Jean-Baptiste Marty
After a victory full of character in the 32nd round of the French Cup, the U18 Boulazacois lost at the buzzer in Dax, this Sunday (74-73), during the resumption of the French championship.
Engaged in group B for the second phase, the BBD elite U18s will face La Rochelle, Poitiers but also Toulouse, Bordeaux and Dax, three opponents they already encountered in the first phase. On Sunday, the Boulazacois went to Dax to meet the ADB. In the first phase, the BBD almost won in Landes, only losing after extra time (75-82). But the return match was one-sided and the Boulazacois were defeated (53-84).
Building on their good performance in the Coupe de France the previous weekend, the young people from BBD played a full match for three quarters but without managing to widen a decisive gap. “The first half was almost perfect (26-37). We are diligent in defense, the gap even rises to +15,” relates coach Anthony Monset.
Bad choices and individual mistakes
Unfortunately, his players broke down in the last quarter. “We conceded almost 50 points in the second half, with a little panic, bad choices, individual errors and a room that burst into flames,” continues Anthony Monset. Another loss of ball in the final seconds followed by a victorious Landes shot buried Boulazac's hopes (74-73).
Next Sunday, the Boulazacois will be able to get back on track by hosting the Poitevins of UPB 86, surely revengeful after their elimination in the Coupe de France. The BBD coach will be able to count on the rise in power of his players returning from a long injury, who must regain their automatisms: “Some are still a little rusty but they do us good”.
Note that in the U18 French Cup, Boulazac will play its 16th and 8th finals in the Bordeaux suburbs, on February 15 and 16. At the Jean-Bouin gymnasium in Talence, they will face their counterparts from CSP Limoges, crossed in the first phase of the championship, on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. In the event of qualification, on Sunday, they will face the winner of the JSA Bordeaux – Pau-Lacq-Orthez match, played the day before at 8 p.m.
