Double victory over Bourges complete

Sopron Basket - Bourges Basket 74-67 (23-20, 18-15, 21-14, 12-18)
Bourges

Sopron Basket: January 5/3, Fegyverneky 16/6, Williams 15/3, Brooks 19/9, Krajisnik 8/6 Sub.: Walker 7/3, Határ 4, Czukor D. -

Bourges Basket: Eldebrink 5, Guapo 3/3, Mendy 9/3, Chartereau 11/3, Godin 4 Sub.: Yacoubou 20, Michel 9/3, Mann 6/3, Astier -

Statistics

FGS: 26/57 46% ill. 25/70 36%

3-PTS: 10/22 46% ill. 5/22 23%

FTS: 12/14 86% ill. 12/16 75%

Rebounds: 34 (Krajisnik 9) ill. 40 (Yacoubou 8)

Assists: 15 (Williams, January 3-3) ill. 18 (Michel 6)

Steals: 4 ill. 5

Turnovers: 13 ill. 9

Faults: 18 ill. 17

The closing bubble of the Euroleague group phase began with a huge power play. In the opening game Galatasaray eased past Landes 89-63 leaving them no chance whatsoever. Landes were unable to stop the Turkish, who strengthened their roster with the power duo of McCoughtry and Prince. Of course, we didn’t mind, because it made sure that our team was the first to make the eight-team Euroleague playoff in March. With Galata winning we had the opportunity to secure the top spot in the group in the battle against Tango Bourges Basket! The hosts were so kind they even provided Hungarian music for the warm-up, making us feel at home a little.


Tina got the game going with a lay-up, to which Eldebrink answered back likewise. Then Zsófi and Mendy exchanged buckets, followed by a triple by Guapo (3rd minute 4-7). Gabby brought us back to a one-point deficit, but then Chartereau managed to score for the French, too. After that Michel buried a triple, forcing Dávid Gáspár to call his first time-out in the game (6th minute 6-12). Yacoubou made two foul shots after the brief talk, and then so did Betti at the other end. With a triple by Mendy the French were getting closer and closer to a double-digit lead, but then Jeca was able to hit an open three. What’s more, Gabby even made two free throws and a lay-up to cut further into our deficit (15-17). After that Tina buried a huge three giving us the lead for the first time in the game, to which Michel answered back with a lay-up. It was a tight end to the first period, at the end of which we could be happier, since Jeca managed to hit a buzzer-beating triple to give us the lead again (10th minute 23-20).


Chartereau opened the second quarter with a double, to which Godin later added another one, regaining the lead for Bourges. Not for long, though, Zsófi and Jeca were both able to put two points on the scoreboard, forcing Olivier Lafargue to call his team to the bench for a time-out (14th minute 27-24). Yacoubou forced the ball into the net for two after the short pause, to which Jeca answered back with a double at the other end. Zsófi split a pair at the foul line, and then Yacoubou made her next bucket to tie the game up (30-30). What’s more, after two free throws by Mendy the lead went back to Bourges again. When Yacoubou made another double Dávid Gáspár decided to call his next time-out (17th minute 30-34). Gabby managed to score for two coming back on the court, and then she added a triple from the corner to her tally – advantage Sopron. With one minute left from the half we were on a 9-0 run led by Gabby and Jeca, which came to an end with a free throw by Chartereau. Gabby managed to hit both from the foul line, setting the score for half-time (20th minute 41-35).


Godin started the third period with a double, to which Chartereau added a free throw, before Zsófi hit a huge three. After that Betti scored from inside the paint, to whci hMendy answered back with two successful shots from the foul line (24th minute 46-40). Zsófi split a pair of free throws, and then made a double from mid-range, to which Bri added an open three, increasing our lead to double digits, and forcing head coach Lafargue’s next time-out (52-40). Tina converted Megan’s pass into three points after the brief pause, while at the other end Yacoubou scored four in a row. Jeca and Mann exchanged buckets, and then Megan buried a nice triple. We were still on top at the end of the third and in a great position ahead of the last ten minutes (30th minute 62-49).


Yacoubou got the final stage of the game going with two free throws, to which she then added a lay-up as well, while at the other end Megan went in for a lay-up (64-53). Michel made a double, and then Zsófi hit a huge corner three, but so did Mann at the other end. After that Gabby hit one from mid-range. The French were on a 10-5 run when Jeca made a three to deny their comeback effort (37th minute 72-63). Then Bourges managed to score four more in a row, forcing our next time-out. Zsófi made one from mid-range after the break setting the final score in the game stretching our unbeaten run in Euroleague to five games in a row (40th minute 74-67)!

Dávid Gáspár: Congratulations for the team, they fought very hard! I asked them to prove that we are capable of playing well, being tough on defense, present such a smart basketball, and make good decisions which we have done in most parts of the game not only on our home court, but on the road, too. Bourges have a very strong home court, and they came at us like a wounded animal. We held on well, and worked together as a team. All of por players had their moments, very important stops on defense, rebounds, or points, that's what made this day complete. We are very happy! Tomorrow will be a regeneration day, and then we'll start preparing for Landes.

Jelena Brooks: We played a very difficult game! We didn't start well, but from the fifth minute we played with the right pressure, and in the end we were able to win this very difficult game! I am very happy that we already did it in the first game and that we can advance in the first place!