Casademont won each quarter against an Ensino Lugo side that, despite trying, could not match the Aragonese team’s level. In this way, Casademont, whose most highly rated players were Bankolé (21), Fingall (20) and Laia Flores (18), achieved the first four-game winning start to a league season in its brief history.
THE GAME
High on confidence after their EuroLeague victory over Landes, Casademont faced another league fixture at a Príncipe Felipe still celebrating the European triumph. Carlos Cantero therefore chose to rest some of his regular starters and began with a lineup featuring Nerea Hermosa, Garzon, Laia Flores, Fingall and Bankole.
Despite starting with the second unit, nothing changed for a Casademont side that has shifted into unstoppable mode in the league. The Aragonese team came out firing and built a 19-4 lead against an Ensino Lugo side being punished by its poor three-point shooting. Even so, as Cantero’s team stalled on offense, the Galician side responded from beyond the arc and, after missing its first six attempts, made several in succession to close the gap in the final stages of the first quarter (24-18).
Cantero’s team stepped on the gas from the opening minutes. Photo: Ensino Lugo
When play resumed, the script from the opening period repeated itself. A strong start, in which Casademont produced a 12-3 run, opened up another sizeable lead that Ensino again reduced in the closing moments as it refused to give up. Even so, the red-and-black club, with Carlos Cantero rotating his players extensively and showing its superiority whenever it wanted, went into halftime 12 points ahead (51-39).
RAMPAGING MODE
After the break, a quick 0-6 run by the Galician side set off alarm bells for a Casademont team that was looking very erratic on offense. The situation was brought to an end by Sheppard, who made two consecutive three-pointers to spark the red-and-black side back into action. So much so that Cantero’s team had practically put the game beyond reach before the final 10 minutes (70-52).
Even so, in case there were any doubts, Casademont did not let up and pulled away to finish the game in emphatic fashion. Cantero’s team led by as many as 33 points in a game that, after taking control in the first half, was settled in the second (95-64).
