TDM1 Game Review: Gent Hawks – Spirou Charleroi B (3/10/2020)

In the opening game of the 2020-’21 TDM1 season we saw the Gent Hawks hosting the visitors from Spirou Basket Charleroi B and we immediately got our money’s worth as the game went straight down to the wire.

From the start both teams went back and forth with neither team being able to run out for more than 7 points, a 35-28 lead for the Hawks halfway the second quarter. Samardzic and Mukeba however put together a little run for Spirou and at the half it was Spirou who was holding on to a 2 point lead (39-41).

In the second half we saw a reversed scenario with this time around Charleroi running out to a maximum lead of 6 points but each time getting pulled right back by the strong playing Vermoesen brothers and former Spirou player Penninck to keep things close.

From the 60-62 score at the end of the third quarter the Gent Hawks seemed to get the better of Les Spirou in the final quarter and on a score by Stevens the Hawks took a 6 point lead with 3 minutes left to play (76-70). Samardzic wasn’t having it though and brought his team right back and when Makwa drained a three Spirou regained the lead (76-77) with less than 2 minutes left to play.

In those final minutes it was again Samardzic who put his team on his back and carried them to the close 78-80 victory to start off their season.

Milan Samardzic was our Player of the Game as he finished with 21 points (7-13 FG’s), 5 rebounds & 2 assists in 28 minutes of action. Noah Zappulla (12 points), Ivo De Vreede (11 points) and Marlon Makwa (10 points) also contributed nicely for the young Charleroi squad in the solid win on the road.

Joeri Vermoesen was the main performer for the home-team as he finished with 24 points (7-11 FG’s, 6-7 FT’s), 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 40 minutes of action. His twin brother Joren Vermoesen chipped in with 17 points off the bench, while Boris Penninck added 15 points & 9 rebounds.