the second triple of the day. 6’45” from the long break Spreafico scores a three-pointer to make it 29-23. Pastrello then 2′ from the end of the second set goes to the line for Ragusa’s new maximum advantage: 40-32. At halftime the score is 42-36.
Third quarter characterized by balance, Schio tries to get closer, Ragusa holds firm and at the penultimate siren the score is 51-46.
Immediately 5-0 in the fourth period Schio goes back to -1, but there is a counter break from the hosts who with Spreafico’s triple go back to +6: 57-51 with 8′ to go. Reisingerova for 57-57 and then Keys for the new Schleden lead. Spreafico doesn’t agree, and Ragusa takes the lead again. But the inertia lies with the visiting team. At 1’30” Ragusa attacks at -3, Spreafico goes to the line and makes two out of two. Sottana scores and at 26′ Ragusa attacks at 65-68. Pastrello scores the new -1 basket at 5′, Ragusa still has a foul to spend before the bonus. With 2” Sottana goes to the line and scores zero out of two but there is no time. Schio wins 67-68. “I think we deserved game 3 for what we showed today – comments coach Lino Lardo – we played really well for three quarters then they came out, I’m very sorry and sorry we got to the thanks. So I thank the girls, everything the staff, my work group, the medical staff, the technical staff. We really did some excellent things, especially in a season where we were never able to play at full strength. We are proud of this and of everything we gave. congratulations to Schio who always reaches the end, but today perhaps we deserved to play one more match.”
