Nanterre loses its momentum
How to win a match by making only one save in the last five minutes? Spoiler: unless we are at +20 in the 35th minute, we cannot… This is the bitter experience experienced by Nanterre this Saturday, unable to stop the Cholet attack in the money-time, except is via a meager counter from Roko Prkacin on the young Léopold Levillain, still very valuable elsewhere (4 points at 2/4, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks for 8 evaluation in 15 minutes).
Still in contact in the 32nd minute (77-78), the Ile-de-France residents nevertheless collapsed in the final moments (97-104), victims in particular of two decisive shots from Aaron Wheeler (14 points), who was able to take over from a wonderful Gerald Ayayi at the helm, despite a small skill problem (17 points at 6/15, 4 rebounds and 5 assists). Difficult, however, to single out a single player from the Maugeois collective, with eight elements between 9 and 17 points, and the valuable contribution of rookie Levillain as the ninth man!
Still leaders of Betclic ÉLITE with 11 victories in 13 matches, Fabrice Lefrançois' men are already assured of remaining first during the winter break. The ASVEL – Paris match on Sunday will bring down one of the two runners-up, pointed at a length for the moment, and CB has the average basket on both. But what better way to complete a dream first leg than by taking part in the Western derby on Friday against Le Mans?! On the other hand, after his recovery over the last two days, Nanterre has practically lost all hope of competing in the Leaders Cup.
Saint-Quentin stifles Le Portel
If it is difficult to win a match by only making one save in the last five minutes, it is on the other hand much easier when you concede less than 60 points… “Can the SQBB defend?« we asked Julien Mahé at the beginning of December, on the sidelines of the Axonian rout at Chalon-sur-Saône (63-91). “If I hadn’t seen him do it well at the start of the season, I would ask myself the same question as you”he then replied. Since then, the Picard technician has made adjustments to his defensive rotations and has regained impermeability. Thus, after containing Limoges to 67 points, Saint-Quentin limited Le Portel to 54 small units!
Or a success at home which allows the teammates of a very good Nolan Traoré (13 points at 5/12, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for 17 evaluation and a +/- of +33) to take a step forward giant towards the Leaders Cup (8v-5d). Annoyed in the first half by the Stellistes who forced him to play at a slow tempo, the SQBB was able to make the match easy upon returning from the locker room by stringing together some great defensive sequences and finding a bit of skill, with a back line in tune with Traoré (11 points and 2 assists for Enzo Goudou-Sinha, 15 points at 5/7 and 3 assists for Jerome Robinson). Beaten for the fifth time in a row in the championship (54-71), ESSM remains 15th in Betclic ÉLITE (3v-10d), virtually a play-off.
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