The TGB team lost to Montpellier this Saturday evening at the Quai de l’Adour in Tarbes.
It was a lively evening at the Palais des Sports on the Quai de l’Adour, where Tarbes Gespe Bigorre (TGB) faced BLMA Montpellier for an Occitan derby which kept its promises… until the break. In front of an enthusiastic audience, notably thanks to the dynamic youth of STAPS de Bordeaux, the TGB had to lose 71-61 after a nightmarish second half.
A promising start for Tarbes
The TGB, carried by its captain Droguet and solid performances from Strunc and Fora, started the meeting with determination. The Tarbaises compete with the Montpellier women, playing eye to eye during the first two quarters. At the break, the gap was minimal, with a score of 37-36 in favor of the visitors (23-21, 14-15). The intensity on the floor and the encouragement from the public give hope for a favorable outcome for the locals.
A fatal third quarter
Everything changes upon recovery. Between the 20th and 30th minutes, the TGB collapsed, victim of repeated ball losses and a lack of offensive aggressiveness. The players struggled to realize their opportunities, scoring only 6 points in this quarter, compared to 17 for Montpellier. This slump, marked by the visible anger of François Gomez, is costly: Tarbes finds itself at -10 at the start of the last period (43-53).
An insufficient burst
Despite a renewed energy in the last quarter, where Fora connected several winning shots to try to revive his team, the delay was too great. The BLMA, led by a solid defense and a well-orchestrated attack, did not give up and left the Pyrenees with a precious victory (18-18 in the last quarter).
The reactions
When he returned to the locker room, François Gomez showed a bad night’s face. The disappointment is palpable, because everything seemed possible for the TGB before this disastrous third quarter. The coach will have to quickly mobilize his group for the next crucial trip to Villeneuve d’Ascq, otherwise the chances of qualifying will disappear.
Statistics
- TGB : Droguet (cap) 8 points, Strunc 14 points, Musa 9 points, Zodia 6 points, Ewodo 3 points, Fora 14 points, Myem 7 points.
- BLMA Montpellier : Dominant in the key moments of the match, the Montpellier women were able to take advantage of opposing errors to widen the gap at the best moment.
Atmosphere at the Quai de l’Adour
If the defeat leaves a bitter taste, the atmosphere in the room was exceptional. The Bordeaux students set fire throughout the meeting, confirming that the Quai de l’Adour remains one of the liveliest places in French women’s basketball.
The TGB will have to learn from this evening and show a different face next week to stay in the race for the final stages.
