There is only one leader at the top of the Betclic Elite after the fifteenth day, before the break, and it is quite logical Monaco, winner in steamroller fashion, Tuesday in Fos-sur-Mer (53-97). Sasa Obradovic’s men came after their disappointment in Milan in the Euroleague last Friday (71-79) over the nerves of the Azureans. Five players totaled 10 points or more, including four Frenchmen – Strazel 15, Ouattara 14, Makoundou 13 and 10 for an Adrien Moerman who found some color.
Second-placed Boulogne-Levallois (11-4), beaten by Strasbourg on Monday night (81-84), will be joined by Cholet, who continued their canonical start to the season by dominating a diminished Limoges behind Enzo Goudou-Sinha’s 17 points (81-74 ).
The other team playing in the Euroleague, Asvel, defeated this week in Madrid (92-73), confirmed its good momentum in the Championship by winning, against a decimated Nanterre (88-73), a third success in a row. allowing him to climb to fifth place, level with Bourg. With 9 wins for 6 losses, the men of TJ Parker, guided by Nando De Colo (17 points, 3/5 to 3 points, 6 assists) and Alex Tyus (15 points, 7 rebounds), have a foot and a half in the Leaders Cup. The absence of the three-time defending champion during the mid-season tournament (February 17-19 in Saint-Chamond) would have looked like an industrial accident.
Terry Tarpey wakes up Le Mans
Only two victories separate 7th Limoges (8-6) from 14th Gravelines (6-9), the last two seeds will probably only know their recipient at the end of the first stage, during the 17th. day (15 and 16 January) ). ). Le Mans nevertheless took a big step by confirming its awakening (8-7, 8th), after six defeats in a row, against the promoters Nancy, overtaken at Antarès (96-82). Another success in a row, which still owes a lot to the European vice-champion Terry Tarpey (6 points, 6 rebounds, but his own best “+ /-” with +20).
Ronald March carries Roanne in overtime
In ambush, Strasbourg (7-8, 9th), as well as Roanne (6-8 with a late game), which made the difference in overtime (102-100) on Bourg-en-Bresse’s side. James Palmer (18 points) thought he had done the hardest part in winning the 3-point overtime at the buzzer. But Maxime Roos (17 points) and especially Ronald March, author of 20 of his 26 points (10/18, 7 rebounds, 6 fouls caused) in the second half and in overtime, allowed the coral to win the timpani.
At the bottom of the rankings, Le Portel, after its successes over Cholet and Monaco, confirmed its recovery by dominating (88-74) a plummeting Blois (10 defeats in the last 11 games). A success that allows the northern club to temporarily get out of the red zone despite an identical record to its evening victim (5-10).
Paris liberated, Pau falls to Dijon
Paris and Pau, for their part, got out of this dangerous zone (6-9, 11th tied with Nanterre and BCM) by winning over Gravelines (98-96) and Dijon (78-66) respectively. With a burning Matthieu Gauzin and Justin Robinson (15 and 13 points) in the money hour, the Norwegians thought perhaps they had done the most difficult (79-74, 35th) in the capital. They had to and saw Paris pick up a 3-point shot from Kyle Allman 13 seconds from the buzzer (96-96). Then, while fumbling the match point, BCM saw Axel Toupane escape and offer victory to his people.
Pau, despite his financial concerns and a very small squad this season, produced a game full of control and limited the still prolific Dijon attack. Behind a Vitalis Chikoko in verve (20 points, 8 rebounds) and Michael Stockton (15 units), Elan Béarnais managed to hold back David Holston (an extremely rare 0 points for the Burgundy leader).
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