Persistence and defense deliver big win in Euroleague

Sopron Basket - Famila Schio 59-51 (16-16, 14-6, 11-19, 18-10)
Sopron

Sopron Basket: January 11, Fegyverneky 9/3, Crvendakic 16/6, Jovanovic 10, Határ 12 Sub.: Dubei 1, Czukor -, Weninger -

Famila Schio: Dotto 5/4, De Shields 6, Cinilli 2, Lisec 11/3, Gruda 16 Sub.: Battisodo 5/3, Harmon 4, Andre 2, Keys -

Stats

FGS: 24/56 43% ill. 23/61 38%

3-PTS: 3/13 23% ill. 3/11 27%

FTS: 8/13 62% ill. 2/6 33%

Rebounds: 38 (Határ 11) ill. 35 (Harmon 7)

Assists: 14 (Fegyverneky 6) ill. 10

Steals: 5 ill. 7

Turnovers: 12 ill. 14

Faults: 15 ill. 16

EFF: 73 (Határ 24) ill. 47 (Lisec 12)

DeShields got the game going with a double, to which Aleks answered back with a shot from behind the arc (2nd minute 3-2). Then Gruda and Tina exchanged buckets, and Briann was also successful from mid-range. At the middle of the quarter Schio first tied the game up with a triple by Lisec, and then even took the lead afterward (9-11). Not for long, though, Aleks came up with a three-point play to get it back to us, and then Betti secure dit for the time being with a double from the free throw line. Neither side was able to take control of the game and create a bigger advantage in the first period, which ended in a tie game (10th minute 16-16).


Briann opened the second quarter with a quick mid-range jumper, which proved to be the only basket made for a while, until Tina put an end to our scoring drought with a lay-up from under the rim (13th minute 20-16). After that the away side also scored their first basket of the period forcing Dávid Gáspár to call his first time-out (20-18). Harmon split the pair at the foul line after the short break, and so did Debi at the other end. Then Cinili hit one from mid-rage to tie it back up again, but Betti was able to react with a double of her own right away (23-21). With a jumper by Zsófi we were finally able to get a little air, and Dávid Gáspár chose to take another time-out to talk things over with the team (18th minute 27-22). In the last two minutes of the half only one more basket was made, a triple by Aleks which set the score for the break (20th minute 30-22).


Betti got the second half going with a double off a spin move under the basket increasing our lead into the double-digit region for the first time in the game (32-22). She made another one before Gruda scored the first points for Schio in the third, and then Dotto added a triple to their total (23rd minute 34-27). When the away side scored again cutting their deficit in half very quickly Zsófi came up with a shot from downtown to calm her team down (37-29). After a lay-up by Gruda our advantage was cut all the way down to four points, and when the center hit another double to come even closer to us Dávid Gáspár called his next time-out to talk things over (26th minute 39-37). We were unable to finish our offense with a basket, and then Gruda scored off the next one for Schio which tied the game up again. What’s more, Lisec even took the lead for the away side. The period ended in a tie again, which meant that the game was up for grabs in the last one (30th minute 41-41).


Briann got the final stage of the game going with a nice lay-up, to which then Betti added another one (32nd minute 45-41). In the following period we kept delivering on offense which paired up with a great defensive effort, and we got into a position where the away side thought they needed time to talk things over and called their team to the bench for a short break (36th minute 52-45). Lisec made a quick bucket after the time-out, but since they couldn’t get closer to us, coach Vincent decided to call his team back to the bench for another one (53-47). Gruda hit one from mid-range after the break, to which Zsófi answered back likewise. With a little over a minute remaining on the game clock Schio managed to score and cut down their deficit to four, causing head coach Dávid Gáspár to call his next time-out (55-51). When the teams came back on court we managed to stop the Italians’ offense, and then Briann hit a double to increase our lead. Following yet another defensive stop she was the one to convert two free throws into points giving us an eight point advantage which proved to be the final result (40th minute 59-51)!

Dávid Gáspár: I am very happy for being able to get a win in Euroleague again! Our defense was disciplined, and tough, we prepared for their plays and individually too. Our players did a good job! We had our chances on offense, we created the open shots, but we still have some problems with finishing. Special thanks to the fans for getting us through the hard times. We are grateful for their help!

Aleksandra Crvendakic: It was a difficult game, but we can finally be happy! Our head coach called our attention not to celebrate for too long, but I am proud of how we played and fought! Schio is a very good team, but we believed in ourselves all the way through, and it paid out in the end. We'll keep working, we believe in what we do, and in the development process!

Pierre Vincent: We were unable to score from outside, and we didn't convert free throws well enough either, and it is very hard to win like this. Our connections weren't working on offense, we couldn't find the open players with the balls. Our defense was okay, there were no major problems with that, but we had difficulties on offense that resulted in the defeat.

Francesca Dotto: Sopron played very well, but we could have been better. We didn't start well enough, but came back after the break, and were abel to execute our plans on the court. It was a great game to learn that we have to start every game more accurately than this one, and how to handle it if it goes like this.