Vichy opened its ELITE 2 basketball campaign on Friday, September 25, with a 101-97 overtime victory against Rouen. Head coach Elise Prodhomme led her squad back from a seven-point halftime deficit, anchored by 27 points from American guard RayโSean Taylor.
How Vichy Overcame a Halftime Deficit to Force Overtime
Rouen controlled the early exchanges of the fixture, establishing a 47-40 advantage at the break after a tight opening quarter that ended 19-20 in favor of the visitors.
Vichy shifted momentum immediately following the intermission, erasing the gap entirely to lock the score at 67-67 entering the fourth quarter. The visitors shot 52.9 percent from the field overall, including a 15-of-30 performance from beyond the arcโa turnaround from their outside shooting struggles during the preseason.
Regulation basketball nearly concluded in regulation when Rouen held a three-point lead with just eight seconds remaining on the clock. Vichy capitalized instantly, as Nolan Kingue launched a buzzer-beating three-pointer to level the score and force an extra period.
RayโSean Taylor and Damien Nseke Ebele Lead the Charge
RayโSean Taylor paced all scorers with 27 points, dictating the offensive pace for Vichy. The 25-year-old American guard also pulled down two rebounds and recorded one assist.
Jean-Denys Choulet Blasts Rouenโs Late-Game Collapse
Rouen coach Jean-Denys Choulet delivered a scathing assessment of his teamโs execution during the post-match press conference. Visibly frustrated by the squandered lead in the final seconds, Choulet pointed directly to missed free throws and a breakdown in defensive discipline.
Rouen finished the night shooting 43.9 percent from the field and converting 30 of 35 free throw attempts, while Vichy hauled in 40 total rebounds to Rouen’s 30 to secure the extra possessions needed in overtime.
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