2012 Coupe de France Cadettes
USO Mondeville had the last laugh this time

USO Mondeville were participating in their 7th Cadettes "Coupe de France" final while for Challes-les-Eaux it was their first.

The last time USO Mondeville played at Bercy in 2010 they had lost to Bourges Basket.

Awa Sissoko who was a member of the losing team in 2010 struck gold this time with a MVP performance to help Mondeville pick up their 4th Coupe de France winners' trophy.

Sissoko led the way with 20 points, while her battle with Marie-Eve Paget from Challes-les-Eaux was the key match-up in this game.

A lightning start by Mondeville gave them the victory

As so often at Paris Bercy in the U18 final the team that starts slowly and is forced to chase the score tends to end up losing.

Mondeville started well and led (10-2) with three minutes played and 5 points from Awa Sissoko (in picture).

Although Challes were back on level terms after five minutes (10-10) it was Mondeville who had the advantage at the end of the first quarter (18-12).

Challes were the better team during the second quarter although both sides went through long periods without scoring.

Challes went on a 7-0 run to take the lead briefly for the first time in the match (26-25) with about 17 minutes played.

Mondeville were able to wrestle the advantage back and go into the interval ahead (30-29).

After the break they went into overdrive to dominate their opponents in all sectors of the game. With Belgium youth international Hatty Bende-Belobi dominating the paint, Mondeville had an 8-point cushion four minutes into the third quarter (41-33).

Mondeville were to struggle offensively for the rest of the quarter just scoring 2 points while Challes-les-Eaux came into the game.

Paget continued to be dangerous while Solen Peron started to find her range from beyond the arc.

Mondeville for the first time in the game looked lost defensively and failed to cover the perimeter.

They were punished by Peron and Manon Salin who hit back to back three-pointers for Challes to take command of the game (48-43) at the end of the third quarter.

Challes-les-Eaux had used up a lot of energy during this stretch and looked tired as Mondeville clawed their way back into the game.

A trey by Marine Johannes with four minutes to play put Mondeville back in front. They appeared to have knocked the air out of Challes-les-Eaux leading (54-53).

However the decisive blow was delivered by Sissoko with a three-ball that put Mondeville in front for good (57-54).

Although there were still four minutes to play, the game became scrappy and untidy. Mondeville were prepared to run down the clock and rely on free throws and defense to hold on to victory.

As it happened Mondeville's tactics almost backfired because Pagnet had the chance to win the game for Challes-les-Eaux with the last shot of the game.

Pagnet's shot missed the target and Pauline Betis secured the rebound for Mondeville to run out winners.

The two teams will face each other again next week during the semi-final of the U18 National Final 4.

USO Mondeville: LEA PELLERIN 0, MARINE JOHANNES 14, AWA SISSOKO 20, CLEMENCE LEFEBVRE 0, HATTY BENDE BELODY 4, PAULINE BETIS 3, LISA CLOAREC 0, MARGAUX TOURAUD 5, TANIA PIERRE EMILE DNP, LYSA MILLAVET 14 (11 rebounds)

Challes-les-Eaux: MARIE EVE PAGET 18 (7 assists), MANON SARLIN 5, AMELIE VOYNET 8 (10 rebounds), SOLENE PERON 8, MARGAUT VIDAL GENEVE 6, DEGANE BALLE BONZA 8, MELANIE RIONDET 4, STELLA CARMASSI 1, SALOME PHILIPPON 1, DIANA BALAYERA 0

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