Continued the terrible performances of the last few weeks o Mars!
Giannis Kastritis’ team dominated the Thessaloniki derby against PAOK and won 77-63 in an unimaginable atmosphere at “Alexandreio”, reaching the 4 consecutive pink leaves in the Stoiximan Basket League. In this way, he rose to 11-7 and established himself in the top four, leaving the “black and white” at 8-10 and not very safe distance from the 7th place!
The match was a derby in the first half, with Mars to always have the initiative but him PAOK to stay alive forever. Nevertheless, it was clear that if the home team stepped on the “gas” at some point, the guests would not be able to react easily. This happened in the second half, when the “yellows” started to build one differencewhich kept rising, surpassing and -6 with which they had been defeated in the first game!
Leading throughout the game was Ronnie Harrell, who had his best appearance in the Aris jersey, having 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 steals. The leader was Vasilis Toliopoulos with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and big shots at the end, despite being a miss (6/17 from the field). From PAOK’s side, he was fighting alone with 20 points Jamuni McNish.
The match
THE PAOK came in stronger and led 0-5 thanks to a three-pointer by Williams and a basket by McNeese. Harrell responded with a three-pointer, but the Towns with a difficult goal foul he wrote 3-8. Toliopoulos cut it to 5-8 with a layup, and immediately tied it with a three-pointer to make it 8-8. Harrell put Aris in front with a score of 11-10 from a distance, but McNish nailed and gave the guests the lead again (11-12). The PAOK center was excellent in the first half of the match and scored with his own basket to make it 11-16, while Bohorides reduced the score to 13-16 with a layup. THE De Souza took the assist from Toliopoulos and scored a layup, while the Greek guard won an unsportsmanlike foul and put the home team ahead 17-16, but the Towns he responded with his own layup and made it 17-18. THE Bohorides scored for three and Stark made a steal and layup for 22-18, while two shots by the Greek guard made it 24-20. The first period ended 24-22 thanks to two shots by Fredrickson.
At the beginning of the second quarter, o Sanogo sent the hosts to +5 with his first three-pointer for 27-22. The excellent Fredrickson hit a drive and cut, while two of his shots Williams they brought PAOK back to the point (27-26). Harrell hit his third shot from 6.75m, but the Michalak he answered with his first basket in the PAOK shirt for 30-29. The match continued to be a derby with the teams constantly answering each other, while Harrell again found the target with a follow-up and then made a layup for 36-33. THE McNish scored after the hour to make it double figures, but Stark answered immediately and Persedis hit two shots for 40-35. The half ended 40-36 thanks to a shot by Tsiakma, with both teams making poor choices in the final.
THE Mars came on strong in the second half with De Souza grabbing back-to-back offensive rebounds and scoring back-to-back points of his own at 45-38. PAOK reacted and managed to reduce the score to 45-42 thanks to Williams’ shots and Alston’s basket. Bohorides provided a solution with a difficult long shot for 48-42, while Bankston he scored after his assist Katsiveli for 51-44. Fridriksson gave a crucial solution to PAOK with a very difficult three-pointer at the end of the attack for 51-47, but the “hot” Harrell responded from the top and then made a layup for 56-49. Bankston and Margaritis exchanged spikes for 58-51 in the third quarter.
The hosts entered the final period with the intention of ending the match. THE Toliopoulos with a layup he made it 60-51, while Harrell made a shot for the first double-digit difference in the match (61-51). Alston and McNish expressed the visitors’ reaction and reduced their score to 63-55 with baskets, but the Toliopoulos with a difficult layup he restored +10 (65-55). The score remained stable for quite some time, before o McNish and Stark each traded a shot for 66-56. PAOK’s center scored and reduced the score to 66-58, but the Toliopoulos he hit two consecutive big shots despite having missed until then, making it 72-58 and giving Aris a strong lead. From then on, there was no time left for the visitors, and the home team took the win.
The quarters: 24-22, 40-36, 58-51, 77-63
Detailed match statistics here.
Source: Sport Fm
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