It was the biggest match of the season this Friday at the Complexe sportif des deux rives, in Saint-Vallier (Drôme), more than 2,500 spectators were present. The basketball club hosted the Caen team for the first match of the Nationale Une final. After a very good first half, the Saint-Vallier players completely exploded in the second half, no longer finding any offensive solution. Caen, for its part, was able to increase intensity, play faster, and win, finding itself just one victory away from promotion to Pro B, with two home matches to come.
The return match is scheduled for Friday June 14 in Caen, at 8 p.m. Then a possible good one will take place on Sunday, still in Normandy.
4th quarter
COMPLETED – Saint-Vallier 68 – Caen 77 – Jeff Kebe ends with a bad gesture, he is excluded.
55″ to play – Saint-Vallier had two chances to come back to three points, but Deng Geu missed the target twice. Caen scores a free throw. 66 – 73
2’48” to play – SVBD 64 – Caen 72 – It will take an exploit for Saint-Vallier, who has just conceded another three points and who, above all, seems to have no solution in the face of the suffocating defense of the Normans.
3’22” to play – Very bad time for the SVBD, led 69 to 63 after two consecutive offensive rebounds for Caen.
4′ to play – The experience of the Kebe – Cazenobe duo keeps the SVBD afloat. Two points plus the fault for the interior. He converts the free throw. SVBD 63 – Caen 64.
5’46” to play – Jazzman Ferguson misses a free throw after a technical foul called against Caen. Saint-Vallier still did not score in the period. SVBD 58 – Caen 62
7’24” – Saint-Vallier is trailing for the first time since the very start of the match. SVBD 58 – Caen 60. We have to react, the Drôme lose too many balls and no longer find the solution offensively.
The opposing leader, Siegwarth, wakes up and hurts the SVBD on the pick’n roll play. Caen runs more and tires the SVBD. More than two points apart, 58 to 56, 8’44” from the end.
3rd quarter
END OF QUARTER TIME – Saint-Vallier 58 – Caen 53 – The Normans return and the SVBD gets angry with the arbitration. Bronca at the Complexe des Deux Rives. The Drômois were clumsy and suffered the end of the period
2’27” – SVBD 56 – CBC 49 – Caen comes back a little, thanks to a three-pointer and quick play. Kebe gives some air, but Saint-Vallier relaxes in defense so the coach takes a time out.
6’38” – No address on both sides, and it’s a strong defense! In addition the parquet floor slips, the game is stopped to wipe the floor. Time out for the CBC with 5’40” to play after a three point from Ferguson and good defense from Geu. Saint-Vallier leads 51 to 39.
Here we go again, in an atmosphere as crazy as ever in Saint-Vallier.
2nd quarter
HALF-TIME – Saint-Vallier 44 – Caen 37 – Return of the CBC who finished the half very well, notably with success from afar and two three-point shots from Yanik Blanc. But Hugo Dumortier scores at the buzzer, 8 meters away, and gives the Drômois seven points back.
3’06” to play – Saint-Vallier 38 – Caen 26 – The Drômois make the hole, a mixture of good defense and a lack of skill among the Normans. CBC coach Stéphane Eberlin takes another time-out.
5’31” to play – SVBD time out – Saint-Vallier can no longer find an offensive solution, Caen comes back a little. SVBD 31 – Caen 24
7’40” to play – Caen time out! The SVBD leads by 11 units after a lonely three points from Tortosa. SVBD 31 – Caen 20
The SVBD alternates zone defense and man defense, it’s working for the moment. The emergency exits are open to let the air pass and refresh everyone. The speaker announces nearly 3,000 spectators, a stand has been exceptionally added.
1st quarter
END OF QUARTER – SVBD 25 – Caen 18
1’56” to play – SVBD 19 – Caen 15 / It’s crazy hot at the Complexe des Deux Rives, the players keep wiping their hands to remove the sweat. Saint-Vallier keeps the lead, a lot of faults on each side.
4’35” to play in the first quarter – The SVBD leads 13 to 9, notably thanks to two three points from Jazzman Ferguson. Watch out for fouls, Kebe and Geu committed two each and are sitting on the bench.
Saint-Vallier wins the jump ball, the first basket straight away for Caen. Jérôme Cazenobe equalizes: it’s off to a flying start in this final!
