USVO are champions again

A capacity crowd of 2800 witnessed the final match of the season and the end of Laurant Buffard’s reign at the head of USVO. Vicky Hall joined Evanthia Maltsi not at 100% as Bourges went all out to defend their title. There was not much in the end to choose between the two teams, Bourges poor performance at the free throw line 11-of-20 in the end was the difference between the two sides.

USVO 70 - 61 Bourges

In an exciting first period Cathy Melain and Florence Lepron combined for 10-points as they attempted to match the 11-points of USVO duo Sandrine Gruda – Emile Gomis. Kristi Harrower crisp passing made the difference as USVO (20-18) at the end of the first period. After some sharp words from Laureant Buffard, USVO improved defensively and kept their guest’s silent for more than 3 minutes as they added 7 points to their total. Not able to penetrate the USVO defence Bourges worked from the outside and managed to make an opening for Florence Lepron to hit a three (27-21) to end their barren spell. The game entered it scrappy phase with not many points coming from open play with USVO maintaining their advantage (35-28) at the interval.

With Maltsi playing on one foot and not as effective from the perimeter, it was Cathy Melain clutch shooting that silenced the home supporters as Bourges made a serious attempt of taking the match. With the momentum in favour of Bourges, not even the brief intervention of magic by Emile Gomis was to stop Bourges briefly taking the led (40-41) for the first time in the match after 26 minutes. The lead did not last long as Kristi Harrower released one of her trademark missiles from beyond the arc that stops team dead. For the next couple of minutes Bourges looked a little dead on their feet as USVO complied their second 7-0 of the night. And if not for some slack defending at the end of the period, they should have been leading by more than 4-points.

Bourges switched tactics in their final attempt to win this match, they took the battle into the heart of the USVO defence with Emmeline Ndongue , then Vicki Hall and finally Endéné Miyem working hard to score on the inside while Sandrine Gruda and Emile Gomis kept responding for USVO. With the score (58-55) and 5 minutes left Laurent Buffard called for a time out. On the next play Sandrine Gruda scored the first of six unanswered points (64-55) – similar to what happened in game 1 – leaving Bourges a mountain to climb in the remaining 90 seconds. Bourges were left with no option but to go for quick fouls to regain possession of the ball but their caused was not helped as USVO hit all their free throws to win again by nine points.

Emile Gomis top scored with 20-points, Kristi Harrower (14pts & 6 assists) while Sandrine Gruda and Vedrana Grgin-Fonseca finished with 11-points each. For Bourges Endéné Miyem had 14-points, Cathy Melain (13pts, 7rbs & 3 assists) and Florence Lepron (12pts & 7 assists)