ProB Round 15 (Regular Season): Stade Rochelais are defeated by Rouen

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked La Rochelle (13-2) on the court of fourth ranked SPO Rouen on Saturday night. Visitors were rolled over by SPO Rouen 110-67. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of La Rochelle. Rouen made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. Rouen outrebounded Stade Rochelais 39-21 including a 29-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rouen shot the lights out from three sinking 22 long-distance shots on high 57.9 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Stade Rochelais' players. 26 personal fouls committed by Stade Rochelais helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for guard Clarence Nadolny (191-2000, college: Texas Tech) who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. American-Israeli guard Michael Brisker (188-1998) helped adding 19 points. The best for the losing side was Jerome Sanchez (200-1990) with 12 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. SPO Rouen have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Boulazac. Stade Rochelais at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Rouen is looking forward to face ASA (#15) in Gries in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Stade Rochelais will play at home against St.Chamond (#7) and is hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Saint Chamond. Second ranked JA Vichy (12-3) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 7th ranked Saint Chamond (8-7) 78-75 on Sunday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. It was an exceptional evening for point guard Sebastien Cape (184-1993) who led the winners and scored 7 points and 12 assists. Emmanuel Omogbo accounted for 16 points and 6 rebounds. JA Vichy's coach Guillaume Vizade allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Naturalized Algerian forward Kamel Ammour (202-1991) came up with 14 points and 5 rebounds for St.Chamond in the defeat. Vichy Clermont maintains second place with 12-3 record behind leader Stade Rochelais. St.Chamond at the other side keeps the seventh position with seven games lost. Vichy Clermont will play against Boulazac (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. St.Chamond will play against the league's leader Stade Rochelais (#1) in La Rochelle and hopes to get back on the winning track.
A very close game took place in Evreux between ALM Evreux and Pau-Lacq-Orthez. Tenth ranked ALM Evreux (7-8) got a very close home victory over 8th ranked Pau-Lacq-Orthez (7-8). ALM Evreux managed to escape with a 1-point win 74-73 in the fight for the eighth place. The best player for the winners was Joe Burton who scored 12 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. ALM Evreux's coach Neno Asceric used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was Arthur Bruyas who recorded 24 points. Evreux moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated EB Orthez. EB Orthez lost fourth consecutive game. Evreux will meet Angers (#17) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. EB Orthez will play against Nantes (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 15: Aix-Maurienne won against Angers on the opponent's court 94-83. Antibes managed to outperform Lille in a home game 79-71. Orleans recorded a loss to Boulazac on the road 81-74. Chalons-Reims was defeated by Poitiers on its own court 69-72. Fos-sur-Mer was beaten by Denain-Voltaire in a road game 74-70. Nantes won against ASA at home 84-71.



Angers - Aix-Maurienne 83-94

Rather expected game when 17th ranked Etoile Angers (3-12) was defeated at home by fourteenth ranked Aix-Maurienne (6-9) 94-83 on Friday. Aix-Maurienne dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Etoile Angers' 40. Aix-Maurienne forced 23 Angers turnovers and outrebounded them 38-25 including 17 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was Kittitian-American swingman Shaun Willett (193-1996, college: Queens, NC) who had a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds. Naturalized Guyanese forward Gide Noel (200-1993) chipped in 15 points. Five Aix-Maurienne players scored in double figures. Aix-Maurienne's coach Emmanuel Schmitt used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was swingman Stephan Gauthier (192-1995) who recorded 19 points and 7 rebounds and center Darel Poirier (207-1997) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Aix-Maurienne moved-up to thirteenth place, which they share with Antibes. Angers lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the seventeenth position with 12 games lost. They share it with Fos-sur-Mer. Aix-Maurienne will meet at home higher ranked Lille (#10) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Angers will play against Evreux (#12) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aix-Maurienne: S.Willett 28+11reb+3ast, G.Noel 15+4reb+3ast, K.Samuel 14+4reb, S.Kanoute 12+5reb+4ast, K.Jackson 10+4reb+5ast, F.Corentin 10+2ast
Angers: S.Gauthier 19+7reb+2ast, D.Poirier 19+5reb+3ast, T.Ghezala 17+2reb+6ast, B.Aurele 8+3reb+3ast, B.Averette 7+1reb+3ast, M.Hugo 6+2reb

