French Basketball Cup: Betclic ÉLITE clubs eliminated in second round

The second round of the French Basketball Cup (Coupe de France) delivered a series of significant upsets on Tuesday, October 6, as several top-tier Betclic Élite clubs were eliminated by lower-division opponents. The night saw three major surprises, with Challans, Denain, and Antibes securing victories against higher-ranked teams in a round that saw only one Betclic Élite side, Élan Béarnais, successfully advance.

Vendée Challans Basket Downs Boulazac

The most notable upset occurred in Vendée, where NM1 side Challans defeated Betclic Élite’s Boulazac Basket Dordogne 107-96. Because of the divisional gap, Challans began the match with a 14-point head start, an advantage they maintained throughout the contest. The hosts capitalized on an aggressive shooting performance, hitting 9 of 13 three-pointers by halftime, while Boulazac struggled to find rhythm, converting only 4 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc in the same period.

Early in the first quarter, Boulazac’s Estrada hit two three-pointers, but Challans’ Nikolic responded in kind to build a 22-10 lead by the fourth minute. The NM1 side surged to a 40-17 lead after ten minutes, bolstered by a buzzer-beater from Bichard. The deficit grew to 26 points following two shots from Moyon early in the second quarter, reaching a peak of 31 points at 58-27 in the 15th minute. Although Boulazac’s defense tightened and they managed to cut the lead to 66-45 by halftime, their shooting remained inconsistent. In the second half, Boulazac showed flashes of recovery, but Challans’ Moore repeatedly answered with difficult shots to maintain the cushion, including a key basket in the 28th minute at 83-67. Despite a late push, Boulazac could not close the gap; even with the score at 97-82 in the 35th minute, the host’s lead held firm as the visitors struggled with discipline, including a technical foul called against Ville for contesting a decision.

Boulazac, now on a three-game losing streak in official competitions, struggled to contain the Challans offense. The defeat marks an early exit for the Périgord club for the second year against a lower-division team, following their loss to La Rochelle last season. The game featured the presence of veteran American guard Patrick Beverley, who recently joined Boulazac to provide experience. At 38, the former NBA guard, who played for the Clippers, Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Houston Rockets, was advised by Nicolas Batum to join the Périgord club to experience the competitive nature of the French league. Despite the high-profile signing, Boulazac head coach Alexandre Ménard had previously expressed concerns regarding his team’s defensive discipline and rebounding, specifically citing issues with “box-out” execution that proved costly in recent outings, including a loss to Strasbourg where he noted, « Surtout sur le box-out en défense. » Regarding the team’s need to improve, Ménard added, « Être plus disciplinés. » The recent loss at Strasbourg also left the coach reflecting on the team’s late-game management: « Menant de onze points et encore au contact à deux minutes du terme, le BBD a fini par plier face à une formation de niveau européen. »

Denain Voltaire Dominates Gravelines-Dunkerque

In a Northern derby, AS Denain Voltaire (Élite 2) secured a decisive 106-81 victory over BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque (Betclic Élite). Denain’s performance was a “demonstration,” with seven players reaching double-digit scoring. Oscar Wembanyama led the team with 16 points. The 25-point margin of victory was significant, as only 7 of those points could be attributed to the difference de divisions. Gravelines-Dunkerque fielded the same roster that had narrowly lost to ASVEL over the preceding weekend, yet they were unable to overcome the intensity of the second-division leaders.

Antibes Sharks Edge Out Roanne

The Sharks d’Antibes (Élite 2) eliminated the Chorale de Roanne (Betclic Élite) in a tightly contested match that ended 80-78. The result was decided in the final possessions of the game. This loss ends a strong start to the season for the newly promoted Roanne, who had opened their league campaign with a 2-0 record. The victory allows Antibes to advance, while Roanne shifts its focus back to league play.

Élan Béarnais Advances Against Tarbes-Lourdes

While other top-tier clubs struggled, the Élan Béarnais (Betclic Élite) beat Union Tarbes-Lourdes (NM1). The Béarnais secured a 109-69 win, effectively managing the hierarchy difference to avoid the upsets that defined the rest of the evening.

Remaining Second-Round Fixtures

In other matches, ADA Blois (Élite 2) defeated Tours Métropole Basket (NM1) 100-84, while Poitiers edged Orléans 80-70. Caen Basket Calvados secured a 79-77 win over Angers. Three second-round fixtures remain for next week: Dijon will travel to face SCABB (Élite 2), Limoges will play at Toulouse (NM1), and Nancy will visit ASA (Élite 2).