Il canestro sulla sirena di Ballard ha regalato la seconda vittoria al Lugano nel girone di qualificazione alle semifinali dei playoff, negando agli Starwings un secondo supplementare che avrebbero tutto sommato meritato. Avanti di 8 lunghezze a meno di due minuti dalla quarta sirena, i Tigers di uno straordinario capitan Stockalper (autore di 31 punti) hanno rischiato di gettare alle ortiche una preziosa vittoria, facendosi raggiungere sul 91 pari prima di imporsi al supplementare con il punteggio di 102-100. Un successo che mantiene i campioni svizzeri in vetta alla classifica in compagnia dei Ginevra Lions, vittoriosi 76-67 sull'Union Neuchâtel ora staccato di 3 lunghezze.
La sfida giocata sul parquet di Birsfelden è stata combattuta ed equilibrata, tanto che ci sono stati addirittura 17 cambi al comando e 9 parità. I ragazzi di Petitpierre avrebbero potuto portare a casa prima il risultato, ma dopo l'1/2 dalla lunetta di Williams, che ha dato il 91-91 ai padroni di casa, Gibson e Ballard hanno mancato il colpo del ko. Nell'overtime una bomba di Schneidermann a 30" dalla fine ha ristabilito l'ennesima parità a quota 100, prima che Ballard, dopo aver catturato il rimbalzo offensivo, mettesse fine alle ostilità.
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