Antibes - Lille 79-71

There was a surprise result when fourteenth ranked Olympique Antibes (6-9) defeated at home higher ranked Lille Metropole (7-8) 79-71 on Friday. Antibes made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Antibes outrebounded Lille 30-19 including a 25-11 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was center Mathieu Boyer (207-1995) who scored 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Naturalized Cameroonian guard Samir Gbetkom Bikantchou (192-1998) chipped in 14 points and 5 rebounds. Olympique Antibes' coach J.D. Jackson used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was Spanish guard Marcos Suka-Umu (193-1985) who recorded 11 points and 5 assists and Serbian center Mladen Vujic (205-1999) added 12 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Olympique Antibes have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to thirteenth place, which they share with Aix-Maurienne. Loser Lille Metropole keeps the eighth position with eight games lost. They share it with 4 other teams. Antibes will meet higher ranked Orleans (#5) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Lille will play against Aix-Maurienne in Aix-les-Bains and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Antibes: M.Boyer 17+5reb+4ast, S.Gbetkom Bikantchou 14+5reb+2ast, B.Palo 14+3reb+3ast, S.Gavrilovic 13+4reb+4ast, B.Monclar 7+1ast, G.Green 6+6reb+2ast
Lille: C.Eyenga 13+2reb+2ast, M.Vujic 12+4reb+2ast, M.Suka-Umu 11+3reb+5ast, M.Santos-Silva 10+2reb+1ast, D.Halvin 9+2reb, L.Bourhis 6+1reb+3ast

Boulazac - Orleans 81-74

Not a big story in a game when 5th ranked Entente Orleans 45 (9-6) was defeated on the road by third ranked Boulazac Basket (11-4) 81-74 on Friday. Boulazac made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 23 Orleans turnovers. The best player for the winners was American point guard Angelo Warner (188-1992, college: Morehead St.) who scored 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Point guard Hugo Robineau (193-2000) chipped in 26 points (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!). At the other side the best for losing team was Jamaican-Canadian guard Stefan Smith (187-1999, college: St.John's, agency: Players Group) who recorded 20 points and 4 assists and Senegalese center Mamadou Niang (211-1994) added 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks (perfect from the field making all eight shots !!!) respectively. Entente Orleans 45's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Boulazac maintains third place with 11-4 record having just two points less than leader Stade Rochelais, which they share with Rouen. Loser Entente Orleans 45 keeps the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Nantes. Boulazac will meet league's second-placed Vichy Clermont on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Orleans will play against Antibes and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Boulazac: H.Robineau 26+2reb+2ast, A.Warner 23+5reb+4ast, J.Pansa 10+7reb, T.Yussuf 9+8reb+2ast, D.Adel 6+5reb+3ast, Y.Golitin 4+4reb
Orleans: S.Smith 20+4reb+4ast, M.Niang 17+9reb, L.Thirouard-Samson 11+4reb+1ast, L.Beyhurst 8+5ast, L.Negrobar 7+2reb+1ast, G.Marcus 6

