Blois undefeated leader of Betclic ÉLITE, behind the scenes of an “unexpected” start to the season

In a city of 46,000 souls, who would have thought that the Abeille des Aydes Blois Basket was going to make a great start in Betclic ÉLITE? No offense, very little, especially since not everything has been linear in its recent history. Suspended in 2018 and 2020 from the decisions of the LNB as to its accession to the elite, the Blois club was forced to eat its black bread in Pro B. Promoted to the elite of French basketball for the first time in its history this season, the ADA has found enough to give enthusiasm to an entire territory. After Roanne in opening (94-90), Blois offered the biggest victory in its history, the scalp of the Villeurbannais champion at home (86-82). This Saturday at the Halle Carpentier in Paris, Blois played its third Betclic ÉLITE match in eight days. With a Tyren Johnson hit in the ankle four days earlier, Mickaël Hay’s men were still breathtaking to win (104-99) at the end of the suspense.

Perseverance and abnegation: a nice cocktail to extinguish Paris

Faced with a Parisian team full of energy, Blois could expect a difficult evening. Either their first in Betclic ELITE, but it was not. Jostled in the first quarter by the flashes of the trio Aamir Simms, Kyle Allman and Tyrone Wallace, the Loir-et-Cher club responded through Brice Dessert and Mbaye Ndiaye and were able to contain the assaults of Paris Basketball (54 -46, 20′). Blois then took control of the game after the break thanks to a clever mix of long-distance shots, fast play, aerial flights as well as an insolent address behind the arc (14/26 or 53.9 % of success) to stick a 33-19 on the quarter-time in Paris, which did not know how to answer (73-79, 30 ‘). Finally, Blois went for a victory full of self-sacrifice against a Parisian team in distress for three games.

“What is taken is no longer to be taken”, launched Mickaël Hay. Blois made the best possible start in Betclic ÉLITE by managing to snatch three victories. A flattering result but the road is long. “I still want to remind you that last season Champagne Basket started with 4 wins and 1 loss and now they are playing the Leaders Cup Pro B…” A progression and a rapid adaptation in the elite with a group for a part resulting from the adventure in Pro B and others, recruited this season. “I have a versatile and complementary group. I always manage to find a player who will bring me something in the match. I also know that if a player starts a game badly or something else, I could still restart him because he will react. We have room for improvement and we will focus on us. »

Humility, work and lucidity as a credo

Arrived in 2013 on the bench of the ADA, while the club was still in National 1, Mickaël Hay knows where he comes from and does not intend to skip the stages. “We must not take ourselves for what we are not. The most important thing is us and how we behave. Afterwards, there will be more difficult evenings but for the moment, we are progressing. » And for good reason. Going from Pro B to Betclic ÉLITE is not easy. Barely mounted, Blois has already had to get to work to tackle a hard and long season of Betclic ÉLITE where they will try to renew their lease. A naturally high step when you know that the budget is 3.6 million euros and disproportionate to those of most residents of the championship. But the small club fights with its means and does it well. “It’s not insulting my players but we have less talent than the other teams”admits the coach. “But we help each other and we use each other’s qualities to create something. For three games, we have been producing big games on offense. We expect more difficult evenings but there is this desire to concern everyone. »

Blois seems to have found the right formula in the top flight, much to his surprise. “It’s unexpected”agrees the Blois technician. “What we had offered in preparation was average, especially against Betclic ELITE clubs. We are a promoted and for the moment, we have no expectation of results. I want us to play good basketball and I didn’t even give the team a goal. The club has given the objective of maintaining it, but I want us to focus on playing well. Today, for the teams that receive us, it is not a “danger” but when you are promoted and you find yourself playing for victory in the last five minutes, there is necessarily more pressure at the opponent than at home. We take everything that has to be taken, we are not choosy on that side. »

Place now on another piece, still a direct competitor despite the classification, Fos-Provence, during the next day to try to prolong the dream and to show that there is something other interesting than the castles on the edges of the Loire…

Interviewed in Paris,