U18 League Round 5 (Second Stage): Roanne defeat Antibes in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 5 in the U18 League took place in Roanne. This derby game ended with only two-point defeat on the road of bottom-ranked Antibes (0-5) to fifth ranked Roanne (3-2) 88-86 on Wednesday evening. Roanne moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Lille and Bourg. Antibes at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Oullins and Poitiers. Roanne is looking forward to face league's leader TOAC in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Antibes will play against Oullins (#8) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Strasbourg. Second ranked host Strasbourg (4-1) smashed 4th placed St-Quentin (2-3) 81-45. Strasbourg maintains second place with 4-1 record having just three point less than leader Chalon, which they share with 3 other teams. St-Quentin at the other side keeps the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Rouen and Massy. Strasbourg will play against Metropolitans (#3) in Levallois in the next round, which may be the game of the day. St-Quentin will play at home against the league's leader Chalon and hopes to get back on the winning track.
U18 League top team - Cholet (5-0) managed to deliver another win on Wednesday. This time they beat seventh ranked Quimper (1-4) 76-65. Undefeated Cholet have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record, which they share with Chalon. Quimper lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Angers and Nancy. Cholet will meet at home Lille (#4) in the next round. Quimper will play against Rouen and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 5: ASVEL destroyed Oullins on the opponent's court 91-61. Le Mans outscored Rouen in a home game 86-65. Gravelines rolled over Poitiers on the road 89-67. Lille defeated Angers on its own court 79-75. Chalons-Reims lost to undefeated Chalon in a road game 81-87. Massy won against Nancy at home 71-66.

Group Group A

Oullins - ASVEL 61-91

Very expected game in Sainte-Foy-les-Lyon where bottom-ranked Oullins (0-5) was crushed by second ranked ASVEL (4-1) 91-61 on Wednesday. ASVEL have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 4-1 record having just three point less than leader Chalon, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Oullins still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Antibes and Poitiers. ASVEL will meet at home Elan Bearnais (#6) in the next round. Oullins will play against Antibes and looks forward to get finally their first victory.

Roanne - Antibes 88-86

The most exciting game of round 5 in the U18 League took place in Roanne. This derby game ended with only two-point defeat on the road of bottom-ranked Antibes (0-5) to fifth ranked Roanne (3-2) 88-86 on Wednesday evening. Roanne moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Lille and Bourg. Antibes at the other side still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Oullins and Poitiers. Roanne is looking forward to face league's leader TOAC in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Antibes will play against Oullins (#8) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Le Mans - Rouen 86-65

Rather predictable result when third ranked Le Mans (4-1) smashed at home 5th ranked Rouen (2-3) 86-65 on Wednesday. Le Mans moved-up to second place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Rouen dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with St-Quentin and Massy. Le Mans will meet league's second-placed Gravelines on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rouen will play against Quimper and hope to secure a win.

Poitiers - Gravelines 67-89

Not a big story in a game when bottom-ranked Poitiers (0-5) was rolled over at home by second ranked Gravelines (4-1) 89-67 on Wednesday. Gravelines have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 4-1 record having just three point less than leader Chalon, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Poitiers still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Oullins and Antibes. Gravelines will meet at home Le Mans (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Poitiers will play against Angers (#6) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.

Quimper - Cholet 65-76

U18 League top team - Cholet (5-0) managed to deliver another win on Wednesday. This time they beat seventh ranked Quimper (1-4) 76-65. Cholet have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record, which they share with Chalon. Quimper lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Angers and Nancy. Cholet will meet at home Lille (#4) in the next round. Quimper will play against Rouen and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Lille - Angers 79-75

Everything went according to plan when fourth ranked Lille (3-2) beat at home 6th ranked Angers (1-4) 79-75 on Wednesday. Lille maintains fourth place with 3-2 record, which they share with Bourg and Roanne. Loser Angers keeps the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Quimper and Nancy. Lille will meet league's leader Cholet on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Angers will play against Poitiers (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Chalon - Chalons-Reims 87-81

There was no surprise when 5th ranked Chalons-Reims (1-3) was defeated on the road by leader Chalon (5-0) 87-81 on Wednesday. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Chalon. They maintain first place with 5-0 record, which they share with Cholet. Chalons-Reims lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the sixth position with three games lost. They share it with CFBB Paris and Elan Bearnais. Chalon will meet St-Quentin (#5) in the next round. Chalons-Reims will play against Massy and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Strasbourg - St-Quentin 81-45

The game between Top Four teams took place in Strasbourg. Second ranked host Strasbourg (4-1) smashed 4th placed St-Quentin (2-3) 81-45. Strasbourg maintains second place with 4-1 record having just three point less than leader Chalon, which they share with 3 other teams. St-Quentin at the other side keeps the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Rouen and Massy. Strasbourg will play against Metropolitans (#3) in Levallois in the next round, which may be the game of the day. St-Quentin will play at home against the league's leader Chalon and hopes to get back on the winning track.

Massy - Nancy 71-66

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both sixth ranked Massy and 7th ranked Nancy had identical 1-3 record. This time Massy used a home court advantage and won against the opponent from Nancy 71-66 on Wednesday night. Massy (2-3) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Rouen and St-Quentin. Loser Nancy dropped to the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Quimper and Angers. Massy will meet Chalons-Reims (#7) on the road in the next round. Nancy will play against CFBB Paris and it may be a tough game between close rivals.