Avellino saw off Pallacanestro Forlì 94-81 in Serie A2 on Sunday evening, extending their push toward the playoff positions. The home side took control early and never let the visitors back into the contest, finishing with a comfortable margin. By then the result was already clear, though Forlì kept pushing until the final whistle.
The hosts started brighter, finding their rhythm from the opening tip. Forlì responded with flashes of energy, but could not sustain it against a disciplined Avellino defence. The gap widened in the second quarter and never closed. And here's the thing — this was exactly the sort of match where the home court advantage told.
In the standings Avellino sit eighth after 36 games, with 21 victories and 15 defeats. Forlì remain 15th, their record reading 13 wins and 23 losses. The gap between the sides is not just in the table but in consistency. Both teams have played the same number of fixtures, but the points difference speaks for itself.
We had tipped Avellino to win, placing 59 per cent confidence on the home side. It came through, though not without resistance. Forlì showed enough to suggest they are not done yet, but against a team that works the channels and holds their nerve, they lacked the finishing edge.
Recent form adds context. Avellino beat Rimini 73-72 last Saturday before dismantling Vigevano 87-69. Forlì won 80-73 against Cento and saw off Udine Eagles 85-68. Both sides had momentum coming in, but the home side converted it into points.
The final tally of 94-81 reflects a match where Avellino controlled the tempo. Forlì had their moments, particularly in transitions, but could not match the hosts over 40 minutes. The result keeps Avellino in the hunt and leaves Forlì with work to do before the season closes.
