CholetCholet, leader of the French Elite basketball league, easily overcame Le Portel (80-65) to reunite with their fans after two away games, while Bourg-en-Bresse won again on Saturday at Chalon-sur-Saône (93-86) on Matchday 9. After two away wins, the Choletais continued their excellent momentum at La Meilleraie to regain a one-match lead (7 wins to 1 loss) over Paris and Asvel (6/2), who play on Sunday.

They immediately took the lead (26-12 at the end of the first quarter), buoyed by Jamuni McNeace (16 pts, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 20 min) and Bastien Vautier’s double-double (10 pts and 13 rbds). Bourg-en-Bresse and Saint-Quentin follow behind (6 v/3 d). The Bressans are clearly at ease away from home, winning for the fifth time in as many away games. However, the players of Frédéric Fauthoux, who will be making his debut as Les Bleus coach next week with two Euro-2025 qualifiers, had a scare right to the end at the home of a bottom-of-the-table team. With a 14-length lead going into the final quarter, they let Elan come back to within one possession with 1 min 30 sec to go (85-83).

Saint-Quentin wins again

But American point guard Xavier Castaneda (30 pts including 4/8 3-pts) had the hot hand: a basket with the boards, off-center and off-balance at the end of the possession, then another in suspension and 30 seconds later the deal was sealed (89-83). Saint-Quentin also won on the road, in Dijon (91-85) after two heavy defeats against Paris at home (97-65) and in Tenerife (96-57) in the Champions League.

SQBB built up a 21-point lead in the third quarter, but let the JDA come back to within four points with just over two minutes remaining (84-80). They were then able to count on the experience of former NBA player Jerome Robinson (20 pts, 9/9 free throws). Les Limougeauds thought they had secured their first win of the season away from home, in Nancy (86-90), with two free throws coming at 1 sec 4/10 from the buzzer (75-75). But Alexandre Chassang missed both of his attempts, giving Shevon Thompson’s Sluc (27 pts and 10 rebounds) an overtime win to join their opponents in 10th place (4 v./5 d.).