Basketball: Gimont leaves the Final Four between disappointment and promises after his fourth place in Compiègne

Gimont experienced disappointment during this weekend in Compiègne devoted to the Final Four. The Gimontoises secretly dreamed of the title of champions of France. Unfortunately, the Gersoises left with fourth place in the tournament.

Saturday, for the semi-final, the ESG faced Martigues. The daughters of Julie Bergada, the Gers coach, had a difficult first half, due to a lack of precision (24 lost balls in total) and fluctuating concentration in defense. Enough to allow the Martégales to reach half-time with an 8-point lead (29-37). Change of scenery on the occasion of the third quarter, approached foot to the floor by the Stars, who passed a 21-13 to the Martégales (50-50).

Alas, the Gimontoises fell back into the approximation and ended up losing 63-70. However, the ESG displayed a good skill (42% on shots) throughout the game as well as great collective actions (23 assists out of 27 baskets scored) with headliners Élodie Bessières and Myriam Abdeldjebbar.

At the end of the meeting, Julie Bergada remarked: “We were a little inhibited by what was at stake. We missed the first half and, although we reacted well in the third quarter, the efforts made were paid off in the last period. »

A match for 3rd place marked by awkwardness

The match for 3rd place opposed two old acquaintances between Gimont and Mondeville. Indeed, the Gersoises faced the Normandes in the National 3 final last season (victory for the USO) before finding them again this season in the accession group, each of the two teams winning away from home.

Composed of talented young players, the Mondeville team started the match much better, quickly leading 13-3, before the partners of an exemplary Élodie Bessières in the engagement came back to score to end the first act with five points. behind only (19-24).

Then, the Gimontoises fell back into approximations and the USO took the opportunity to take off, 28-41 at halftime. The rest of the match did not take a different turn and, taking advantage of the Gers awkwardness (26.56% on shots), the Normans continued to widen the gap, concluding the third quarter with a gap in advance: 39- 60. A heavy score, but which reflected the physiognomy of a meeting dominated head and shoulders by Mondeville.

The Stars raised their heads in the last period, won 19-9, and lost 58-69. If they showed more consistency than the day before, Jessy Boudenne’s teammates (15 rating) suffered through ball losses (28 stray balls) and clumsiness.

Promises for next season

Beyond their legitimate disappointment, the ESG players have nothing to be ashamed of their season, far from it. Indeed, when they had just come up from National 3, who would have bet at the start of the season that the Star would conclude the exercise with a sporting climb to National 1 and a participation in the Final Four?

For Julie Bergada, we must now learn lessons from this weekend: “The girls gave everything from the first to the last second, they never gave up. We have nothing to be ashamed of our performance. Now, we have to be able to manage the event, the emotions, to concentrate on our basketball. It will serve as a learning curve for next season. “Despite the defeats, the ESG girls will keep fond memories of this tournament and in particular the very warm welcome given to them by the organizers of the event and the many Gers supporters who came to support their team.

Julie Bergada was delighted: “With our brilliant supporters, we are proud to have given a good image to Gimont and the Gers. “And the exceptional 2022-23 season experienced by the Étoile Sportive de Gimont has indeed something to make the whole club, the whole city of Gimont and even the whole department proud!