Too feverish at the end of the match, the Haut-Pyrénées lost this Tuesday evening at the Quai de l’Adour against more solid Bretons: 74 to 82.
This first match of the year but already the 5th of the return phase could seem decisive to restart the mechanics in the final straight of the first phase which will end on Friday February 14. On a good dynamic with 3 successes before the break which allowed them to return to the final qualifying place, the Bretons intended to capitalize and why not get closer to the runner-up Bigourdan. No doubt what pushed them to take the entry score under the leadership of Mendy who increased the gap to +5 from the 3rd while Le Carour added to 3 points (6-13, 5th).
But, undefeated at home since their misstep on the first day, Stéphane Dao’s protégés reacted with Chamber at 3 points and while tightening their defense, the U’Boys found solutions with Badiane in the racket for a basket with the fault (13-15, 7th). The Tarbes leader scored his 13th point on a new missile (25-24, 11th) but clumsy in their transmissions and conceding too many faults the locals allowed Mouhri on a 12th point to put Vitré back in the lead (30-33, 15th) . Room on a basket with the foul and Le Roux on the counter on Dossou maintained the crossover while Pharose unlocked his counter (36-33, 17th).
But Fabien Calvez’s men finished stronger with a ball won by Sylla before a 3 point from Le Carour which allowed them to win the 2nd quarter (+5) to take the lead (38-43).
The Union loses its jewel and its nerves
The Chamber duel (19 points), Mouhri (14) continued, first to the advantage of the Union leader who brought his mark to 22 especially as the ex-Espoir de Limoges offered 2 free throws to Ateba for the equalizer (43-43, 22nd). More solid income, the U’boys added Wisart Goetz (48-44), Ateba and Venckus on a ball stolen by Joseph before losing their nerve.
Worse, Chambre was excluded for a 2nd technical foul (27th) and without their star scorer, the Haut-Pyrénées made their task more complicated.
Staying in contact thanks to Le Carour then Gassaud, the Bretons were however unable to get away because if Hernandez added 3 points, Pharose and Venckus imitated him to win the 3rd quarter (23-20, 30th).
With a 2-point lead at the start of the final sprint, the Vitréens, although clumsy, took advantage of local generosity to send Calabria to the free throw line (61-68, 32nd).
After 2.40 minutes without scoring, Le Roux broke the silence of the Union and Joseph, for his first points on a 2 + 1, brought his team back up to par (68-68, 34th).
At the end of the match where the two teams appeared clumsy, Vitré took off under the leadership of his captain Fandelet (68-75, 37th) and Sylla, top scorer of the evening.
And with a more solid mentality, the Bretons won (74-82) to achieve the double against Bigourdans who were too penalized to keep their nerves.
Union Tarbes Lourdes PB 74- Aurore Vitré 82
QT : 22-22 ; 16-21 ; 23-20 ; 13-19
Union Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées Basketball: Tom Wiscart Goetz 5, Fabien Ateba 14, Mike Joseph 4, Marius Chambre (cap.) 22, Jules Leroux 6; Niels Pharose 5, Pierre Hourne Raubet 0, Tidiane Badiane 11, Mohamed Queta 0, Augustinas Venckus 7, Thibault Alexis 0.
A player eliminated: Bedroom (27th).
Aurore Vitré: Sullivan Hernandez 3, Vincent Fandelet (cap.) 11, Sahel Mouhri 14, Noa Calabre 8, Yannis Mendy 4; (then) Axel Dossou 3, Birahima Sylla 21, Alexis Racine 1, David Gassaud 8, Hugo Ciard 0, Ewan Le Carour 9.
: Mendy (37th), Dossou (38th).
