> The essentials
A week after Tours, the Toros brought down another big name from the championship. Bravo to their defense! She blocked the Lorient attack to 63 points, which had scored 84 per game since September. After the break, the STB will travel to Sables-d'Olonne on January 7 before receiving Fougères on the 10th.
> The meeting
Applied in defense, with Jean and Butler effective in attack, the Toros finished in the lead in the first quarter (17-18, 10th). Jean persists. Aygalenq scores 3 points. Stade escapes (17-23, 11th) and increases its lead to eleven lengths (25-36, 17th). It was reduced before half-time by Henry and Vitale Boiteux (32-38, 20th). The Bretons continue to thwart the STB at the restart. They reset the counters to zero (38-38, 22nd). A time-out from Laurent Mopsus and a 3-pointer from Aygalenq initially change nothing (45-41, 25th). Penalized by mistakes, the Toros reacted despite everything (45-45, 26th) and remained in contention for victory (49-47, 30th). Ona Embo proves it (49-50, 31st). Aygalenq and Jean insist (51-55, 32nd). Williams and Henry maintain the suspense (55-55, 34th) before a new highlight from Ona Embo (55-59, 35th) and Jean (55-62, 37th). Franceschi and Sclear bring Lorient closer (61-62, 38th) but the last word will be for Aygalenq and Gana who give the Stade victory (63-66).
