Spar Girona was defeated in the semifinals of the Queen’s Cup in a game of ups and downs. After a clear dominance in the first half (37-24), Jairis turned the scoreboard around in the third quarter (44-48), although the Girona team managed to recover in the final (61-61). In overtime, the lack of accuracy in attack took its toll, and Jairis ended up winning 67-71.
The lack of shooting accuracy from Spar Girona was taken advantage of by Jairis, who imposed an initial 0-6 run, focusing their attacks under the basket (4 points from Massey). Finally, after three minutes of play, Spar Girona opened their account with a corner three-pointer from Tate (3-6). Although the Uni scored thanks to penetrations by Touré and Klara, the shooting accuracy of the Murcian players from mid and long range kept them ahead on the scoreboard (7-16). Bibby immediately responded to Bertsch’s three-pointer with a 2+1, and then Spar Girona improved defensively, imposing themselves under the basket with several intimidating actions (12-16). From the free-throw line, Bibby continued to cut the deficit, and Carol, with a floater, put Spar within two points. However, a buzzer-beating basket from Holesinska closed the quarter with a lead for Jairis (14-19).
The defensive improvement continued at the beginning of the second quarter. In addition, little by little, the Girona team began to find their rhythm in attack with two actions under the basket from Pierre-Louis and Canella, which forced Canut to call a timeout (18-19). But a rising Spar team took the lead for the first time thanks to a three-pointer from Bibby (21-19). Bibby herself extended the lead with a drive (23-19), and Canut called another timeout after a shooting foul on Lundquist (23-19). Klara made no mistake from the free-throw line (25-19), but Hozono Global Jairis recovered with a three-pointer from López-Sénéchal (25-22). However, Bibby’s ambition broke the Murcian plans: she made three free throws, assisted Mack spectacularly, and drove to the basket (16 points for the Australian, 32-22). Then, Ayuso scored in transition, and Sargatal called another timeout to give instructions for the final 32 seconds (32-24). Mack punished under the basket and, after a failed attack from Jairis, Lundquist scored from half-court as the buzzer sounded, confirming the 23-5 run (37-24).
With missed shots, and only a basket from Mack and a free throw from Sandra, three-pointers from Massey, Eldebrink, and Ayuso put the Murcians within five points. Also, Frida Eldebrink made no mistakes from mid-range, which forced Sargatal to call another timeout (40-37). Bibby’s three-pointer gave a breather to the Uni, but a Hozono Global Jairis team in full ascent turned the game around with a 2+1 from Bertsch and two three-pointers from Ayuso (44-48).
With the crowd cheering, Massey, from mid-range, and López-Sénéchal, with three free throws, extended the lead for the Murcians (44-53). After a technical foul on Ginzo, Bibby made a free throw, and Mack scored under the basket on the following play (47-53). Moreover, Chloe made a notable basket, and Ygueravide brought Spar within three points (52-55). Canut called a timeout, but the Girona team came out pressing full-court, recovering the ball and getting within one point thanks to a basket from Mack (54-55). With 4:36 left, the Murcians entered bonus, and Bibby tied the game from the free-throw line (55-55). With increased defensive intensity, Chloe recovered the ball to punish with a drive, and then Ygueravide assisted Mack (59-55). Jairis’ defensive adjustments came quickly, but Tate found space to score from mid-range (61-55). Bertsch gave the Murcians some breathing room, and after some mistakes, Canut called a timeout with 1:02 remaining (61-57). López, with a great drive, put Jairis within two points, and Ayuso then made no mistakes at the free-throw line to tie the game (61-61). Sargatal called another timeout with 19.6 seconds left, but Bibby missed the decisive shot. In transition, Ayuso tried her luck from mid-court, but the ball didn’t go in, and the game went to overtime.
With many nerves and mistakes, Mack grabbed an offensive rebound to give Spar a 2-point lead, but Eldebrink responded under the basket (63-63). With Jairis in bonus, Holesinska made three free throws (63-66), while Spar, despite pressuring defensively, couldn’t find shooting accuracy. Sargatal sought solutions with 1 minute remaining, and Sandra made no mistakes at the free-throw line (65-68). Frida responded quickly, but Klara, with a drive, kept the advantage (67-70). In the final moments, Spar attempted to attack the basket with all available options, but Hozono Global Jairis stood firm defensively, and a free throw by Ayuso sealed the game (67-71).
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