We would have done well without this defeat, on the side of SCBVG. The leader was corrected (71-86) by his runner-up, SLUC Nancy, in Halle Boulloche. Four days before the end of the regular season, the Nancy are just a small victory behind (22 successes against 23 for their evening opponents) over Alain Thinet’s players. The Lorraines imposed their physical dimension on the Couramiauds, Mathieu Boyer (22 points, 11 rebounds) was the only one who could react for a long part of the game. Limited to a poor 5/24 from 3-pointers, Saint-Chamond was choked by SLUC’s defensive effort. Enough to give rhythm across the field to Caleb Walker (23 points, 28 evaluations), Mathis Keita (14 points and 10 assists for 28 evaluations) or Stéphane Gombauld (15 points, 18 evaluations): danger was everywhere from the team of Sylvain Lautié. Saint-Chamond, who certainly thought he would finish the job more easily, will now get the pressure: it will be necessary to avoid all missteps during the last four days. Because Nancy arrives well launched…
Chalon regains victory
To complete the podium, we find ADA Blois (18 wins and 11 losses). If they can’t hope to move higher in the standings, their 81-69 win in the Jeu de Paume against Denain will allow them to consolidate their place on the third step of the podium. The Blésois waited until the last quarter of an hour to finally fend off the Denaisian dragons (21-13). Latest newcomer Kentan Facey was valuable (14 points and 7 rebounds and 17 evaluations). He’s not the only one to have distinguished himself for the ADA. Timothé Vergiat was crucial as he came off the bench from the top of his 20 units (7/12 shots including a very clean 6/9 from three-pointers) and his 17 evaluation. Clément Frisch, the young strong winger on loan from Strasbourg, scored 17 points on 8/14 on shots.
Fourth, Elan Chalon took the best of Aix-Maurienne 87-65 at the Colosseum, ending their run of five defeats. Again we had to wait until the second part of the game to see Chalon take control of the game (23-11 in the last ten minutes). Maxime Pacquaut’s men penalized visitors who were too tolerant (26/37 for Elan on 2 points) in the racket. The Burgundians counted on their leader Desi Washington (21 points, 18 evaluations), a bleeding Mickaël Gelabale for his return (18 points and 6 rebounds and 28 evaluations) but also on Rolands Freimanis (18 points on 8 / 18).
Vichy, like Blois, was scared for a long time before recovering at the end of the match. Against a team from Rouen that had already been relegated to National 1 but want to end their season well, the JAV won 87-80 on their floor. For a long time, Lucas Bourhis’ RMB (25 points) was leading the way. But the dirt problems of Filip Adamovic – who visibly injured his knee during a penetration in the closing moments of the game -, Marcus Gomis and Brice Dessert had a negative impact on the team of Ludovic Pouillart, who presented a reduced rotation (Benoit Injai was forfeited due to a wrist injury). After a bad start (2-14), Vichy – also devoid of several players (Bronchard, Ceci-Diop and Fisher) – raised their game level and lined up behind Dominez Burnett in the furnace and at the mill (25 points out of 7/ 11 in shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists for 33 evaluations) to make the difference in the final quarter. Vichy is still well in the top 9 with 16 wins for 13 losses.
The remainder of Pro B’s 30th day will be played at noon on Sunday, April 24.
The results of the Pro B matches on Friday 22 April:
- Saint Chamond vs. Nancy : 71 – 86
- blois vs Denain: 81 – 69
- Vichy-Clermont v Rouen: 87 – 80
- Chalon-sur-Saone vs Aix Maurienne: 87 – 65
