Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Tuesday December 17, 2024 at 10:17 p.m.
In a late match on the first day of Betclic Elite, Cholet beat Dijon 95-89 and retains the lead in the standings after two matches.
Due to its qualifying match for the Champions League at the end of September against the Turks of Izmir, Cholet was unable to play its match against Dijon counting for the first day of Betclic Elite. At the time, the Choletais probably did not imagine being leaders of the championship when this late match would be played, the week before Christmas. And yet, CB is indeed first and is even more so than ever after beating JDA (14th) with a score of 95-89 this Tuesday at La Meilleraie. The Mauges club generally mastered this meeting, which it led almost from start to finish. Thanks in particular to a successful 7-0 in the heart of the first quarter, Cholet led 25-19 after ten minutes of play. But Dijon reacted well, with an 8-0 which allowed them to take the lead (30-32). A short-lived advantage, because the Choletais scored a 9-0 straight away to get some fresh air. However, the JDA still held on and it was ultimately they who led when they returned to the locker room: 45-47.
Ayayi Porte Cholet
The third quarter was much more balanced, but it was CB who was most often in front, counting between one and five points in advance, and finally only one at the half-hour mark (71-70). Everything was still possible for the Burgundians in the last quarter, but they suffered a 5-0 (86-79) then a 6-0 (92-82) and Cholet was able to escape. Fabrice Lefrançois’ men managed the money-time well and therefore won their tenth victory in twelve matches, one more than their runners-up, Paris and ASVEL. Gerald Ayayi was the great architect of this success, with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on the clock, and he was well helped by Bastien Vautier (16pts, 7rbds, 3pds). Opposite, Gregor Hrovat (16pts), David Holston (15pts) and Axel Julien (15pts, 9pds) were not enough for the JDA, which only has one victory ahead of the jump-off, Le Portel. This weekend, Cholet will visit Nanterre (10th) while Dijon will host Strasbourg (9th).
