![Elan Béarnais vs La Rochelle: Highlights & Recap of Intense Basketball Matchup | [Date – if available]](https://i3.wp.com/media.sudouest.fr/28477287/1200x-1/20260327215526-273226xl5997.jpg?ssl=1 "Elan Béarnais vs La Rochelle: Highlights & Recap of Intense Basketball Matchup | [Date – if available]")
Pau-Orthez secured a hard-fought 81-85 victory over La Rochelle in a high-intensity French ProB league matchup on Wednesday, March 27, 2026. The game, characterized by lead changes and a frantic pace, saw Pau-Orthez leverage their inside presence and clutch free-throw shooting to overcome a resilient La Rochelle squad.
Early Intensity and a Tight First Quarter
The opening minutes of the game were marked by a back-and-forth exchange, with both teams establishing a 6-6 tie early on. La Rochelle struggled with their outside shots, while Pau-Orthez found some early success when Daniel Oladapo was fouled while driving to the basket, and later through François Wibaut. A strong defensive play by Joshua Mballa, blocking a shot by La Rochelle’s Maxence Lemoine, added to the intensity. Though, Lemoine and Robert Ford III quickly responded with successful drives and scores, including a three-point play for Ford, giving La Rochelle a slight edge at 15-12.
Pau-Orthez Takes Control with a Second-Quarter Surge
The second quarter saw a significant shift in momentum as Pau-Orthez accelerated their offensive tempo. A series of turnovers by La Rochelle, including one by Lucas Hergott, fueled a 26-10 run for the visitors, extending their lead to 31-41. The Elan Béarnais capitalized on fast-break opportunities, showcasing strong play from players like Clark Jr. And Cornely. La Rochelle attempted to regain composure, with Clerc finding Thomas for scores and Oladapo connecting with Haidara, but Pau-Orthez maintained their advantage, leading 39-45 at halftime. Pau-Orthez’s early success came despite shooting just 5-for-10 from the free-throw line, while dominating the fast-break points 11-0.
La Rochelle Fights Back, But Pau-Orthez Maintains the Lead
The third quarter saw La Rochelle attempt to close the gap, led by captain Gaetan Clerc and Tyler Thomas from beyond the arc. Cherif Haidara and Andrea Samat too contributed to the offensive effort, bringing the score to 67-70 in the fourth quarter. However, Pau-Orthez consistently responded, utilizing their size and strength inside to prevent La Rochelle from fully erasing the deficit. The game remained closely contested, with neither team able to establish a comfortable lead.
Clutch Plays Seal the Victory for Pau-Orthez
Despite La Rochelle’s efforts, Pau-Orthez managed to hold on. Tyler Thomas’s shooting kept La Rochelle within striking distance (75-77), and Maxence Lemoine secured a crucial offensive rebound (79-81). A key basket from Thomas Cornely with 22 seconds remaining proved decisive. Bastien Pinault then sealed the victory with two free throws in the final seconds, securing the 81-85 win for Pau-Orthez.
Daniel Oladapo, playing for La Rochelle, contributed to the game, being involved in scoring plays during the first half. The game highlighted the importance of rebounding and capitalizing on opponent turnovers, areas where Pau-Orthez excelled.
As of March 28, 2026, the standings in the French ProB league show Roanne leading with a 23-6 record, followed by Blois (19-10) and Pau-Lacq-Orthez (19-10). La Rochelle currently holds a 16-13 record, placing them ninth in the league.
Pau-Orthez will look to continue their strong form as they prepare for their next challenge, while La Rochelle will aim to bounce back from this defeat and improve their position in the ProB standings.
