Limoges were hoping to crown their NF1 basketball season with the regular season title this weekend so as to celebrate next weekend for their last home game of the season.
They started well at Armentières and scored the first 5 points of the game and held on to the lead (17-15) by the end of the first period.
Armentières' head coach Stéphane Lalart (left) decided to change his team's approach to regain the lead with 90 seconds left to play before the break.
They then went into the interval leading (39-37).
The third period was tight with both sides having turns to lead and the hosts went into the final period ahead (57-54).
The final period was not very exciting to watch and scoring was difficult. However Armentières held on to win (71-67).
After two defeats Armentières with this victory have booked their ticket for the NF1 final four but cannot win the regular season title.
Illkirch-Graffenstaden are the only team that can deny Limoges taking the regular title after their victory (85-64) against Pleyber-Christ.
Toulouse hold advantage for last NF1 final four place
Club
Points
1
Limoges
52
2
Illkirch-Graffenstaden
50
3
Armentières
49
4
Toulouse
47
5
Charleville Mézières
47
6
Roche Vendée
46
7
Strasbourg ABC
42
8
Nice Cavigal Olympic
41
9
Dunkerque Malo
40
10
Rennes Avenir
39
11
US Laveyron
39
12
Etoile de Voiron
38
13
Ifs
37
14
Colomiers
36
15
Pleyber-Christ
35
16
CFBB (INSEP)
34
Toulouse had to wait until the third period before taking the lead against their hosts Roche Vendée to win (71-62).
With this victory Toulouse consolidate their position in fourth place. Toulouse's last two games of the season are at home.
Charleville-Mézières did not have it all their way against US Colomiers before coming away with the victory (93-81).
This victory keeps Charleville-Mézières on the heels of Toulouse and at the same time relegates Colomiers.
For Roche Vendée this defeats leaves them in no-man's-land.
They can still qualify for the play-offs provided they win their remaining games while Toulouse and Charleville-Mézières lose their remaining games.
Joy and tears
Strasbourg ABC ended their negative series with a (91-81) victory against Voiron.
In the first two quarters neither team worried about defense. Strasbourg led (24-23) by the end of the first period but trailed (48-49) at the interval.
The two teams continued their shoot-out and entered the final period all square (71-71). The hosts finally took advantage during the final period and led by 6 points with five minutes to play.
Melinda Washington led the scoring for Strasbourg ABC with 23 points and 15 rebound as they won. For Voiron it was tears as they were unable to leave the relegation zone.
They were tears for Rennes as they fell (71-73) to Dunkerque in a very physical match.
Amélie Fresnais (right) led the scoring with 24 points for Dunkerque.
US Laveyron also finished in tears after allowing Ifs to dominate the second half of the match to win (62-57).
This victory may help Ifs escape the relegation zone at the end of the season.
The players from Nice may not have been paid for the last month but they had the first laugh of the day as they beat the CFBB (73-44).
For US Colomiers there were only tears as their loss means that they will finish in the relegation zone.
All the results from round twenty-eight for the Nationale Féminine 1 are listed below:
Pleyber-Christ 64-85 Illkirch-Graffenstaden
Rennes 71-73 Dunkerque
CFBB 64-73 Nice
Armentières 71-67 Limoges
US Colomiers 81-93 Charleville-Mézières
US Laveyron 57-62 Ifs
Strasbourg ABC 91-81 Voiron
Roche Vendée 62-71 Toulouse
Let's explain the relegation situation
According to all the news Clermont-Ferrand will not be allowed to play in NF1 next season. If this holds then only three clubs will be relegated at the end of the season.
At present Pleyber-Christ and Colomiers are mathematically relegated. Either Ifs or Voiron will join them.
However if Clermont-Ferrand are allowed to play in NF1 next season then Ifs will be on the list of teams that are mathematically relegated.
This will leave Voiron, US Laveyron and Rennes battling against each other to avoid the drop.
But with news that Nice and Strasbourg ABC are in administration, the NF1 basketball relegation jigsaw puzzle may become irrelevant.
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