Foster's Fourth Quarter Fire Powers Centurions Past Mavericks 98-94
Centurions Rally Behind Foster's Clutch Scoring to Edge Mavericks
By Amelia Rodriguez
ROME – The Rome Centurions staged a dramatic second-half comeback, powered by a scintillating performance from Elian Foster, to secure a hard-fought 98-94 victory over the Miami Mavericks on Tuesday night. In a game that saw significant momentum swings, Rome’s ability to execute down the stretch and capitalize on key offensive opportunities ultimately proved to be the difference in this crucial Pro League showdown.
The Mavericks came out firing, building an early lead with sharp shooting and aggressive defense. However, the Centurions, spurred on by a raucous home crowd, refused to fold. A pivotal stretch in the third quarter saw Rome chip away at the deficit, with timely baskets from Willow Stone and Maya Dubois reigniting their offense.
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Elian Foster, who finished with a game-high 25 points, took over, hitting crucial jumpers and driving to the basket to keep the Mavericks’ defense on its toes. His offensive explosion, coupled with strong rebounding from Akari Saito (8 boards, 2 steals) and Owen Harper (7 boards), allowed Rome to finally overtake Miami. Despite a valiant effort from the Mavericks, led by Clara Mendez’s dominant 14 rebounds and Viktor Lindholm’s 15 points, their 13 turnovers proved too costly.
“This was a true team effort,” said Centurions Head Coach Silvia Bianchi after the game. “We faced adversity, but our guys dug deep. Elian was spectacular tonight, but everyone contributed to this win.”
Foster, visibly exhausted but beaming, added, “The crowd gave us so much energy. We just kept believing, and we found a way to get it done.”
Key Notes:
- Elian Foster led all scorers with 25 points for the Centurions.
- Clara Mendez was a force on the glass for the Mavericks, grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds.
- The Centurions’ ball movement was superior, with 26 assists against only 7 turnovers.
- Miami Mavericks recorded 10 steals to Rome’s 4, highlighting their defensive pressure.