RIETI – A Real Sebastiani Rieti team full of determination comes back and also takes home game 2 of the quarter-finals in the Serie A2 Playoffs. Rimini beaten 73-69 after a difficult first half, with the Amarantocelesti trailing by as much as 21.
In the second half the face of Rieti’s defense changes and Johnson and Hogue take charge and combine for 40 points. Precious Petrovic with his triples and Nobile. Rieti ahead 2-0 and the series moves to Rimini: on Thursday the Rieti players will have their first match point to reach the semi-final.
First quarter
More prolific attacks at the start compared to the low percentages of game 1: Rieti did well with Jazz Johnson and Nobile but Rimini replied with Justin Johnson and Anumba (8-7).
Open shots for Rimini (8 out of 9 from the field in the first half of the quarter) and with Simioni warming up from three: Marks’ basket from underneath leads coach Rossi to a time-out (13-19). Marks keeps the score open with 9 consecutive points (13-0 for Rimini). Spanghero stops the bleeding with the jumper. Grande sets the score at 15-30 from the foul line.
Second quarter
Sebastiani does not adjust her percentages: in the first half of the quarter the attack only produces Jazz Johnson’s basket (1 out of 6 as a team) and Rimini takes advantage of this to extend with 4 points from Grande (one after a technical foul called on Italian) and Justin Johnson’s half-hook (17-36). After the plus 21 of the Romagna players (19-40), the amaranth-celeste reaction is led by Jazz Johnson and captain Spanghero (28-42). Petrovic’s triple shakes up PalaSojourner and another assist from the Rieti winger for Johnson’s support allows Sebastiani to get back to minus 11 (33-44). Hogue and Jazz Johnson’s last possession respond to Simioni’s third triple of the day: we go into halftime at 37-47.
Third fourth
When he returns to the field it’s another Sebastiani: a triple from Johnson, two from Petrovic and two baskets from below by Dustin Hogue and Rieti returns to an amen down one (50-51). The Rieti defense changes gear and concedes only 7 points in the quarter. In attack, the Italian moving away scores the equalizing basket. The one to overtake is missing several times: it goes to the last quarter at 54-54.
Fourth quarter
Rieti protests against the technician for flopping the whistle on Johnson which generates four points from Tomassini (54-58). Rieti replies with triples from captain Spanghero and Vittorio Nobile. Jazz Johnson surpasses the 20-point mark again with a triple making it 63-60. Tomassini scores a triple to make it 65-65 but Petrovic responds immediately from the corner (68-65) two minutes from the end. Johnson takes the attack on his shoulders and scores the jumper to make it 70-65 with 1′ and 16 seconds left. Foul called on Johnson on a throw-in and free throw for Rimini with more possession (70-66). Marks makes a mistake but a whistle rewards him perhaps more than he should with two free throws: Tomassini earns three free throws after the rebound (70-69). Hogue takes a shot under the basket and scores for 72-69 with 42 seconds left. Marks loses the handle and Rieti has possession with 25 seconds remaining. Contacts at the limit to reach the bonus and Johnson is then sent to the line with 14 seconds to go: one out of two (73-69). Marks totally out of the game loses the ball again with 5 seconds left. Jazz Johnson takes the ball home: Rieti also wins game 2 and goes 2-0.
Scoreboards
Real Sebastiani Rieti – Rimini 73-69
Partials: 15-30; 22-17; 17-7; 19-15
Quintets
Real Sebastiani Rieti: Sanguinetti, Johnson, Nobile, Raucci, Hogue
Rimini: Tassinari, Marks, Anumba, Johnson, Simioni
Real Sebastiani Rieti: Sanguinetti, Petrovic 12, Piccin 4, Hogue 16, Ancellotti, Johnson 24, Raucci, Poom, Italiano 2, Nobile 8, Spanghero 7. Coach Rossi
Rimini: Tassinari, Marks 16, Anumba 8, Bonfè, Grande 7, Tomassini 11, Scarponi, Johnson 10, Simioni 17, Pellegrino, Adamu. All. Dell’Agnello
Referees: Marco Barbiero from Milan, Francesco Cassina from Desio (MB) and Claudio Berlangieri from Trezzano sul Naviglio (MI)
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