Cagliari Snatch Dramatic Victory Over Ragusa in Extra Time
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Cagliari secured a hard-fought victory over Ragusa after an intense contest that extended into extra time, showcasing resilience despite key player absences. The final score of 76-68 reflects a game where Ragusa’s strong performance wasn’t enough to overcome Cagliari’s late surge and tactical adjustments.
Early Dominance and Ragusa’s First-Half Lead
The opening quarter saw ragusa establish Precious Johnson as a primary offensive threat,while Narviciute and Cedolini effectively disrupted Cagliari’s attack,containing Nasraoui and Peric. Ragusa’s Moriconi and Di Fine successfully neutralized the impact of Piedel and Bovenzi. Ragusa entered the second half with a +4 advantage, but a growing foul situation began to complicate matters. Cagliari’s attempts to close the gap were met with immediate responses from Ragusa, culminating in a +9 lead at the break, 36-27, fueled by contributions from Bovenzi, Moriconi, Narviciute, and Johnson.
Foul Trouble and a Shifting Momentum
The third quarter presented challenges for Ragusa as both Cedolini and Narviciute accumulated fouls, complicating bench management, particularly on defence. Nasraoui stepped up for Cagliari, driving to the basket and scoring crucial points, supported by the playmaking of Bovenzi. With 4 minutes and 18 seconds remaining in the half, Di Fine and Mazza helped Ragusa maintain a +4 lead. A concerning moment occurred when Moriconi collided with another player and sustained a head injury, requiring medical attention. Fortunately, she was able to return to the court in the final quarter after a brief rest.
cagliari’s Comeback and Extra Time
The final quarter witnessed a shift in momentum as Narviciute fouled out, and Bovenzi and Nasraoui capitalized.Trailing by 10 with four minutes left, Cagliari launched an 8-0 run, sparked by a basket from Bovenzi and a pair of crucial three-pointers from Mastraoui, narrowing the deficit to just two points. A shoulder injury to Cedolini further hampered ragusa.Bovenzi and Granzotto added more from beyond the arc, forcing the game into overtime after Moriconi defended Cagliari’s final attack.
Overtime Decided by Nastraoui and Fouls
Ragusa suffered another blow with Cedolini also fouling out. Nastraoui proved decisive in overtime, scoring 11 of Cagliari’s points in the final five minutes. Despite systematic fouling and strategic timeouts, Ragusa was unable to overturn the momentum. Statistical analysis revealed Ragusa gained 24 points from second chances (compared to 6 for Cagliari), 16 points from fast breaks (compared to 4 for cagliari), and 36 points in the paint (compared to 28 for Cagliari). The game was covered by Federico Veroli (Veroli, Frosinone) and Silvio Faro (Tivoli, Rome).
