This success in Orleans put an end to a series of seven straight victories for the Burgundians and stretches his to three successes in the championship. This incredible coup was picked up in crazy circumstances, since two of his major players had to quickly give up their place due to injury …
Achilles tendon rupture
Darius Johnson-Odom, his explosive rear, the fifth scorer in the championship (16.8 points average), injured himself in the 15th minute; his season is already over, since a victim ofa ruptured Achilles tendon. The American, the crestfallen face, had to be carried by two members of the staff to leave the floor.
The OLB is now looking for a replacement.
Pectoral pain
From the 4th minute, his compatriot LaMonte Ulmer also had to leave, and this definitely, because ofpectoral pain.
Despite these blows of sport, the OLB has recovered a gap that was thought to be crippling (1-15, 7th; 15-32, 13th), at the cost ofa sublime effort at the end of the second quarter, where Paris Lee and Landing Sané turned everything they touched into gold (31-35, 18th). Chima Moneke, Giovan Oniangue, then Luke Fischer took over after the break to take control of the meeting (45-44, 22; 50-44, 24th). In favor ofan incredible 17-0 inflicted in the space of five minutes, the Orléanais counted eleven lengths in advance in the 26th minute (55-44).
The Dijonnais obviously hardened their tone to stop the bleeding and cut off the renewal of Orleans, but it was still relevant in the home stretch of the 3rd quarter (58-49, 29th), a little less a minute later (58-54, 29th) after two good inspirations from Axel Julien and Gerald Robinson (58-54, 30th).
The cold blood of Paris Lee
This slim advantage has held up, year in and year out (63-56, 33rd; 63-62, 36th) but totally disappeared on an award-winning shot from David Holston (67-67, 38th). Paris Lee brought it back to life, also at long distance (70-67). Holson had the equalizer ball twice, but couldn’t find the sights; Lee that of the station wagon, with the same result. Thanks to two free throws, the American leader believed to seal the fate of the game fifteen seconds from the buzzer (72-67), but Simon answered him tit for tat (72-69) seven seconds later. In the process, Lee inherited two new throws and didn’t shake, to fend off JDA Dijon for good.
The Orléanais will play, this Saturday, March 20, their quarter-final of the Coupe de France on the floor of Le Mans.
For Laurent Bernard, former player of Orleans and the JDA: “Dijon is an example to follow”
Raphael Coquel
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