By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Billy Baron scored nine points out of his 23 overall in the last minute of overtime to push Crvena Zvezda towards a 106 – 101 win over archrival Partizan Belgrade in Game 1 of the ABA League best-of-three semifinal series.
“Crazy game. Our fans were behind us the whole time. We need to get one more now,” Baron said in his post-game flash interview.
With the score 96 – 96 following a 3-pointer by Rade Zagorac, Baron slashed through the Partizan defenses for a 3-point play after scoring the layup and winning the foul. Possession remained in Red Star hands after a technical was called on Partizan bench and Baron made another drive for the basket that put his team up 101 – 96.
Baron then sank two pairs of free throws to seal his team’s win. Game 2 will take place in Partizan’s homecourt. It will be a do-or-die game for Andrea Trinchieri’s squad.
Vanja Marinkovic dropped 20 points and Jock Landale 17 for Partizan that had forced the extra period thanks to a layup by Alex Renfroe with two seconds remaining in regulation.
Apart from Baron, Dejan Davidovac had 18 points and six rebounds and Filip Covic 16 points plus nine assists for Red Star.