Chalons-Reims - Poitiers 69-72

Everything went according to plan when twelfth ranked Poitiers (7-8) edged on the road 16th ranked Chalons-Reims (4-11) 72-69 on Friday. Poitiers made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was guard Imanol Prot (182-2004) who scored 15 points. Center Jonathan Jeanne (218-1997) chipped in 10 points and 6 rebounds. Four Poitiers players scored in double figures. Poitiers' coach Andy Thornton-Jones used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was Croatian forward David Skara (203-1995, college: Clemson) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 rebounds and forward Florian Leopold (204-2000) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Poitiers moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 4 other teams. Loser Chalons-Reims keeps the sixteenth position with 11 games lost. Poitiers will meet at home Denain-Voltaire (#11) in the next round. Chalons-Reims will play against Fos-sur-Mer (#18) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Poitiers: P.Imanol 15+3reb+2ast, E.Guillaume 13+2reb+1ast, K.Harley 12+4reb, J.Jeanne 10+6reb+1ast, L.Rupnik 9+2reb+6ast, C.Pontens 6+1reb+3ast
Chalons-Reims: D.Skara 18+11reb+2ast, F.Leopold 12+9reb, L.Sambe 10+1reb+1ast, M.Keita 8+4reb+7ast, J.Dally 7+6reb+3ast, M.Jackson 6+1reb+3ast

Denain-Voltaire - Fos-sur-Mer 74-70

There was no surprise when 17th ranked Provence Basket (3-12) was defeated on the road by twelfth ranked Denain Voltaire (7-8) 74-70 on Friday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Denain-Voltaire outrebounded Fos-sur-Mer 43-30 including a 34-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was Canadian forward Guillaume Payen-Boucard (198-1990, college: Carleton) who scored 16 points and 6 rebounds. American point guard Chris Lykes (169-1998, college: Arkansas, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 14 points and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Jamar Diggs (190-1988, college: Wofford) who recorded 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international forward Jordan Aboudou (201-1991) added 13 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Provence Basket's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Denain-Voltaire moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 4 other teams. Fos-sur-Mer lost eighth consecutive game. They dropped to the bottom position with 12 games lost. They share it with Angers. Denain-Voltaire will meet Poitiers (#8) on the road in the next round. Fos-sur-Mer will play against Chalons-Reims (#16) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Denain-Voltaire: G.Payen-Boucard 16+6reb+1ast, C.Lykes 14+3reb+5ast, L.Phillip 9+6reb+2ast, B.Gillet 8+2reb+2ast, M.Kevin 7+12reb+3ast, Z.Edosomwan 7+9reb+2ast
Fos-sur-Mer: J.Diggs 23+5reb+4ast, J.Aboudou 13+5reb+1ast, M.Wojciechowski 9+7reb, R.Turner III 9+3reb+4ast, D.Bouquet 7+8reb+2ast, D.Jordan 4+1reb+1ast

Evreux - EB Orthez 74-73

A very close game took place in Evreux between ALM Evreux and Pau-Lacq-Orthez. Tenth ranked ALM Evreux (7-8) got a very close home victory over 8th ranked Pau-Lacq-Orthez (7-8). ALM Evreux managed to escape with a 1-point win 74-73 in the fight for the eighth place. The best player for the winners was American power forward Joe Burton (202-1990, college: Oregon St., agency: GoEmpire Group) who scored 12 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Guard Romain Parmentelot (190-2004) chipped in 17 points and 7 assists. ALM Evreux's coach Neno Asceric used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was swingman Arthur Bruyas (198-2000, agency: BIG) who recorded 24 points and guard Dalil Hadi (185-2003) added 9 points, 11 assists and 5 steals respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Evreux moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated EB Orthez. EB Orthez lost fourth consecutive game. Evreux will meet Angers (#17) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. EB Orthez will play against Nantes (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Evreux: P.Romain 17+1reb+7ast, P.Rigot 14+2reb+2ast, J.Burton 12+9reb+6ast, M.Killian 12+2reb+2ast, S.Raharimanantoanina 8+3reb+1ast, Y.Joseph 5+2reb+1ast
EB Orthez: B.Arthur 24+3reb+1ast, T.Munnings 11+5reb+2ast, D.Affo Mama 10+3reb+1ast, G.Kensmil 10+5reb+2ast, H.Dalil 9+3reb+11ast, L.Sane 7+3reb

