follow the Elan Chalon-La Rochelle match

19 – 21

He doesn’t fake Cleric on Stockton, but he fouls. His 2nd. He leaves. And Hill and Cuthbertson are back. AND HERE’S Zac who frees up a tense Colisée a little: big dunk in transition. Behind, easy basket missed on the La Rochelle side. Chalon runs again. Hill puts it in the air. A little behind Gaudoux. But the captain finishes well, all touch, left hand. And time-out La Rochelle, 4’09 to play in the second quarter

15 – 21

Repulsed, the Elk. Attention. Missed for Choupas by far. But it doesn’t hold up badly in defense. Chalon plays with Stockton/Naji/Choupas on his outside lines, daring. At the same time, without Morris and with Hill not top-top at the moment, it holds up, 15

15 – 21

Not great again Hill, who goes on defense then counters on attack. When it is Sakic’s turn to lose a ball, he will not have the fault he is asking for. 13

15 – 18

Here is Choupas, who takes off and finishes on the lay up, in contact. Good initiative! 12

13 – 18

Oh complicated, Hill. Very locked in, in the corner. And that takes the edge. Then the US leader takes off on a feint. Shift creates, and Sanchez sanctions from afar, 11

13 – 15

This is what we want! Choupas who takes a good three-point shot, after having missed one previously: in. The Colosseum hums and the first ten minutes are over. +2 La Rochelle

10 – 15

A bit in a false rhythm, the Elan. And Naji, not shy, who takes a 3 point, well shifted, on a fast play. Missed, but Sakic is there, on the offensive rebound, 10

10 – 14

Note that Naji has made his entrance. And that Hill goes to pick off the rebound off in the middle of the big ones, and ends up with a left hand, 9

8 – 14

9-0 even, Niziol. And now 12-0, still Niziol, 3-point racket header. And first time-out set by Elric Delord, 1’35 to play in the first quarter

8 – 9

7-0 La Rochelle in progress…

8 – 9

Ah Cortale on the rebound off, good. He could have gone straight back up, but he loses the ball, looking for Choupas in a telephone booth. And Hawkins puts La Rochelle in front for the first time, 8

8 – 4

It holds up in defense, Elan. But it also holds up in the face. And Choupas sets foot outside on his footing, 6

8 – 4

This refuses shots on the Elan side. And Cuthbertson ends up walking, too bad, 6

8 – 4

Failed, that floater from Stockton. Behind, they defend well. And foot of Ristic, 14 seconds La Rochelle, 5

8 – 2

4’13 into the game and already two substitutions: Choupas for Hill, Ristic for Sakic, 5th minute

8 – 2

What deceit this Stockton, great interception while La Rochelle seemed destined for an easy basket. Behind, the ball travels and finds Gaudoux, at the end of the chain, 4

6 – 2

Well defended, Cuthbertson. But Leray ends up opening the opposing counter on the following attack, 3

6 – 0

Stockton, it doesn’t go up on him, at three points. The US leader doesn’t need to be asked: FILOCHE! 2

3 – 0

First good defense from Chalonnais, with Gaudoux intercepting. But, in attack, loss of ball in stride, 2

3 – 0

We start by feeding the big one. Lionel Gaudoux is found in the heart of the racket. Inside, and one! With a bicep pump along the way! 1st minute

Here we go!

Tribute to Vincent Machecourt before the match. Who fell off a roof this summer and now finds himself in a wheelchair. Vincent is a club volunteer, honored this evening, with the kop chanting his first name.

5 minutes from kick-off!

The 5 from La Rochelle: Leray, Clerc, Hergott, Moore, Belo.

The atmosphere is taken up a notch, with the kop setting the tone. As per usual. And people are standing!

The Elan 5: Stockton, Hill, Cuthbertson, Sakic and Gaudoux. Traditional.

Presentation of the referees, soon the teams…

Warm-up still in progress 12 minutes from kick-off. With Jeremiah Hill warming up to the music played by the Coliseum announcer. Quite an American personality.

Note that at the curtain-raiser, the hopes won 81-52, including 17 points in 27 minutes from Ladji Kanté. Which places Romain Chenaud’s kids in 9th place in the championship.

First news of the evening: Jamel Morris, uncertain before the meeting, is not in uniform. The warm-up is underway and the American fullback remains on the bench. As a reminder, he did not play in the second half in Monaco last Sunday…

This evening, the Colosseum will be full again. It promises a nice atmosphere…

La Rochelle is last with one victory in 14 championship days… but the Rochelais really bothered Asvel last Sunday.

To wait before the match, a little reading. “I have known teams in their situation who came to beat us at home,” Lionel Gaudoux told us about La Rochelle, after the setback in Monaco last Sunday.

Good evening everyone, welcome to the Colisée de Chalon!