Orléans Loiret Basket, during a trip that could prove perilous, showed itself superior to Elan Béarnais this Friday, November 15. OLB won 68-78. Strong!
Orléans Loiret Basket had a very serious match on the floor of Elan Béarnais this Friday, November 15 (68-78). In front from start to finish, the OLB has had a sixth success in a row and temporarily climbs to first place in ProB, pending the meeting between Chartres and Blois this Saturday. As an international break begins, Orléans finds itself at the head of a very satisfactory record of 9 victories in 11 days.
A first boost before the break
The OLB players managed to find good positions from the start and were precise behind the arc to take the lead in the score (1-8, 3rd). But due to inaccuracies and a Pau defense in place, the Loirétains let too many balls slip away (7 ball losses in the first ten minutes) to widen a significant gap (13-18, 10th).
If Christopher Ledlum, the number 1 threat of the Béarnais, was muzzled, Matthieu Missonier and Bastien Pinault found solutions for a while to stay in contact (23-25, 15th). But the OLB, well helped by an impeccable Lee Moore and shooters with good address (8/17 from three points in the first half) took flight in five minutes, passing a 15- 2 in Palois (25-40, 19th). At the break, Orléans had taken matters into their own hands (29-42, 20th).
Never really in danger
Pau came back stronger and higher in defense after the cut and Ledlum took the opportunity to point the tip of his nose (36-44, 23rd). Without panicking, and particularly around a precious Nathan Kuta in the paint (14 points, 14 rebounds), Orléans managed. Then it unfolded again, thanks to a polished collective offensive game and a more than solid defense (38-56, 28th)!
A move to zone defense on the Béarnais side slowed down the Loire machine a little (44-56, 30th). But thanks in particular to the arm of Tomislav Gabric (17 points, 5/12 from a distance), the Orléanais maintained a comfortable lead (51-69, 37th). The OLB lacked a little control in the face of the all-terrain pressure from Pau at the end of the match, without ever finding themselves in great danger and won 68-78.
Jérôme Couton-Coudray
