21.12.2004

RBC Verviers-Pepinster 70 vs. Azovmash 82

From the very start Pepinster worked to put a lot of pressure on the Ukrainian team, especially on their two American players, Weathers and Long. The tactic worked for the locals as they were quicker and took a 5-point lead at the end of the first quarter(23-18).

Mariupol woke up at th ebeginning of the second quarter with Weathers penetrating into the key and Long’s great work in the paint. Long gave the lead to his team with a dunk but Pepinster's Hervelle finished the first half with a dunk too, allowing the local side to go to the locker room with a small advantage.

The second half started very differently, however, and Mariupol took a 10-point lead, mainly thanks once again to a very strong Rashawn Weathers (46-56-25th minute). Verviers-Pepinster could not find a solution in defense and their offensive options were not the best either. Furthermore, Petrovic, Autry and Hervelle all picked up their fourth foul.(Score: 50-64 in the 30th min).

The home team accelerated a last time but Mariupol, despite Weathers’ 5th foul still controlled the game and won 70-82.

21.12.2004

Quotes RBC Verviers-Pepinster vs. Azovmash

R.Girskis (Mariupol coach) :
"It was a good game. Pepinster played well in the first half. My players thought it was over in the third quarter. I think we deserve to win because we dominated all sections of the games except free throw shooting. We had to stay concentrated till the end because of the zone defense our opponents used at the end. It’s an important win for us."

E.Casteels (Pepinster coach) :
"It is impossible to win games with only a few players on the bench.We were not physically strong enough.That was the difference. So we didn’t finD any solutions to stop their inside game."