By letting Saint-Chamond take off after returning from the locker room, the RMB failed to chain a second victory in a row, Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Kindarena (78-70).
Everything changed in the space of four minutes. The time for Saint-Chamond to inflict a 15-2 to Rouennais completely overwhelmed (41-55, 24th). Thanks to an insolent three-point address, the visitors widened the gap in a long balanced match but which took place at a false pace throughout the first half. Saint-Chamond led the race thanks in particular to offensive rebounds. Opposite, Benoît Injaï carried the RMB by scoring 18 points on the first 39 of Rouen (39-40, 20th). It was the return of the locker room that was fatal for Alexandre Ménard’s players. Kovac, Barton and Cotale each sent a three-point banderilla without the Normans reacting. The damage was done but like Monceau, Rouen gave everything to try to come back. Except that Saint-Chamond kept the Rouennais at bay (52-68).
Mekdad could not play
After the bad weather in Normandy at the start of the third quarter, the visitors also ran out of fuel. The batteries seemed empty and the RMB took the opportunity to give itself the right to believe it. Nwogbo slammed a huge dunk then found the circle from a long distance. Around him, the Rouennais did not have the same address and did not solve their defensive problems. Stevens made two shots to bring his team to just five lengths (67-72, 39th). Excellent throughout the game, Couramiaud Hoyaux then took matters into his own hands. He scored his fifth three-point shot of the game and then caused the two points with the foul with 30 seconds remaining. Rouen was definitely beaten (70-78).
The Seinomarins must now travel to Antibes for a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 15. The RMB could again be deprived of Ryan Harrow, still ill (food poisoning) but also of Samir Mekdad, also remained on the bench yesterday. The Algerian international felt discomfort in the adductor after the match against Evreux. That the end of the season is long for Rouennais who no longer have energy in the reservoir …
The reactions
Alexandre Ménard (Rouen coach): “In the first half, Saint-Chamond took a lot of offensive rebounds. They were already starting to fire. Hoyaux and Kovac hurt. We took advantage of small mistakes to come back just before half-time. We feel that there was a false rhythm. We gave the youngsters some playing time because we know there was a second half and three matches to play. The return from the locker room hurt us very badly while the half-time speech evoked the fact that if we defended a little harder, we could do something good. Then we took a 15-2 which hurt. When I look my players in the eye, I’m not sure it responds yet. We feel that we are losing control because there is no more lucidity. We have to play and produce in every game. I feel there is enormous mental fatigue. “
Benoît Injaï (rear of Rouen) : “There was fatigue coming back from the locker room since we gave a lot in the first half. There may have been some relaxation too. In the first half, in defense, it was not great. There were some omissions and even more in the second half. Saint-Chamond returned his shots. Kovac lit at three points. We pay dearly for it. It’s hard to stay at high intensity for a whole game. I had cramps at the end. If we manage to make a few stops in defense at the end when we come back to the match, that could have changed the situation. “
The sheet
Rouen – Saint-Chamond 70-78 (39-40)
(18-21, 21-19, 13-28, 18-10)
Referees: MM. Sans, Melab and Dahra. Spectators: About 500.
ROUEN : 27/62 on shots (44%) including 6/24 at 3 pts (25%), 10/12 LF (83%), 33 rebounds (Bassoumba 10), 12 bp, 14 pd (Injaï 4), 75 d ‘ evaluation (Injaï 24).
The brand : Monceau 8 points, Cauwet, Gomis 7, Gassaud, Ruel 5, Stevens 10, Bassoumba 6, Nwogbo 15, Injaï 19.
Coach: Alexandre Ménard.
SAINT-CHAMOND: 28/63 on shots (44%) including 13/33 at 3 pts (39%), 9/12 LF (75%), 39 rebounds (Cazenobe 9), 10 bp, 22 pd (Guichard 7), 96 d ‘ evaluation (Hoyaux 17).
The brand : Edogi 13 points, Barton 3, Leopold 2, Hoyaux 22, Cortale 10, Guichard 2, Kovac 16, Cazenobe 5, Queta 3, Pharose 2.
Coach: Alain Thinet.
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