During this last day of the first phase, and after two grueling months with often three matches per week, the two teams presented themselves weakened. Thus, Avignon had made the long trip to eight players. The formation of Vaucluse has not been spared from injuries in recent weeks, the post 5 Jean-Dieudonné Biog coming to compensate for the absence of Guy-Marc Michel, while the American Duane Morgan, present last night, only played his fifth game of the season at Chartres.
Green’s absence raises questions
CCBM side, in addition to Paul Bouloukouet (Achilles tendon), his “medical freelance writer”, the leader Samir Mekdad, was also forfeited, affected with the adductors, Tuesday evening, in Limoges, during the 16th final of the Coupe de France. Another notable absentee: Steven Green. The native of Phoenix had already missed the last day in Le Havre. The Serbian Dejan Sencanski, author of a very good match in Normandy (CCBM success 91-85), therefore made his comeback at home in N1, after his broken hand in January. Unlike Bouloukouet and Mekdad, present on the bench in civilian clothes, Green was not even in the stand. The absence of the US winger raises questions in a formation in Chartres who managed, last night, to retain their third place in the standings after their victory, 94 to 87, against very little opposition.
We managed against a diminished team which continued to fight. The job is done, period. We won, we are tied for second. That’s all you need to remember
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Chartres stood out from the start thanks to its collective (8-0 then 11-2, 4 ‘). But Avignon replied thanks to his two foreigners, Morgan and the Serbian Papic, to equalize (16-16, 8 ‘). But the USAP, driven by former Nancy player Kenny Grant, will not go further. His team will never manage to take the lead, conceding a 12-0 at the end of the first act (31-17, 10 ‘).
“The job is done”
Quietly leading its boat facing a borrowed Avignon and with a Papic sanctioned with 4 faults (16 ‘), the CCBM reached the break with a comfortable mattress of 17 units (55-38, 20’). We thought that Patrick Clerence’s men would definitely knock out their prey in the second half. It will not be.
“We played with the elastic band”, said the Chartres coach Sébastien Lambert at the end of the match. “We led by 15, they came back to 10, we took a 17-point lead, Avignon came back again, but never below 5 (points). We managed against a diminished team which continued to fight. The job is done, period. We won, we are tied for second. That’s all you have to remember, ”added the CCBM technician.
Thus, after having still counted 18 lengths ahead at the start of the last quarter (79-61, 32 ‘), the Chartrains were able to manage their capital without putting themselves in the red even if Gaëtan Meyniel, trained in Lucé, had the last word by bringing his team to seven cables on the gong (94-87).
CHARTRES (Jean-Cochet hall). C’Chartres BM beats US Avignon / Le Pontet 94 to 87 (half-time: 55-38) (quarter-time: 31-17, 24-21, 15-19, 24-30). Referees: Mr. Kiritharan and Ms. Fizailne. Spectators: around 700.
Chartres : Thalien (3), Siegwarth (22), Bernaoui (12), Sencanski (19), Clerence (12) then Doumbia (8), Békoulé Ekambi (7), Ucles (5), Mukuna (6).
46% success on shots (32/70) including 36% at 3 points (13/36). 68% on free throws (17/25). 46 rebounds (Bernaoui, 10). 20 fouls.
Avignon : Bourcier (18), Meyniel (9), Vincent (10), Biog (10), Morgan (23) then Papic (17), G. Bonomini (0), Tomatis (0).
50% success on shots (34/68) including 37% at 3 points (11/30). 50% on free throws (8/16). 34 rebounds (Meyniel and Morgan, 9). 24 faults: Biog (24 ‘) and Bourcier (38’) eliminated for 5 faults.
Difference :+20 for Chartres (60-40, 22 ‘).
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Jean-André Provost
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