The accordion score lasted the entire game. And Boulazac won, signing a great performance: Aix-Maurienne was third. The match struggled to get going, with the score being only 0-2 after almost two and a half turns of the clock. With a 0/4 and a 1/4 on shots, the two teams did not help… But Ousman Krubally came out of his box, at the head of the racket then with his back to the basket, launching his team (0-6, 4th) .
Aix-Maurienne immediately got back together (5-6, 5th), before a surge in Boulazac initiated by Hugo Robineau. The BBD regained the lead (5-12, 5th then 12-17, 8th). The Savoyards, a second time, came back almost to the level of the Périgourdins (17-18, 9th).
Before going in front on two free throws from Yomi (19-18, 10th). A tap dunk then a defensive rebound from Babacar Mbye, for his return, restored the advantage to the BBD at the end of the first quarter; except that the Savoyards and Kanouté scored at the buzzer (21-20, 10th).
Once again, the Boulazacois made the effort to repel the locals. Thomas Ville justified his definitive commitment with a first three-point basket (21-23) then a second (21-26, 21st). An interception by Marcos Suka-Umu only led to a successful throw by Cyrille Eliezer-Vanerot, but Ville scored his third winning basket, bringing the score to 21-30 (12th), a clear 0-10 for the Boulazacois.
Decisive stops
The scenario of a yo-yo match continued regardless. Noël hit three points and Aix-Maurienne came back to 29-33 (14th). Then a shot behind the arc from Angelo Warner (31-38, 15th) and another from Eliezer-Vanerot (33-41, 16th) calmed the Savoyards. At that point, BBD had attempted 15 three-pointers, making nine attempts; i.e. 60% success.
This cushion thus constituted, it was finally necessary to preserve it… Boulazac reached the break with five points more than the Mauriennais (40-45), thanks in particular to good circulation of the ball (14 assists including six for Suka-Umu and five for Warner) for only seven lost balls.
This working base allowed, at the start of the third quarter, to widen the gap with in particular an acrobatic lay up from Robineau (45-53, 24th). But once again the victim of a less good blow, the BBD let the Savoyards believe it (49-53, 25th). Pepin’s dunk restarted the match (51-53, 25th).
Despite the attacks from the Mauriennais, the BBD managed not to let itself be completely taken over. Mbye stood out (55-62, 28th), but that was not enough (61-62, 29th). Aix-Maurienne took the lead ten minutes from the end (66-63).
Only one possession separated the two teams (71-73, 33rd). Boulazac placed a defensive effort at the best moment, validated by Krubally (75-83, 36th). Aix-Maurienne forced its way, the American-Gambian won and, with a 10-point lead (75-85, 37th), victory held out its arms to the Périgourdins.
Hopes
The Pau/Orthez reception on Saturday November 16 (5 p.m.) at the Agora is expensive for the Boulazacois Espoirs. For the last day of the first phase, there is a three-way fight with Poitiers for the last qualifying place towards the upper group. The BBD has its destiny in its hands and one victory is enough for them. In case of defeat, you will have to take out the calculators.
