Pau, France – Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez extended their impressive form with a hard-fought victory over Stade Rochelais, solidifying their position among the top teams in the French Pro B league. The win, secured Friday evening at the Palais des Sports de Pau, was a crucial step in their quest for a playoff berth and a potential return to the top tier of French basketball.
This game, the 38th of the regular season, carried significant weight for both sides. For Élan Béarnais, it was an opportunity to avenge an earlier abandoned match against Rochelais – a game they had led 81-82 before it was halted – and further cement their place in the league’s top three. Rochelais, recently relegated from the Elite division, entered the contest on a four-game winning streak, hoping to climb into the top five.
A Slow Start Gives Way to Béarnais Control
The Palais des Sports de Pau, filled to capacity for the 50th consecutive game, witnessed a challenging start for the home side. Élan Béarnais struggled from three-point range early on, missing their first three attempts. They quickly adjusted, but, shifting their focus to aggressive drives to the basket, turning a 6-2 deficit into an 8-6 lead by the 5th minute. This offensive adjustment was bolstered by a revitalized defense, strengthened by the recent additions of Milanese, Thelwell, Wibaut, and Mballa.
The first quarter wasn’t without its challenges for Élan Béarnais. Four turnovers and early foul trouble for Milanese – picking up his second foul within the first minute and a third in the 9th minute – allowed Rochelais to stay within striking distance, converting several free throws. Marvin Clark provided a crucial spark, hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter, giving Élan Béarnais an 18-21 lead.
Bastien Pinault extended the lead immediately after the restart with another three-pointer, marking the first time Élan Béarnais had taken the lead. With Thomas Cornely orchestrating the offense effectively, the team began to pull away, extending their advantage to 27-23 by the 13th minute. A timeout called by Rochelais coach Germain Castano proved ineffective as Élan Béarnais continued to dominate. Ndiaye’s two consecutive dunks further fueled the momentum, prompting a second timeout from Castano at the 15th minute with the score at 26-34.
Rochelais attempted a zone press, but Élan Béarnais remained unfazed, continuing their offensive rhythm and capitalizing on Clark’s outside shooting to build a 10-point lead (31-41 by the 17th minute). Oladapo, who had torched Élan Béarnais for 31 points in the previous encounter, was effectively contained, managing only four points by halftime.
Rochelais Resist, But Béarnais Maintain Control
The first half concluded with Élan Béarnais holding a 39-45 advantage, showcasing a 64% shooting efficiency and a tenacious defense. “We knew they were going to come at us hard in the first quarter, but we found our rhythm again,” Cornely commented during the halftime break. “One can still improve, and we’ll endeavor to start the third quarter strong.”
However, it was Rochelais who started the third quarter with more energy, narrowing the gap to 44-46 by the 22nd minute. Élan Béarnais quickly responded with a 9-0 run in just 70 seconds, restoring their comfortable lead (45-57 by the 24th minute). Castano called another timeout, but Élan Béarnais continued to press, extending their advantage. Despite a renewed effort from Rochelais, including improved three-point shooting and defense, Élan Béarnais maintained a four-point lead entering the final quarter (61-65).
The fourth quarter proved to be a tense affair. Élan Béarnais extended their lead to six points (64-70 by the 32nd minute), but Rochelais refused to yield. Mballa’s versatile play helped maintain the advantage (70-75 by the 35th minute), but a three-pointer from Thomas brought Rochelais back within striking distance (75-77 by the 36th minute). Suddenly finding themselves struggling to score, Élan Béarnais received a crucial boost from Pinault, who hit a clutch three-pointer (75-80 by the 38th minute).
Trailing since the 11th minute, Rochelais had opportunities to tie or take the lead in the final minute, but Cornely secured a vital offensive rebound and converted the ensuing free throws (79-83 with 19 seconds remaining). A late basket from Thomas (81-83 with 10 seconds left) wasn’t enough, and Pinault calmly sealed the victory from the free-throw line. The final score: 81-83 in favor of Élan Béarnais, with the team likewise reclaiming the point average advantage.
“A very fine match, we always knew how to find defense or the right shot,” said Mickaël Hay on France 3 following the game.
What’s Next for Élan Béarnais?
Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez will look to continue their winning streak as they prepare for their next Pro B league matchup. Details regarding their next opponent and game time will be announced on the official team website, elan-bearnais.fr. Fans can also follow the team’s progress and receive updates through their official social media channels.
This victory is a significant boost for Élan Béarnais as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season. The team, currently holding a strong position in the league standings, will need to maintain this level of performance to secure a favorable playoff seed and pursue their ambition of returning to the Elite division.
