Paris and Elan Béarnais follow on, Gravelines, Bourg and Cholet regain victory
The last championship evening of 2021 allowed some teams to reassure themselves before going on vacation.
This is particularly the case with Paris. The promoted has negotiated the end of the year 2021. After his large victory in Orleans last Thursday, the team coached by Bienvenu Kindoki in the absence of Jean-Christophe Prat recorded his fifth victory by easily winning against Champagne Basket (94-79, statistics). Limited to six professional players confirmed in the absence of Juhann Begarin, Milan Barbitch and Amara Sy, the locals relied on their 3-point address (17/30) to dominate their opponents. Kyle allman was delighted with his reference game of the season (20 points to 6/10, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals for 32 evaluation in 36 minutes).
Also reduced with the absence of Gregor Hrovat (positive for COVID-19) and Hamady Ndiaye (contact case), the Elan Béarnais also ended the year with a series of victories. Eric Bartecheky’s men tried to win against the Chorale de Roanne (109-105, statistics) in a trigger match (18/32 3-point for locals, 14/34 for visitors). Stuck at 0 points before the last minute, Giovan Oniangue put an end to the suspense by scoring his only basket of the match.
In the standings, the Elan Béarnais joined the top 4 by coming back to Le Mans (9 wins, 5 losses) which lost at home against BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque (89-93, statistics). The Northerners, who are struggling to be this regular season, have proven their great potential. John David Jackson’s team took the lead 13 seconds from time on a big 3-point basket from Kenny Kadji. Otherwise, the former Choletais Abdoulaye Ndoye remembered the good memories of the Western derbies by making his best game of the season (11 points at 3/9, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals and 6 fouls caused for 22 evaluation in 26 minutes), including his first 3-point basket.
Cholet who for his part also found success, after six straight losses, beating the JDA 85 to 76 (statistics). Adroit (15/24 at 3-points), the formation of Mauge made the race in front against a Dijon team deprived of Jacques Alingué and certainly tired after its big last week (trip to Russia, victory after extra time against Strasbourg.
JL Bourg also ended a long losing streak. It took an extension for the Bressans to come out against Orléans. In front of 7 points (68-61) 3 minutes from the end, they conceded a 9-0 with in particular a 3-point on the buzzer of Marcus Paige which made Laurent Legname mad with rage.
#BetclicELITE @ marcuspaige5 X @ OLB45 pic.twitter.com/gRjkAEACX4
– LNB (@LNBofficiel) December 27, 2021
But Axel Julien seized the opportunity to chain his two baskets of the match and start the extension with a 9-0 in favor of the premises, who finally won 84-75 (statistics). If Chris Warren was nonexistent, the former Burgiens LaMonte Ulmer and Youssou Ndoye carried Orléans. At the break, the two teams are tied (6 wins, 8 losses).
The results of December 27, 2021:
- Cholet vs Dijon: 85-76
- Paris vs Champagne Basket: 94-79
- Le Mans versus Gravelines-Dunkirk : 89-93
- Elan Béarnais against Roanne: 109-105
- JL Bourg vs Orleans: 84-75
- ASVEL vs Limoges : 83-85