LFB Match: Reims crush Mourenx at home by 40 points

Reims together before the LFB Match

The deadlock was finally broken by Anne-Marie Parau after nearly two minutes of play. Mia Fisher, on her home début, showed lots of desire in the opening spell but was only rewarded with a couple of points as the ball just would not drop. Reims took an early lead (9-2) of a trey from Parau. Polina Tzekova from Mourenx, always dangerous in the paint, muscled her way into the paint to hold the advance. Both sides now warmed up and went from end to end. Kaaya Chones for Mourenx also started to assert her authority in the paint yet she was not able to convert due to the defence in front of her. The home side, playing more collectively then their opponents, put a good run together with Anne-Sophia Pagnier and Fisher scoring at will to put their team in a commanding position after the first period.

At the start of the second period Fisher was everywhere, taking defensive rebounds, dishing out assists and scoring a few points as Reims went on a 11-0 run (37-16). The game then became rather stale and physical with players contesting official calls. Mourenx, out of sorts, managed only 4 points in the first eight minutes of this quarter, trailing by 30 points after Parau’s long-distance bomb (50-20). Reims went into the interval with a (52-26) lead.

The rest of match was just a formality with Reims maintaining a margin of around 30 points. Going into the final quarter they were leading 72-44, enabling Philippe Sauret turning his bench as his side went on to record their second victory at home (95-55).

Reims: Frenais 3, Pagnier 16, Sy 10, Parau 22 (left in picture), Blanquart 2, Ayissi 8, Klimesova 12, Fisher 14, Kindoki-Fleury 8

Mourenx: Arrondo 5, Devaux 3, Agbatan 4, Sy 6, Lelas 18, Castets 5, Chones 6, Tzekova 8

After the match the coach of Reims, Philippe Sauret, had to comment on the importance of the victory because Mourenx are closely ranked with them. So the winning margin in this LFB match is very good for them. The team did not drop their intensity throughout the game not even when Mourenx resigned, there were able to dictate in all critical areas: rebounds and defence.

On the other hand Pascal Delaliaux, Mourenx’ head coach, admitted his team’s weak mental form, as it was already displayed during the training matches this week. Furthermore his team has not had the same collective spirit since the Open and Reims’ willingness to fight for everything did not help matters. His players simply did not play as a team and showed very little interest in contesting rebounds. They were actually lacking enthusiasm.

Mia Fisher had a few comments to make after the game in English.

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