After a setback against Israel, the excellent Guerschon Yabusele and his teammates inflicted on the Poles their first defeat of the tournament on Tuesday, in Katowice, for the 4th day.
We were waiting for a reaction, we had it. After two victories (Belgium, Slovenia), the Blues underwent a first defeat at the Euro against Israel (69-82) on Sunday. They re-enclosed the first against Poland (83-76) on Tuesday in Katowice, in an atmosphere of fire. Poles who were still undefeated so far. Already qualified for the round of 16 before the meeting, France, which lost Alex Sarr for the rest of the tournament, shares the first rank of group D with Israel and Poland (3 victories and 1 defeat) before the last day and a duel against the very weak Iceland on Thursday (2 p.m.).
The man of the match? Mr. Guerschon Yabusele. Discreet since the start of the euro, the dancing bear split 36 points, personal record in blue. 14 points, 10 assists and the winner basket for Élie Okobo, 10 points to put in the credit of Jaylen Hoard. Opposite, 18 units for Jordan Loyd.
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First halftone act
Serious and aggressive, the Blues started the meeting well (12-5), like Yabusele, before… to undergo the three-point Polish hot stroke (12-16, then 15-18). Fortunately, France found its minds, stopped watering from afar and hugged the screw in defense (27-22, then 27-24 at the end of 1st QT). Already 12 points for the dancing bear! In the start of a second quarter-shroud on both sides, the Habs continued to make their butter thanks to their defense and their baskets inside (33-24). Concentrated tricolors and to whom we could only blame a few preventable ball losses and a handful of failed throws. Also (3 for Cordinier and Coulibaly). Then the failure of the failure in attack and the omissions in defense. What a naivety … Poland took the opportunity to turn in the lead in the last minute before the station wagon (41-44 Mt). Best to the global, but everything to do again.
Changes to the recovery, with Francisco, Okobo and Risacher in the five. Blues finally solid defensively and Yabusele on offensive fire (45-50, then 55-50). A real recital of the Knicks player! More than five minutes without taking baskets, only throws during this run, until this triple of Solokowski in the last minute (59-55, then 60-55 End 3rd QT). 11 points collected in this third quarter.
Okobo for the estocade
The men of Coach Faithoux went on to take over, always with omnipresent Yabusele (68-55, then 76-65). By dint of whistles, some somewhat amazing, and while Yabusele was now under good care and his teammates did not return, Poland was still picking up on this triple of Laczynski (76-71). Hoard and Yabusele gave air to the French (80-71) but Poland still returned to contact (80-76)! We were still trembling, including 0/2 of “TLC” on throws with 55 seconds at the time. But the Blues had solid nerves. And Okobo gave the estocade, by far, with 9”3 to play (83-76 final score). Everything was not perfect but France won and reacted, with 38 points collected in the second period and no less than 23 offensive rebounds (!). We take.