Nantes - ASA 84-71

No shocking result in a game when sixth ranked Nantes (9-6) won against at home 13th ranked ASA (5-10) 84-71 on Friday. Nantes made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 ASA turnovers. The best player for the winners was DR Congolese-American guard Christian Lutete (196-1996, college: UMass Lowell) who scored 23 points and 9 rebounds. American point guard Devon Thomas (183-1994, college: Texas Tech) chipped in 17 points and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was point guard Yohan Choupas (192-2000) who recorded 15 points and 4 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) and center Yvann MBaya (209-2001) added 12 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Nantes have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Orleans. Loser ASA dropped to the fifteenth position with ten games lost. Nantes will meet EB Orthez (#9) in the next round. ASA will play against Rouen (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Nantes: C.Lutete 23+9reb+1ast, D.Thomas 17+3reb+5ast, D.Govens 12+1reb+2ast, B.Nze 10+3reb+2ast, M.Legat 8+3reb+2ast, G.Harvey 5+1reb+1ast
ASA: Y.Choupas 15+1reb+4ast, J.Zamora 12+3reb+3ast, Y.MBaya 12+7reb, C.Ponsar 11+3reb+1ast, N.Elwin 7+3reb, C.Mounce 6+2reb

St.Chamond - Vichy Clermont 75-78

Important game to mention about took place in Saint Chamond. Second ranked JA Vichy (12-3) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 7th ranked Saint Chamond (8-7) 78-75 on Sunday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Vichy Clermont forced 21 St.Chamond turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for point guard Sebastien Cape (184-1993) who led the winners and scored 7 points and 12 assists. Nigerian-American forward Emmanuel Omogbo (203-1995, college: Colorado St.) accounted for 16 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side. JA Vichy's coach Guillaume Vizade allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Naturalized Algerian forward Kamel Ammour (202-1991) came up with 14 points and 5 rebounds and Croatian center Antonio Vrankovic (213-1996, college: Duke) added 12 points and 8 rebounds respectively for St.Chamond in the defeat. Vichy Clermont maintains second place with 12-3 record behind leader Stade Rochelais. St.Chamond at the other side keeps the seventh position with seven games lost. Vichy Clermont will play against Boulazac (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. St.Chamond will play against the league's leader Stade Rochelais (#1) in La Rochelle and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Vichy Clermont: E.Omogbo 16+6reb, I.Djambo 14+4reb, M.Ertel II 12+1reb+2ast, M.Assemian 8+4reb+3ast, C.Bah 8+1reb, S.Cape 7+4reb+12ast
St.Chamond: K.Ammour 14+5reb+2ast, A.Vrankovic 12+8reb, J.Hoyaux 11+3reb+2ast, I.Seppala 9+2reb+3ast, M.Guichard 8+4reb+5ast, C.Eliezer-Vanerot 7+3reb

Rouen - Stade Rochelais 110-67

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked La Rochelle (13-2) on the court of fourth ranked SPO Rouen on Saturday night. Visitors were rolled over by SPO Rouen 110-67. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of La Rochelle. Rouen made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. Rouen outrebounded Stade Rochelais 39-21 including a 29-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rouen shot the lights out from three sinking 22 long-distance shots on high 57.9 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Stade Rochelais' players. 26 personal fouls committed by Stade Rochelais helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for guard Clarence Nadolny (191-2000, college: Texas Tech) who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. American-Israeli guard Michael Brisker (188-1998) helped adding 19 points. Five SPO Rouen players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Jerome Sanchez (200-1990) with 12 points and Swedish Johan Lofberg (199-1995) scored 13 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. SPO Rouen have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Boulazac. Stade Rochelais at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Rouen is looking forward to face ASA (#15) in Gries in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Stade Rochelais will play at home against St.Chamond (#7) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Rouen: C.Nadolny 24+8reb+4ast, M.Brisker 19+1ast, K.Gourari 12+6reb+2ast, M.Yasmin 11+3reb+1ast, M.Choua 10+6reb+3ast, E.Kayouloud 10+3reb
Stade Rochelais: J.Lofberg 13+1reb+1ast, J.Sanchez 12+2reb+2ast, T.Ville 11+2reb, L.Matheo 8+3reb+1ast, J.Belo 5+3reb+1ast, A.Tanghe 5+2reb+2ast