Job done in Nikaia
Olympiacos bested Ionikos in Nikaia 86-78 and took one more step towards mathematically securing top seed in the regular season of the Stoiximan Basket League.
The ‘reds’ made a sluggish beginning (3-4 at 4’), however, the captain gave the signal for the attack. Giorgos Printezis took over to lead the offense for our team (3-9), that then found rhythm, moving the ball with precision and closed the first quarter at +11 (11-22). The pair of Livio Jean-Charles and Quincy Acy did a good job under the rim and the margin widened to +16 (21-37 at 14’). Ionikos though succeeded in taking advantage of our teams bad perimeter percentages and with Arsenopoulos at the point closed in at 8p. (32-40 at 18’). The ‘reds’ showed immediate reflexes … They initially passed the ball to Livio Jean – Charles and Hassan Martin and with a three by Shaquielle McKissic at the buzzer, they once again sent the difference sky high to 16p. (34-50).
Giorgos Bartzokas’ players maintained control (39-55) up until 24’, however, turnovers and bad choices allowed the hosts to come close to 9p. (48-57 at 27’). Olympiacos closed the 3rd quarter at +11 (53-64), however, Ionikos ran a partial 7-0 and closed in even more (60-64). Quincy Acy ‘unstuck’ our team from its offensive hibernation and together with Shquielle McKissic allowed for a +10 lead (64-74) at 35’. But the hosts struck once again from the perimeter and this time they made for a three point game (73-76 at 37’). Sloukas and Walkup offered a 6 point lead for Olympiacos (76-82), Mavrokefalidis closed in 78-82, but with 4 for 4 free throws, a calm Giannoulis Larentzakis finally tipped the scales in favor of the ‘reds’ (78-86).
• Sasha Vezenkov did not participate the 12-men final cut.
The quarters: 11-22, 34-50, 53-64, 78-86.
