Casademont Zaragoza could not withstand the power of Valencia Basket in the first game of the Liga Femenina Endesa final. The Aragonese team, led by an inspired Merrit Hempe with 18 points and an outstanding 4 of 5 from three-point range, succumbed to the Valencian side, the reigning champions, in a duel that highlighted the home team's shortcomings in key moments.
Tactical analysis: perimeter defense and minutes management 🏀
The defeat exposed tactical problems for Casademont. The perimeter defense failed to contain the drives of Valencia's guards, who scored 22 points in the paint. Additionally, the bench rotation was limited: only two substitutes scored, totaling 8 points. The playmaking stalled in the third quarter, with 5 consecutive turnovers that broke the rhythm. For the second game, improving help defense and giving minutes to secondary players to manage Hempe's workload will be key.
Hempe's three-pointers weren't enough, not even close 😅
Merrit Hempe left her soul on the court, but even with 80% from three-point range, she couldn't pull the chestnuts out of the fire. While she was hitting from outside, her teammates seemed to be playing basketball blindfolded: a 28% field goal percentage says it all. Someone should remind the rest of the team that the basket is round and that the ball goes in better if you actually shoot it inside. But hey, there's always the consolation that the next game will be at home, where the stands cheer and the hoops are friendlier. Or so we hope.