DEFEAT IN THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE QUEEN'S CUP

Spar Girona | Saturday, 22 March 2025

Spar Girona have fallen in the semi-finals of the Queen’s Cup in a match of ups and downs. After a clear dominance in the first half (37 to 24), Jairis has turned the score around in the third quarter (44 to 48), although the Girona team has managed to recover in the last (61 to 61). In the extra time, the mistake in attack has taken its toll, and Jairis has ended up winning by 67 to 71.

The miscue in the shot by Spar Girona was taken advantage of by Jairis to impose an initial period of 0 to 6, focusing their attacks under the basket (4 points by Massey). Finally, after three minutes of play, Spar Girona opened their scoring with a triple from the corner by Tate (3 to 6). Although Uni added points thanks to the penetrations of Touré and Klara, the success of the Murcian players from medium and long distance kept them ahead on the scoreboard (7 to 16). Bibby immediately responded to Bertsch’s triple with a 2+1 and, then, Spar Girona improved in defense, imposing themselves under the paint with several intimidating actions (12 to 16). From the free throw line, Bibby continued to close the gap, and Carol, with a bomb, placed Spar at only two points. However, a basket on the horn by Holesinska closed the quarter with an advantage for Jairis (14 to 19).

The defensive improvement continued at the start of the second half. In addition, little by little, the Girona team began to gain momentum in attack with two plays under the hoop by Pierre-Louis and Canella, which forced Canut to stop the game (18 to 19). But a rising Spar took the lead for the first time thanks to a three-pointer by Bibby (21 to 19). Bibby herself extended the lead with a layup (23 to 19), and Canut again called a timeout after a foul on Lundquist (23 to 19). Klara did not forgive from the free throw line (25 to 19), but Hozono Global Jairis recovered with a three-pointer by López-Sénéchal (25 to 22). However, Bibby’s ambition has broken the plans of the Murcians: he has scored three free throws, has assisted Mack in a spectacular way and has penetrated the basket (16 points for the Australian, 32 to 22). Then, Ayuso has scored in transition, and Sargatal has called a timeout to give instructions to the team in the last 32 seconds (32 to 24). Mack has punished under the basket and, after the missed attack by Jairis, Lundquist has scored from the middle of the field on the horn, confirming the partial of 23 to 5 (37 to 24).

With a mistake in the face of the basket, and only one basket from Mack and a free throw from Sandra, the three-pointers from Massey, Eldebrink and Ayuso have placed the Murcians only five points behind. In addition, Frida Eldebrink herself has not missed from mid-distance, which has forced Sargatal to stop the game (40 to 37). Bibby’s three-pointer has given Uni a breather, but a Hozono Global Jairis in full upward momentum has turned the score around three by three with a 2+1 from Bertsch and two three-pointers from Ayuso (44 to 48).

With the pavilion pressing, Massey, from mid-range, and López-Sénéchal, with three free throws, widened the gap for the Murcians (44 to 53). Following a technique on Ginzo, Bibby scored a free throw, and Mack converted under the basket in the next action (47 to 53). In addition, Chloe scored a meritorious basket, and Ygueravide brought Uni closer to just three points (52 to 55). Canut stopped the game, but the Girona team came out pressing all over the court, recovering the ball and being only one point behind thanks to a basket by Mack (54 to 55). With 4:36 left, the Murcians entered the bonus, and Bibby tied it from the free throw line (55 to 55). With more defensive intensity, Chloe recovered the ball to punish with a tackle, and then Ygueravide assisted Mack (59 to 55). Jairis’ defensive adjustments were not long in coming, but Tate found space to score from mid-range (61 to 55). Bertsch gave the Murcians some air and, after some inaccuracies, Canut called a timeout with 1:02 left (61 to 57). López, with a great tackle, put Jairis just two points behind, and then Ayuso didn’t miss the free throws, tying the game (61 to 61). Sargatal called a timeout with 19.6 seconds left, but Bibby missed the decisive shot. In the transition, Ayuso tried his luck from midfield, but the ball didn’t go in, and the game went into overtime.

With many nerves and mistakes, Mack captured an offensive rebound to put the +2 up, but Eldebrink responded under the basket (63 to 63). With Jairis in bonus, Holesinska scored three free throws (63 to 66), while Uni, despite pressing on defense, did not find success on offense. Sargatal looked for solutions with 1 minute left, and Sandra did not miss the free throws (65 to 68). Frida answered quickly, but Klara, with a tackle, maintained the advantage (67 to 70). At the end of the game, Spar tried to attack the basket with all possible options, but Hozono Global Jairis was strong on defense, and a free throw by Ayuso sentenced the confrontation (67 to 71).