Nanterre, Strasbourg share French Pro A Lead
It is Round 16 and action in the French Pro A league is getting exciting. JSF Nanterre has been on an impressive winning streak and thanks to their 80-83 win on the road against Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket, they currently share the league leadership with Strasbourg IG. Both clubs have laudable 13-3 records. Rounding out the Top 4 is Limoges CSP Elite (12-3) and JDA Dijon Bourgogne (11-5). These clubs are currently in the healthiest position to progress into the league Playoffs.
The game was an important one for Nanterre. A loss to Chalons-Reims (6-10) would have meant relinquishing the lead to Strasbourg. It would also erode the momentum they have built up over the last several weeks. Strasbourg was able to easily dispatch of SO Maritime Boulogne, 70-93.
Chalons-Reims should be credited in this encounter. Despite the end result, they put up a good fight and did not simply roll over to their daunting opponents. Nanterre was initially taken aback at how their hosts were aggressively going after the ball. In fact, Chalons-Reims held a 34-25 rebounding advantage in the game over their guests. They led at the end of the first half, but Nanterre came out strong in the third and fourth quarter to squeeze by with the narrow win.
Nanterre’s Jamal Shuler made the most of his trips to the free-throw line and converted on all of his seven attempts, en route to his game-high 19 points. Kyle Weems added 15 points, while Mykal Riley and Johan Passave-Ducteil chipped in 12 points apiece. Daryl Watkins and Tasmin Mitchell led Chalons-Reims with 19 and 18 points respectively.
SO Maritime Boulogne vs. Strasbourg IG, 70-93
Strasbourg had an easier time in their game compared to Nanterre. It was pretty much a cakewalk for them. They established a commanding lead from the very beginning, rushing to a 10-30 advantage at the end of the first period. They built a comfortable enough of a buffer that Boulogne could not do enough in the third quarter to challenge their control of the game. From there, as they say, it was smooth sailing for Strasbourg until the final whistle was blown.
Strasbourg’s balanced offense overcame a 20-point night from Boulogne’s Tweety Carter. Paul Lacombe f0ur other green shirts in double figures with 15 points.
Here are the rest of the results of Round 16 of the French Pro A regular season:
ES Chalon-Sur-Saone vs. Le Mans Sarthe Basket, 73-88
JDA Dijon Bourgogne vs. BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral, 68-62
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket vs. STB Le Havre, 54-65
Entente Orleans 45 vs. Paris-Levallois, 68-88
Elan Bernais Pau-Lacq-Orthez vs. JL Bourg Basket, 77-64
SPO Rouen Basket vs. Sluc Nancy Basket Pro, 66-67