Frustrating defeat for Beaujolais Basket
Beaujolais Basket players received Avignon, declared candidate for the climb. The match was a clash between two teams with the same number of wins (9).
Despite a better start to the match from the Avignonnais, Beaujolais Basket was able to respond to its opponent and the local team finished 1uh quarter with a delay of only 3 points (24-27). The Quinciatons finished this first act better, effective against.
The second quarter was quite similar, with a good start from the Beaujolais Basket players which was spoiled by a less good end to the quarter. The players returned to the locker room with a score of 45-51 for Avignon, in a match where no team managed to break away.
Several contentious arbitration decisions
On returning from the locker room, Beaujolais Basket, more conquering, was able to make the difference for the first time. Like Mathieu Simon who chained the 3 points, Pierre-Olivier Croizat’s team chained the baskets and led 62-54 halfway through the 3e quarter. But the many contentious decisions of the referees in favor of Avignon and a drop in the regime of the locals allowed the opponents to come back and finish the 3e quarter in front of the score (65-71).
The last quarter was again marked by questionable refereeing decisions. As the match grew tense and the score was down five minutes from time (80-80), the referees made a series of decisions in favor of Avignon which sparked debate, driving Quincié’s supporters and coach crazy (see otherwise). Arbitration decisions weighed against Beaujolais Basket, ultimately defeated 93-97.
Pierre-Olivier Croizat, coach of Beaujolais Basket: “It’s very infuriating”
“I’m going to weigh my words today so it doesn’t backfire. I don’t understand how you can put a team against the run of the game back in the game. How you can make decisions as they were taken. I’ve never talked about refereeing in two years but tonight (Saturday) I don’t understand. We also had an over-commitment which made us feel penalized at key moments but I can’t blame my players. Faced with a very good team, we were present. Compared to the quality that we offered, to the intensity that we put in, it’s very frustrating. I told them that now, I don’t I don’t want to see less than what I saw tonight. The season is still long and we will have to go and make up for this defeat. But today is very infuriating.”