When you are in the TOP 5 and you bow down, on your floor, in front of the penultimate, absences are not often the only explanation.
After their cold shower in BCL this Wednesday on the parquet of the SIG Strasbourg (defeat 86 to 67), the players of the JDA knew how to show courage and abnegation (despite the absences of Holston, Ware and Brembly) to recover a deficit of more than 20 points. However, coach Markovic’s men ran out of composure in the money time to be able to win.
The first quarter is absolutely CATASTROPHIC for the JDA players. The Burgundians are unable to find the slightest solution in attack by multiplying the loss of balls, failing to succeed on their outside attempts and coming up against an iron defense in the opposing racket. On the other side of the floor, the results are identical.
The Dijonnais multiply the faults and offer free throws to their opponents while leaving free spaces in the racket. Added to this, the MONUMENTAL first quarter of Frank Gaines accumulating 15pts thanks to an absolutely insolent outside address. The players of the city of the Dukes are therefore 21 units behind in the first quarter (8-29).
However, the second quarter is synonymous with awakening for Jeanne. The Burgundians clearly raise their tone in defense in order to be able to harass their opponent in the perimeter to recover balloons which will be converted into quick baskets.
The Dijon grinta is embodied through the XXL activity of its captain Alingue struggling on both sides of the floor to defend the hoop and above all to win on the offensive rebound and in the Ditch racket. The French interior is perfectly supplemented by its leader Jo Rousselle who multiplies the lay-ups and distills the good passes. The Palace is therefore gradually regaining hope and the fervor is returning.
The momentum is clearly in favor of the JDA who will take control of the game 5s from half-time thanks to two free throws from Hrovat (also very moving during this quarter). But that will not be enough to pass in front at half-time, the fault of the long-distance assassin basket of Gaines at the buzzer (46-47).
In the second half, Coach Markovic’s men return to the court with the same intentions. The locals continue their defensive efforts and manage to circulate more leather in attack to find open players and convert points on second chances thanks to good activity on the offensive rebound. Nevertheless, the Byers remain in contact by relying on the hot shot of Green (60-58).
This quarter time can be seen under the prism of an interior duel between Alingue which demonstrates its power when Dokossi responds with its explosiveness. Also note the good quarter time of McDuffie present in the creation and scoring. However, the American winger will be forced out 2’00 before the last quarter because he will pick up his 4th foul. The visitors therefore take the opportunity to take control of the game following the 2 free throws of the experienced JP Ductueil (69-70).
The two teams went blow for blow during the last 10 minutes with the locals relying on the vista of Mobley when the visitors responded through Affo Mama shaking the strings from the 4 corners of the floor. The JDA will experience a blow in these last moments, with the expulsion of McDuffie for his 5th personal foul. The players of the city of the Dukes therefore lose their offensive leader. However, the Dijonnais maintain a chance of victory with the outside baskets of Mobley and Ducoté.
But Burgundian hopes will be dashed by Brown’s composure in money-time. Note in this close end to the match, disputed refereeing decisions pushing Markovic’s men into a black anger vis-à-vis the referees. Illustration at the last second where Gregor Hrovat will find himself head to head with an official for a flagrant foul not whistled on the latter.
M.L.
JDA Dijon loses against Fos Provence Basketball 95 to 97 (15-31, 31-16, 23-21, 26-29)
JDA Dijon : McDuffie (15) / Alingue (24) / Rousselle (9) / Mobley (18) / Loum (6) / Ducoté (6) / Hrovat (17) /
Fos Provence Basket : Dokossi (16) / Brown (15) / Gaines (23) / Green (8) / Colson (2) / Barbitch (7) / Affo Mama (17) / Passave-Ducteil (9)
Passes :
– JDA Dijon: Rousselle (3) / Hrovat (5) / Alingue (3)
– Fos Provence Basket : Brown (9) / Gaines (2) / Green (2)
Bounces:
– JDA Dijon : Alingue (9) / Play (7) / Ducoté (3)
– Fos Provence Basket : Passave-Ducteil (5) / Affo Mama (5) / Green (5)
