Once again, the Caen Basket Calvados players showed that they were going to have to be counted on this season in Pro B. Caen dominated Aix-Maurienne (77-72) this Friday, September 4 at the Palais des sports during the 5th day of Pro B. The CBC is still undefeated at home.
However, everything has not been easy far from there for the Bas-Normans. Very clumsy at the start of the match (only 2 successful shots out of 10), the CBC were 6 points behind at the end of the first quarter. Newcomers Perfect Njimba and Mounir Bernaoui allowed Caen to come back against the Savoyards. The CBC was also able to count on the good form of his recruit Pierre Hannequin (elected man of the match with 13 points and 42% success rate). It was he who gave Caen the advantage after a counter from Kentan Facey (25-22, 15′) in the second quarter. But the joy of the Palais des Sports is short-lived. Aix-Maurienne went back in front just before the break (39-40).
A gala Coulibaly at the end of the match
Returning from the locker room, Stéphane Eberlin’s men step on the accelerator. Solid defensively, and fairer in attack, in the wake of Radshad Davis, Kentan Facey and Antoine Antoine Rojewski, the Caennais then took an 8-point lead in 10 minutes. With Bali Coulibaly on fire in the racket in the last act (3/3 to two points), Caen seemed to be heading towards an easy victory. But the Normans had a few slumps, particularly in attack, allowing Aix-Maurienne to believe in it at the very end of the match. Still as solid in defense, the CBC gritted its teeth until the final gong (77-72).
Caen in the right car
Caen thus has a third victory in as many matches at home, after its success on Tuesday against Hyères-Toulon, and against Poitiers, on the first day. The CBC is currently 8th in the championship, with a positive result: 3 victories and two defeats. We will now have to look for points away from home to hope to stay in the first half of the table. Stéphane Eberlin’s men travel to leader Blois on October 12.
