Basket. Against Monaco, Cholet offers the exploit and the play-offs
In a boiling atmosphere, the match starts on very high bases (9-9, 4th). Cholet, very diligent (1 lost ball after 10 minutes), did better than resist the outside address (3/4 to 3 points in the first 6 minutes) of the Roca Team (14-11, 7th). Thanks to two consecutive baskets from Meeks, CB first pushed their lead to +5 (21-16, 10th), before finishing the first quarter at +3 (21-18, 10th).
In the process, Monaco produced a first effort (21-23, 11th). But Cholet has resources, and resists the main armada by obtaining throws and drawing from afar, by Robineau (31-25, 23rd). By defending strongly, the Choletais manage to limit the influence of James (0 points and 0 assists in the first 5 minutes of the second quarter), and to maintain control (33-30, 15th). But Sasa Obradovic digs into the almost inexhaustible resources of his bench to reverse the situation, and regain control (38-39, 17th). While CB falters for the first time (38-42, 19th), Artis, impeccable until then, misses two important shots then Meeks stupidly loses a ball. But Monaco does not punish, and at the break, the suspense is intact (40-44, 20th).
An unreal third quarter
On returning from the locker room, Cholet remains in style. Better, he regained control after two consecutive pirmed baskets from Makoundou then Dallo (50-49, 24th), and in the end inflicted an 8-0 in two minutes on Monaco (52-49, 24th). In the process, Makoundou chained a tap dunk then, a few moments later, another mammoth dunk which blew up the Meilleraie (58-51, 26th). The match then enters the “Makoundunk” rating (14 points in this quarter), with a new dunk against, scored with 3 points (63-53, 27th)! In total, CB compiles an unreal 24-4 in seven minutes (68-53, 28th). At the end of a stratospheric third quarter (30-14) and attacking the home stretch, the feat and the play-offs seem within reach (70-58, 30th).
Monaco, of course, reacted but CB did not loosen their grip (75-61, 32nd, then 79-63, 34th). The more the clock ticks, the more the Cholet public sends, more and more pregnant, the perfume of victory (83-68, 35th). The Roca Team is only holding on to the exploits of Mike James, who plays almost alone and has 7 points in two minutes (85-73, 36th). To resist, the Vila team is betting on his collective, which does not prevent the Euroleague resident from nibbling his delay, after a 0-10 in less than 180 seconds (87-83, 1’43” from buzzer). Govens replies from the oin to breathe new life into La Meilleraie (90-83, 1’25”). After two missed shots by Hall, Monaco had to admit defeat, especially since Anosike planted two more points. La Meilleraie can sing.