Pau-Orthez pulls out all the stops in Blois

AWith this Pau team, you have to expect anything. Guilty of upheavals and chronic irregularity Tuesday against Caen (76-85), angering Mickaël Hay, “what I ask of my players is that they fight”, it is clear that his collective has learned the lesson. Indeed, at the end of an admirable match of tenacity, success and impact, Pau-Orthez signed his reference match on the offensive level and undoubtedly more generally succeeded in his best match of the season. There was joy, relief and a touch of euphoria at the end of extra time among the visitors, after having managed to bring down the Blesois leader.

A prolific attack as desired

A team in reconstruction, capable of blowing hot and cold in four days, we must also admit that the more it finds itself with its back to the wall and the higher the step, the more it knows how to assert itself. You had to see this collective, invested with a mission, struggle for almost 45 minutes to heckle the locals, after having won only one of their last seven matches. In addition, ADA Blois did not make it through its meeting, but rather it was Élan Béarnais who was able to raise its level of play. Driven by a first-rate address with a 54% success rate , an explosive three-point skill (15/31 shooting) and a minimum of waste (13 lost balls), Pau-Orthez combined panache and rigor. Back in a club that he knows well having experienced exceptional moments at the Jeu de Paume from 2013 to February 2024, Mickaël Hay could also savor this nice shot made with a 6^e success at stake.

Pinault and Ledlum delight

The Béarnais showed their muscles from the start (0-11, 3^e) and knew how to tame the opposing revolt to hold the line at the end of a first period that looked like a crossover (17-17, 7^e27-30, 12^e45-45, 28^e). Little by little, two people from Pau will take the game on their own, first of all Bastien Pinault (28 points) who gave a little more relief to the collective alchemy of his team, in the highlights of his progress chart ( 57-56, 24^e59-61, 26^e77-82, 34^e). Then at the moment when Blois seemed to be able to conclude in a burning money-time (82-84, 38^e87-86, 39^e), Christopher Ledlum drew three points to offer overtime (89-89, 39^e). He was the strong winger, native of Brooklyn, author of an XXL performance (25 points and 10 rebounds) who made the decisive tap 25 seconds from the end to satisfy this quest for balance (100-103). Returning to a record of 50% victories (6v, 6d), Pau-Orthez can look back on the reception of SIG (Strasbourg) in the Coupe de France on Tuesday with a little more greed.

Blois – Pau-Orthez : 102-105 ap

Lieu : Palm Game Room
Referees: MM. Aït Bari, Pierre, Kiritharan
Spectators: 2 400 environ
Quart-temps : 23-21, 24-24, 24-23, 18-21, 13-16
BLOIS Damase (0), Chambers (18), Vergiat (17), Alingue (5), Morency (8) then Soulhac (7), Thamba (22), Hieu-Courtois (16), Sconard (7), Missia-Dio (2).
PAU-ORTHEZ Ledlum (25), Whyte (2), Pinault (28), Raharimanantoanima (8), Sherill (13) then Missonnier (7), Sidibé (5), Marsillon-Noleo (8), Curier (9).