Lavrinovic lifts Lietkabelis to overtime win in Reggio Emilia

Lietkabelis Panevezys gave its Top 16 qualification hopes a massive boost with a hard-earned 82-85 overtime victory over Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia. It was extremely close throughout, with multiple lead changes in every quarter and neither team leading by more than 5 points during regulation. Ksistof Lavrinovic shone at both ends of the game against his former team, scoring 14 of his 18 points in the opening and closing five minutes. Zanis Peiners combined 17 points with 6 assists for Lietkabelis, while Adas Juskevicius added 12 points, Zygimantas Skucas scored 11 and Lorenzo Williams dished 8 assists for the winners. Amedeo Della Valle led Reggio Emilia’s challenge with 20 points with Manuchar Markoishvili contributing 18. Julian Wright scored 14 and James White added 10, but the home team ultimately paid the full price for making only 8 of 19 shots from the foul line.

The visitors took an early lead as Ksistof Lavrinovic scored 9 points in the first five minutes. Reggio Emilia bounced back with an 8-0 run, including 5 consecutive points for Della Valle, to establish an 18-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The return of Ksistof Lavrinovic signaled Lietkabelis regaining the lead, which swapped hands regularly during the early parts of the second quarter. Another 5-point burst from Della Valle briefly gave the hosts some daylight, and although the visiting team responded, Markoishvili beat the halftime buzzer with a triple to make it 40-37 at the break.

Juskevicius took over in the third quarter with 10 straight points for his team to briefly send Lietkabelis ahead, but Della Valle soon restored Reggio Emilia’s lead with a triple. Then Peiners hit consecutive three-point plays and it was tied at 56-56 after three quarters. The back and forth continued early in the fourth quarter with neither team up by more than 2 until Darius Lavrinovic made a long triple. Reggio Emilia went back ahead with a triple from White, and baskets from Wright and Della Valle made it 71-66. Free throws from Juskevicius and Williams made it 72-71 inside the final minute, and Juskevicius split free throws with 7 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Lietkabelis edged ahead in the extra period with triples from Ksistof Lavrinovic and Peiners, and a tough jumper from Simas Jasaitis made it a 7-point game. Markoishvili pulled it back to 82-85, but Della Valle couldn’t tie with a tough triple as time expired and Lietkabelis held on.