Les Grisollais, favorites that we dream of knocking down at least once, faced Cahors on March 25 in a high-stakes match.
Invincible in the regular season, the senior boys confidently approached the first match of their semi-final (first team with two wins) against Cahors. Perfectly focused at the start of the match, they were patient and active enough in attack to find space. With however a bit of tension in defense since they hesitated to come out high on the opposing exteriors. They still managed to hinder Cahors and to obtain some ammunition in counter-attacks. And as they showed great skill from a distance, they dug a first gap at the end of the period, leading by 21 to 13 after ten minutes. Machine launched? No. As too often this season, the second quarter time was the big weak point of this team, once again. By retreating too much in defense, they exposed themselves to the renewed confidence of the Cadurciens who found the parade through the player posted at the head of the racket to serve as a relay, or even score. The Grisollais conceded a 9 to 0 which put them on the ropes. Unable to score any basket during the period, they scored only five points on free throws. Fortunately, their defense had regained some color to limit the damage by closing the breaches. Half-time: 26 to 25. Then, as if all they had to do was flip a switch to suddenly raise their level of play, the Grisollais upset their opponents enormously and took a ten-point lead. But Cahors fought back, returning to the wheel. It’s a basket ringing that allowed Grisolles to lead by 41 to 36 before the last quarter. An important basket since it reinflated the Grisollais troupe and its public, white-hot by this success. They have thus surfed on this wave of positive waves during the last ten minutes to stifle the offensive inclinations of Cahors and widen the gap little by little. The advantage even reached fifteen points at the start of the last two minutes. The Grisollais lacked spontaneity and fluidity, but their application was enough for them to win the first round by 55 to 46.
They will now have to show the same seriousness during the second match, Saturday April 1, in Cahors, if they want to join the final.
