The Gazelles and their youngsters are the hosts of Saint-Amand for the 19th day of the Women’s Basketball League.
This Saturday, their jerseys n° 9, 15 and 93 on the back, Elyah Kiavi, Celia Rivière and Elena Zemourathe three girlfriends, will be called in turn by the announcer of the Palace to join their elders on the floor.
Who students in 1st year of Staps (Elyah, Elena with a year in advance), who in history college, they are all 18 years old but Elena is a “2004” and her teammates of “2003”.
In recent seasons, the young class has struggled to find a place in the Lattian sun, victim of both competition and the immediate need for results… This atypical 2021-2022 vintage, between Covid cases and injuries, opened the door, the trio in “under agreement” mode with the BLMA club, rushed into it and wanted to extend the dream. Overview of the protected by Damien Leroux, technical manager of the Training Center, three nice kids, united and eager to help each other.
1) Elyah KIAVI (1.74 m, born on 11/8/2003 in Orléans, position 1-2, at the BLMA Training Center for 4 years. Stats. 14 matches played in LFB with 1.1 points; 0, 7 rebounds; 0.8 assists in 8′ average).
Having passed through Orléans, her original club, the Pôle Espoirs de Bourges, Saran and Olivet, Elyah, who left Creps last year and is now at the sports faculty (Staps Montpellier), had the ambition of being truly part of the group. “pro” (5 matches played last season) “to gain experience, to take advantage of all the opportunities even if I don’t necessarily fit into the rotation. The matches where I play in N2, I have to prove certain things because I feel closer to the LFB level .” The one who ultimately has the best “stats” in the Euroleague (16 MJ; 2.1 pts; 0.9 rebounds; 1.3 pd in 17′ average) and can boast of having played with the Bleuettes a Euro U16 and a Challenger U18, has as best memory “the week ended with success against Asvel.” The future ? “I would like more playing time in a club not below the LF2, I spoke about it with Valé (Demory)”.
2) Célia RIVIERE (1.85m, born 6/8/2003 in L’Isle-Adam, Val d’Oise, position 4-5, at the CDF of BLMA for 2 years. Stats. 8 matches played in LFB with 0.4 pts and rbds in 3′ average).
Stages in Ennery, Marne-la-vallée (French U15 champion) and Insep preceded her arrival in Hérault. “Well integrated, I’m here to take what there is to take. And I have to show that I’m above when I go back down to play in N2.” The least used of our young Gazelles with the various returns expressed itself more in the Euroleague (13 MJ; 2.2 pts; 1.5 rebounds in 10′ average). Keeping a special memory “of this week when we played a lot (5 matches in 11 days), the interested party remains quite mixed on her future, “It will depend on what they will offer me.” To be continued.
3) Elena ZEMOURA (1.84 m, born on 21/2/2004 in Aix-en-Provence, position 3, with the CDF of BLMA for 3 years. Stats. 6 matches played in LFB with 1.8 pts; 0, 8 rbds in 5’average).
Trained in Rousset, passed by the Pôle Espoirs d’Aix-en-Provence while playing in Venelles, she is the “rising player” and the one “who played the most between the U18s, the N2 and the “pros”, which was not at all in my project.” Completely uninhibited, she recognizes “to have more pressure when I play in U18 where a lot is expected of me. I have always been in the fight, in the combativeness for lack of having a lot of technique. I feel the confidence of the coach and I surprise myself I have to recognize it ” declares the one who has a place apart “for my first match at Sezkszard and the successes against Asvel in pros and U18s.” The future ? “I want to stay at BLMA to be full-time with the ‘pros’, that was my goal as with ‘young France’.”
Valery Demory’s opinion: “They are diligent kids. Elyah works a lot, she repeats series of shots, Célia, that’s not enough. Elena, she is always on the go as soon as she enters the field.
A major meeting for the BLMA
Four days before the end of the regular season (18 matches for all), the BLMA are 8th with the Green Girls of Saint-Amand, victorious 82-81 after extra time in the first leg! A Hérault success, taking over the goal average “is an obligation”, did not hide Valéry Demory. For the “most important match of the season”, the technician expects “from the public who supported us in the Euroleague when we had a very limited squad, that they fully play their role as 6th man.” We bet that it will be heard by the Jumpers and the spectators.
