Italy SerieA: Montepaschi falls to Scavolini

As Montepaschi Siena did their final preparation for their SerieA Week 19 contest with Scavolini Banca Marche PU, they had to be feeling quite pleased with how their last few weeks were going. They are tied with FC Barcelona Regal in the Euroleague Top 16 Group F standings at 6-1, with Barcelona being the only defeat they have. They beat SerieA leader Cimberio Varese in their Week 18 match-up and are currently in the No. 3 spot in the league, and last week they also defeated Cimberio Varese in the title match of “di Coppa Italia”. With everything going so well, one has to wonder if Siena was looking past Scavolini on Monday and thinking more about their next Euroleague game with Maccabi Electra as it took them three full quarters to get things moving, only to run out of time and fall 78:73 to the league’s No. 14 team in Scavolini. Over the last seven games Siena is 3-4, with that record reflecting three home wins and four road losses.

Scavolini Banca Marche PU – Montepaschi Siena, 78:73
Siena’s loss to Scavolini drops the club to 13-6, but keeps them in the No. 3 spot in the league, while the hosts improved to 5-14. Bobby Brown was game-high for Siena with 30 points, but the difference in the contest was Rok Stipcevic connecting on 19 of 20 free throws (95%) on his way to 27 points for Scavolini.

Brown dropped in two triples to open scoring, grabbing the first six points of the contest for himself. Scavolini went on a 12:4 run shortly after and found themselves up 14:12. Siena went 2:5 to close out the quarter up 16:17. To open the second, Kristjan Kangur dropped in a jumper, then Scavolini connected on seven straight free throws (five from Stipcevic) to go up 23:19. Scavolini got up 10 at the end of the half, but Brown hit the cords with a triple as time expired to cut the margin to seven, 36:29. Stipcevic led the way for the hosts in the second frame with 11 points.

Brown and Benjamin Eze his deuces to open the second half and cut the lead to three, then Stipcevic pushed it back to five, 38:33. As time was winding down in the third, the home club set up camp on the charity stripe, getting a pair of singles for Tarence Kinsey (split), Stipcevic got fouled and connected on two, then stole the inbounds and was fouled on a three-point attempt to head back for three more. He also dropped those three in. Daniele Cavaliero hit one of two, and Stipcevic split a pair himself to close out the scoring with up 54:41.

Cavaliero extended the hosts margin to 15 with a jumper on their opening possession of the fourth. It was then that Brown and Hackett had seen enough and took over the contest. The two started exchanging baskets, dunks, triples, free throws, fast break layups, jumpers; whatever they needed and could come up with, they were connecting. Scavolini stayed right with them though as Stipcevic continued sinking free throws and jumpers and Kinsey got a triple and a deuce to keep the host ahead. Siena chipped away until a pair of free throws by Brown brought the visitors to within two, 74:72. Sanikidze was fouled after a defensive stop putting him on the line with the possibility to knot the score at 74. Unfortunately, he sank the first, but missed the second. The rebound was tipped up and Stipcevic secured it and took off down the left sideline. Hackett fouled him and was called for an intentional foul with just under nine seconds to play, putting Stipcevic on the line for two shots and giving the ball back to Scavolini after the singles. Stipcevic connected on his 18th and 19th free throws of the game to give the hosts a three point lead. Cavaliero sank two more free throws to end scoring after being fouled on the inbounds play.

In the final 10, Siena outscored Scavoli 32:24, dropping in more points than they did in any other two quarters combined. Brown tallied 13 and Hackett contributed 14 in the fourth.

Stipcevic added 8 rebounds to his 30 points and 30 evaluation for Scavolini. Cavaliero added 13 points, Kinsey picked up 11 points, and Lamont Mack contributed 9 points and 11 rebounds.

Brown tallied 30 points, Hackett added 17 points and 6 rebounds, Sanikidze dropped in seven points and 12 rebounds.

Italy SerieA Week 19

This Week’s Matches[matches league_id=5 match_day=19 template=summary dateformat=”M. j, Y”]

Standings[standings league_id=5 show_website=false template=nolink]

Next Week’s Matches[matches league_id=5 match_day=20 template=sumnoscore dateformat=”M. j, Y”]