The Chalonnais, well inspired in the first quarter, still in the points at half-time, did not manage to stop the Monegasque machine. To suffer a heavy defeat.
+5 at the end of the first quarter, -5 at halftime, -17 before the last act and finally -27 at the final buzzer, with 109 points in the bag… We wrote that to win on the rock, A minimum of 80 points had to be scored. Elan Chalon did it. Except that he conceded 109 points to concede a heavy defeat, not really in line with what he had shown at the start of the match.
The truth is indeed that we write that the Chalonnais, deprived of Ristic, had an excellent start to the meeting. With Hill, Gaudoux and Naji in the leading roles. Akram Naji, not really impressed by the Monegasques, who had the luxury of bringing the Chalonnais advantage to 10 points (22-32) in a good series. This for his first match with 12 points in the Elite, with 2 interceptions, including one enhanced by a three-pointer, for an evaluation of 10, third behind Gaudoux and Stockton at 14.
We will have understood, as the minutes passed, the Chalonnais were unable to do anything against the rise in power of the Monegasque machine, with Mike James who weighed his talent so that the Roca Team faced the difference. And a Stazel in Olympic form, with 19 points, but above all 10 assists for an evaluation of 26.
Add to that Lyod's 20 points, including 5/8 from 3 points, but also 5 assists, and you have the ingredients for a big victory for the Monegasques. They were able to put pressure on so that Elan Chalon, although not losing control, still lost 23 balls, which is a lot, and often showed itself to be helpless and/or dominated in defense.
Let's be frank, even if you should never say never, the Chalonnais knew that achieving an achievement would be complicated. They must concentrate on the reception of La Rochelle, whose good resistance against ASVEL (75-79) will have to be considered more than its last place in the ranking. See you at the Coliseum on Saturday January 11 at 8:30 p.m.
Alain BOLLERY
(Photos AS. Monaco)
Monaco bat Elan Chalon (109-82 (22-27 ; 32-22 ; 29-21 ; 26-12)
Monaco : Lloyd 20, Strazel 19, James 17, Brown 15, Cornelie 11, Jaiteh 10, Calathes 8, Motiejunas 4, Blossomgame 2, Tarpey 2, Begarin 1
Élan Chalon : Naji 12, Ristic 12, Morris 11, Gaudoux 11, Stockton 10, Cuthbertson 8, Hill 8, Choupas 7, Cortale 3
