L’Aurore Vitré secured a 92-81 victory over US Laval in a NM1 basketball game, balancing their season record at four wins and four losses despite missing key players through injury. Led by Alex Fanchini’s 30-point performance, the hosts managed a fast-paced attack that kept the visiting side at bay throughout the contest at La Poultière.
Early Lead Built on Fanchini’s Pace
Playing without injured regulars Sya Plaucoste and Sylvère Mambangui, Vitré relied heavily on their backcourt to set the tone early. Fanchini scored 12 of his points in the opening quarter, pushing the home side to an early 13-6 advantage. Despite a high tempo that occasionally generated turnovers, allowing former Vitréen Romain Grégoire to capitalize for Laval, a late burst from Fanchini extended the lead to 27-19 after ten minutes.
Stretching the Advantage and Laval’s Response
The home side continued to pull away in the second quarter, stretching their margin to 18 points at 44-26 behind combined scoring from Fanchini and Comblon. Laval responded before the halftime break, aided by the energetic play of Racine. Although the visitors committed 12 turnovers in the first half, they dominated the rebounding glass to trim the deficit to seven points, 50-43, heading into the locker room.
Defensive Struggles Define the Final Stretch
As play resumed, Racine and Mormin chipped away at the margin, bringing Laval within six points at 54-48. Comblon answered from the top of the key to restore a double-digit cushion, and while Laval repeatedly closed the gap—getting as close as 61-56 and later 71-60 before the final sprint, and 86-79 behind accurate shooting from Belkessa—Vitré maintained their composure down the stretch to close out the 92-81 win.
Coaches Assess the Outcome
Following the final buzzer, Vitré head coach Fabien Calvez pointed to the character shown by his shorthanded roster. « On avait besoin de ce match pour rééquilibrer la balance avec quatre victoires et quatre défaites, » Calvez said, noting that despite a filling infirmary and limited rotations, his players answered the call against a persistent opponent.
On the opposing bench, US Laval coach Éric Le Corre expressed frustration over recurring defensive lapses. « Une défaite de plus et toujours les mêmes erreurs, » Le Corre said, adding that his team will struggle to exist in the division if they fail to tighten their defense and stop giving up easy scores whenever they manage to close the gap.
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