Whoever loses wins | SIG Strasbourg

The SIGmen were starting the match with great energy and a clear desire. By jumping at the throats of the visitors, the Alsatians started off with a bang and the score was logically to their advantage after 3 ‘: 8-3. But Amida Brimah and her troop did not let themselves be fooled. Without rushing the visitors began to push and the 0-8 taken in the face by the SIGmen allowed Le Filou to take the lead (11-13, 5’30). It did not take more to see coach Tuovi take his first time out. Indeed the Finnish tactician felt the tide turning in the face of the growing Belgian domination. This one was doing a little good, but Ostend was sailing on a good address and, without striking a blow, the opponent of the evening took 5pts in advance (15-20, 8 ‘). Five… Like the gap to keep to keep this second place which was ours before this match. Their success did not decrease (63%), but very fortunately the SIG Strasbourg found in Gaylor Curier a precious sniper who alone allowed to achieve balance at the Fin du 1^is quarter-time: 25-25 (score: 30-32).

This street firecracker from Gaylor had just dynamited the Belgian defense and the start of the 2^th quarter was a beautiful illustration of the going found. With Jarell, John and Gaylor threading the triples like pearls, the Strasbourg attack worked wonders and suddenly everything was better: 34-27, 13 ‘. The opposing coach called everyone back on the bench in order to put the ideas in place to his players and upon returning to the floor Amida Briah resumed her work of undermining (11pts-6rbs). The imposing Ostend control tower played with the Strasbourg racquet, which was having a hard time containing it. On his own he turned the tide and, as a bonus the experienced Pierre-Antoine Gillet took over at 3pts, everything had to be redone. As for experience, in “grandpa makes resistance” mode, Captain Dusan Djordjevic also set the example. From the height of his 38 years he guided his team to equalize 2 ‘from the break: 44-44, 18’. But above all, by completing the first 20 minutes with 65% success (including 10/15 in the quarter) the Belgians were doing very badly to the defense of SIG Strasbourg which returned to the locker room with 50 pawns in the bag! It stings … Half time: 49-50 (score: 53-50).

Everything was very difficult at the start of the second half and the game was much more disjointed. Difficult to find a trend, but one thing is certain the address of the SIGmen on the throwing line, in such a close encounter, was starting to annoy. With a pretty ugly 9/16 in this drill, Ike Udanoh and his gang left way too much ammo on the way. Damaging because at the same time Ostend started to accelerate again and everything was getting really difficult. Levi Randolph remembered the Rhenus (17pts after 30 ‘) and little by little the gap grew as in the 23^th the two teams were still tied (54-54). Suffice to say that the 59-67 of the 26^th was therefore not pretty to see… The Strasbourg game was breaking down and the face of the match was becoming worrying. At least 10 to 2 ‘from the end of the quarter (59-69, 28’) we really had the right to ask ourselves: Are we past our collective? the last moments were not going to help us find the answer and this quarter, very ugly moreover of the SIGmen, had to be forgotten to start again and especially… Not to sink! Fin du 3^th quarter time: 62-73 (rating: 62-90)

So… How to say… We are however used to it now, but the Tuovi coach teams are never dead. Always beware of the injured beast! While the score was 64-77 at the 31^th, the storm was falling on Belgian heads. 2, 4, 6, 10, 15… Yes it was indeed a 15-0 that Morin & Co had just passed to set the record straight. Stayed in the locker room with their game and their collective during the 3^th quarter, the SIGmen threw themselves on all the bullets like death of hunger and showed a face which one preferred to him without common measure. Standard of the revolt, Matt Mitchell brought us a high class quarterback (11pts) and on his broad shoulders the team even took a 4pts lead: 83-79, 35’30. But Ostend was not going down and Booth’s 30pts accompanied by Randolph’s 23pts hurt a lot. Once again, without panicking, and despite the exclusion of their coach, the Reds came back and even paid themselves the luxury of taking a 3pts lead at 1’23 from the end: 87-90. What devils these reds! Captain Dre then put on his vigilante cloak and after a pretty 2 + 1, gave us the dunk of the month. No, no… From the season poster my friends! He flew to the defense of Ostend 30 seconds from the end to give the lead to his team (91-90, 39’30). Unfortunately the last seconds allowed Levi Randolph to materialize 2LF and the last Strasbourg action was going to give nothing (avoiding at the same time a potential extension). FINAL SCORE of 91-92 (eval: 96-73)