Betclic ELITE – Under the leadership of the Phil Booth – Quinton Hooker duo, SIG Strasbourg won the Eastern derby against SLUC Nancy (88-78). With its third victory in a row, Massimo Cancellieri’s team is now eighth in the championship.
And to think that two weeks ago, SIG Strasbourg threatened to plunge into crisis, led by 19 points in the third quarter by Le Portel (41-60). Since then, the ESSM suffered the only hitch in its crazy series at Rhénus, Blois was stifled and the Eastern derby escaped SLUC Nancy (88-78). That’s three victories in a row for Massimo Cancellieri’s team!
6 defeats in 8 matches: SLUC still fragile on the road
After a balanced first ten minutes, SIG Strasbourg accelerated during the second quarter to take the lead just before halftime (48-38). Upon returning from the locker room, teammates Quinton Hooker (21 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals) and Phil Booth (20 points) returned to the floor with the same intensity. Overwhelmed defensively, long deprived of Shevon Thompson (16 points and 13 rebounds) because of a foul problem, the Lorraines did not succeed in stopping the Alsatian frenzy, despite some serious close calls (56-53, 26th minute), carried in particular by the child of the region, Antony Labanca (12 points at 4/6 from afar). “We lacked consistency in defense”pointed out Mérédis Houmounou, the Lorraine captain, on SKWEEK. “If we want to win away (2v-6d), we must not leave the opponent with 88 points. It’s too much, too much! We’re not that far but it’s still a defeat. We will have to find a way to travel better. »
With 20 points, Phil Booth really hurt SLUC (photo: Philippe Gigon)
Without Sylvain Lautié, suspended, SLUC Nancy was coached this Saturday by the duo Jonathan Nebout – Maxime Zianveni, with GM Julien Bestron sitting on the bench, a phone in hand, certainly to communicate with his coach… But this is not not the technician who won the 2002 Korac Cup who was most lacking in Lorraine. Above all, they were missing their brilliant leader, Frank Mason III, Betclic ÉLITE’s top scorer, who was having trouble with his ankle. “We’re not going to lie, it suited us that he wasn’t there”slipped Paul Lacombe. “He’s their major player. We knew that removing their starting point guard and his impact would help us and it did! We gave them a lot of problems, we tried to put a lot of pressure on them and it worked for us. Honestly, it’s a big victory for us! »
“We are finally starting to look upwards”
For the first time this season, except for the first day, the Alsatian team enters the Top 8, with a balanced record (7v-7d). After long weeks spent fumbling with its attack, sometimes presenting distressing difficulties for the Rhénus, the SIG finally seems to have found the right formula, even deprived of one of its very best players, Léopold Cavalière, effectively replaced by Junior Round (12 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes) this Saturday. “We’re finally starting to look upwards, it’s cool”smiles Paul Lacombe. “But we will try not to get inflamed. Each time we did it, we went straight back to our mistakes. You have to take it step by step. A very big match awaits us next week at Gravelines, who are starting to play much better. It’s up to us whether we want to look up or down. » And perhaps towards Saint-Chamond, scene of the 2024 Leaders Cup…
The reaction of Quinton Hooker, at the microphone of SKWEEK
“It was a collective effort! We had a great crowd during this derby and this victory means a lot to us. We are finally back in balance but it is still a little early to look at the rankings. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, a lot of matches to come and we will try to do even better. »
With Dimitri Voiturin,
2023-12-03 18:26:10
#Master #East #Strasbourg #enters #Top
