Openjobmetis wins at Scafati: first official victory

Context

In brief

• Openjobmetis wins 78-85 in Scafati
• Hale finishes with 25 points and 7 assists
• This is the first official victory of the season
• Wednesday BCL debut in Murcia

Key facts

• Result → 78-85
• Record in Scafati → second win ever
• Season → first official victory
• MVP → Hunter Hale, 25 points and 7 assists
• First quarter → 17-24
• Halftime → 38-40
• Scafati free throws → 27
• Next commitment → Wednesday night in Murcia, BCL debut

78-85 at PalaMangano, Openjobmetis secured its first official victory of the season in Scafati and the second ever on the Campanian floor. The result gives Ioannis Kastritis his main objective, but leaves open questions regarding gameplay, choices, and defense. The final reaction was a sigh of relief rather than a shout of joy.

The absence of two guaranteed starters and the incomplete condition of two others forced an emergency lineup. Duke joined Hale in the backcourt, Nikolic and Kamagate worked under the basket, and Alviti played in the middle. Scafati, missing Brandon Johnson, responded with Mascolo and McGruder off the bench, and Lever and Onyema under the boards. There were few people at PalaMangano, but the group of Varese fans was good, especially among the Arditi banners.

The game quarter by quarter

Hale immediately delivered the first push, also taking advantage of many turnovers by Longobardi. Midway through the period, the score was 4-8; Openjobmetis, despite missing shots, could have extended its lead further. Renfro and Kamagate made their contributions, and the first quarter ended at 17-24.

The second period began with the best moment of the first half. Flying baskets by Renfro and Nikolic and an acrobatic drive by Villa brought Varese up by 13. Then Mascolo sparked the comeback. Kastritis called a timeout after a 15-2 run, with only a single red-and-white basket—by Nikolic—in six minutes. Hale limited the damage, and at halftime the lead was 38-40.

In the third quarter, Hale and Duke scored a 5-0 run, but Moore responded with a three-pointer after a pump fake on Roby. Alviti scored from deep on his very first touch, while Renfro converted the balls received in the paint. When Scafati closed within two, Librizzi struck with two consecutive three-pointers, and Hale capped the break with a drive, making it 62-70. In the final period, Varese scored little, but controlled the boards better. Duke stepped up on both ends; Kamagate, despite not jumping much, was useful as a pivot in several plays. An electrical issue interrupted the final moments. The play at the 24-second buzzer and the ensuing free throw stretched the lead to 11.

Operational details

The factor that weighs most heavily is not just the score, but the way the game remained open. Varese conceded second-chance shots and trips to the free-throw line; Scafati had 27 free throws, missing many of them. The defense was thus faced with a constant choice: protect the paint or accept switches onto smaller players.

The issue with defensive switches

The system of systematic switching created favorable mismatches for Campania's perimeter players. Renfro and Kamagate were forced to chase smaller players away from the basket, leaving less protection inside the paint. Scafati found rebounds and second chances. In the fourth quarter, however, the red-and-whites paid more attention to rebounding and prevented the hosts from getting back within reach.

On offense, the emergency at point guard remained evident. Openjobmetis made up for it with the flair of Hale, Duke and Librizzi, but individual plays did not conceal the difficulties in creating offense. Hale finished with 25 points and 7 assists, while Renfro was very effective; Alviti was barely involved from beyond the arc and Isaiah Roby delivered another poor performance. The second half showed the importance of Duke and Librizzi, not an already established collective solution.

On Wednesday evening in Murcia, for their BCL debut, the bar will be higher. The Spaniards will not offer the same concessions found in Campania on three-point shooting, free throws and the management of turnovers. Kastritis described the team as a work in progress and emphasized the value of the away win. The technical consequence is clear: the result in Scafati must be backed up with more orderly playmaking, a less exposed defense and better management of the big men.

The finale erased the risk of a cruel upset, but not the questions. The gap between summer Varese and October Varese, highlighted by the source, lies in these details: do not give away possessions, do not empty the paint and do not rely on a spectacular play for every solution.

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Key points

To follow the next step without stopping at the final result, it is advisable to turn the game into a step-by-step assessment. The source provides precise indications of what to observe, without the need to add numbers or outside scenarios.

The checklist for Murcia

First: look at the playmaking. Against Scafati, Kastritis had to play Duke alongside Hale, while Librizzi also made an impact in the second half. The point to watch is whether the offense will be able to involve more players or will still have to rely on individual ingenuity. Counting baskets is not enough: the construction of the offense will show how much the emergency is being felt.

Second: check how far the big men are from the basket. Renfro and Kamagate were called on to chase the perimeter players after defensive switches. The check is simple: when they switch, can Varese protect the paint and control the rebound? Scafati's fourth quarter offered a positive sign on the second point, but the problem had been evident in the preceding minutes.

Third: follow the possessions involving Roby and Alviti. Roby was coming off yet another poor performance, while Alviti was barely involved on the perimeter and hit a three-pointer virtually with the first ball he touched in the third quarter. The game in Murcia will show whether these episodes will remain isolated or whether the roles of the two players in building the offense will change.

Fourth: put shooting, free throws and turnovers together. Scafati had 27 free throws and missed a lot; the source warns that Murcia may not offer the same concessions. It is therefore these three categories, together with rebounds, that must form the basis for assessing the change of gear.

Fifth: assess the finish without being misled by the relief. In Scafati, the play on the 24-second buzzer and the subsequent free throw brought the lead to +11, after a power outage and a stretch in which the doubts were still alive. The answer to look for is a game that reduces the need to rely on the last play.

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Source: varesenews.it