The games between Casademont and Basket Landes are becoming genuine thrillers. In Zaragoza, the rojillas needed a comeback in the final 43 seconds and overtime to win by just one point; this time, they suffered until the end once again to prevail by the narrowest of margins. In this display of character and resilience on French soil, Merritt Hempe was crucial, once again taking responsibility in the most difficult moments to finish with 21 points, while Helena Oma was decisive in the final quarter, particularly from the free-throw line, to secure a hugely significant victory.
This latest win leaves Casademont with a flawless 4-0 record and confirms the unstoppable side remains unbeaten this season in both the EuroLeague and the Liga Femenina Endesa. The Aragonese team continues to enjoy an outstanding start and has added a victory that, besides mathematically qualifying them for the next stage of the European competition, brings them closer to the possibility of returning to the Final Six next year. That objective increasingly appears within reach for a team that seems to have no ceiling at the start of this campaign.
THE GAME
With confirmation that Aisha Sheppard would get minutes despite her ankle problems, in a lively French arena that, as usual, even featured a brass band, Carlos Cantero chose to start the crucial game with his strongest lineup: Mariona Ortiz, Ornella Bankolé, Veronika Vorackova, Nadia Fingall and EuroLeague MVP for October, Merritt Hempe.
With these players on the floor, both teams traded runs during the opening minutes. An early 0-5 run from Casademont, led by Nadia Fingall and Mariona Ortiz, was answered by a 6-0 Landes run as the game entered a period of parity and offensive inaccuracy from both sides. Merritt Hempe, who had made a somewhat hesitant start, then took the Aragonese club on her shoulders, scoring eight consecutive points for the rojillo side and giving Casademont the lead at the end of the first quarter. The team still needed to improve its shooting numbers, having gone 0-for-5 from three-point range (12-15).
Hempe was Casademont's main offensive reference in the first half. Photo: FIBA
After returning to the court, disconnection and a lack of direction in attack took hold of Carlos Cantero's team, which made several avoidable mistakes that gave Landes too many opportunities. The French side capitalized on the lapse with an 11-4 run to turn the score around, while Cantero introduced several players in search of solutions. Even so, and despite not making a three-pointer throughout the first half, Casademont remained in the game and, guided by Mariona's playmaking and Oma and Nerea's finishing, went into halftime one basket ahead. The break was reached following the unfortunate injury to Landes player Emma Peytour (32-34).
ANOTHER POOR START
After halftime, doubts and mistakes once again surrounded the Aragonese side. Landes opened the second half with a quick 10-2 run, once again forcing Casademont to cling to the game and improve a defense that was allowing too much. Even so, the French side was not showing its best version either, and the game became a succession of poor decisions and turnovers that kept the gap at seven points. In this way, and just as they had done in the second quarter, Casademont rose from the ashes and, with a final 1-7 run, entered the last 10 minutes just one point behind (54-53).
In the decisive quarter, the game became a succession of baskets, with Helena Oma, who scored seven points, serving as Casademont's main weapon. The game entered its final four minutes tied at 64, with tension on the court causing misses at both ends. In this setting, Hempe scored four consecutive points which, together with a Landes free throw, gave Cantero's team a considerable three-point lead with 48 seconds remaining. Even so, a quick basket and a turnover by Vorackova put Casademont under pressure. Thanks to a glaring miss by Musa and Helena Oma's coolness from the free-throw line, the visitors secured a hugely important victory on French soil (69-70).
GAME DETAILS
Basket Landes (69): Trinity San Antonio (13), Camille Droguet (11), Murjanatu Musa (11), Mariama Daramy (6) and Becky Massey (6) — starting five. Sophia Elenga (4), Marie Pardon (1), Emma Peytour (-), Sixtine Macquet (5) and Aleksa Gulbe (12).
Casademont Zaragoza (70): Mariona Ortiz (4), Ornella Bankolé (2), Veronika Vorackova (7), Nadia Fingall (8) and Merritt Hempe (21) — starting five. Helena Oma (15), Aisha Sheppard (-), Laia Flores (2), Yarden Garzon (4), Kristine Vitola (-), Nerea Hermosa (4) and Carla Brito (3).
Quarter scores: 12-15 / 20-19 / 22-19 / 15-17.
Officials: Ozlem Yalman, Alessandro Perciavalle and Romana Rea Car.
Game details: Match from the fourth round of the first phase of the Women's EuroLeague, played at the Espace Francois Mitterrand (Mont de Marsan, France).
