French League Playdowns Game 6 May 13th
This stage concluded on Tuesday with nothing up for grabs anymore. Villeneuve-d’Ascq finished with a strong record after their 66-53 win over Roche. Chartres at least got to bid farewell to the top division on a winning note after their 77-54 win over Landerneau.
https://basketlfb.com/laboulangerewonderligue/match/812908-villeneuve-d-ascq-roche-vendee
Villeneuve-d’Ascq [66]: Heriaud 15/7r Hirsch 11 Paget 11/7a Foppossi 7 Clark 5/7r
Roche [53]: Ousfar 13/11r Balayera 11/10r Preneau 11 Phillips 8/6r
https://basketlfb.com/laboulangerewonderligue/match/812909-landerneau-chartres
Landerneau [54]: Dibanzilua 16 Stervinou 10 Trasi 9 Akhator 8/7r Baker 3
Chartres [77]: Enabosi 19/8r Colas 13/11r Cooper 6 Elenga 0
Standings: Villeneuve-d’Ascq 10-2, Landerneau 5-7, Roche 5-7, Chartres 4-8
Italian League Finals Game 5 May 13th
The deciding game of the championship series was on Tuesday. Schio looked ready to win early at home, but Venezia’s did not want their fantastic rally to end without a championship. Matilde Villa helped the visitors fight back in the second half, but the hosts slammed the door and won 73-61.
https://www.legabasketfemminile.com/MatchStats.aspx?ID=307&MID=53211
Schio [73]: Laksa 14 Salaun 11/8r Dojkic 11 Juhasz 6/11r
Venezia [61]: Villa 23 Smalls 9 Kuier 8 Cubaj 6/8r Stankovic 5/7r Pan 4 Santucci 4 Berkani 2
Schio wins series 3-2
French League Finals Game 2 May 14th
The finals continued on Wednesday with Tarbes trying to secure the championship on the road. Landes managed to grind out a 51-44 win and now will also host the deciding game on Friday.
https://basketlfb.com/laboulangerewonderligue/match/814942-basket-landes-tarbes
Landes [51]: Lacan 11 Slocum 8 Geiselsoder 4/7r
Tarbes [44]: Musa 12/12r Mendy 12 Sivka 3 Miyem 2
Series tied 1-1
French League Finals Game 3 May 16th
The championship came down to a deciding game on Friday and Tarbes was looking for one last upset in their run from the 8 seed. Landes had the homecourt advantage though and took the lead early with Leila Lacan leading them in a decisive 84-51 win to also clinch their continental place.
https://basketlfb.com/laboulangerewonderligue/match/814943-basket-landes-tarbes
Landes [84]: Lacan 21 Slocum 18 Treffers 12/6r Geiselsoder 9/10r
Tarbes [51]: Musa 19/9r Zodia 12 Sivka 5 Miyem 4 Cooper 2 Ewodo 0
Landes wins series 2-1
World of Basketball
Americas
Sampaio started the week in Brazil with an easy win over Blumenau on Monday. Araraquara took the lead early on Tuesday to defeat Maringa. Corinthians used a first half advantage to win at Ourinhos on Wednesday. Sampaio’s late comeback fell short against Cerrado on Thursday. Friday’s game was excellent as Iza Sangalli had 35 points, but it was not enough for Campinas after Manuela Rios poured in 41 points for Sao Jose dos Campos. There were two games on Saturday and Sampaio broke open a close game in the second half for a win over Mesquita and then Ourinhos did the same at Maringa. Araraquara defeated Corinthians on Sunday.
It was a double-round week in Mexico, starting last Sunday with Chihuahua’s sweep of Monterrey. Monday’s games saw player availability issues leave three teams with six players dressed. Leon had the lead at halftime, but Veracruz used their depth to win and then finished the sweep despite 34 points from Sara Dickey. Cancun won the opener, but Irapuato was able to bounce back the next day with a fuller lineup, withstanding a 36 point game from IImar’I Thomas. Tamaulipas could not keep up with Aguascalientes, even in the second game with more players. All of the second series were on a Saturday-Sunday schedule and Chihuahua stayed undefeated with their sweep of Cancun. Aguascalientes stayed behind them with a sweep of Veracruz and Irapuato is also giving chase after a sweep of Leon. Monterrey just held on for a sweep of Tamaulipas.
Asia
Astana finished a sweep of Turan on Saturday to win the championship in Kazakhstan. The bronze medal series started this week and Okzhetpes won their home games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Caspiy got 33 points from Vira Cherkaska in that second game, but it was not enough. They did extend the series with a narrow win at home on Sunday.
One semifinal series still needed to be settled in Lebanon and Homenetmen avoided elimination at home on Monday, withstanding a 30 point game from Nneka Ezeigbo. Azour hosted the deciding game on Wednesday and got 33 points from Ezeigbo, but Homenetmen left with the win and advanced to the finals.
Australia
The top two teams met in NBL1’s South conference and Geelong stayed undefeated with Knox also losing again the next day. Lauren Scherf had the highest scoring game with 36 points and Maddison Rocci had a 32 point, 11 rebound, 10 assist triple-double. Sarah Elsworthy had a 14 point, 11 rebound, 12 assist triple-double. The Central conference did not play, but the other three conferences also had full weekends.
There were some barnburners in the North conference as the Brisbane Capitals gave up 34 points to Samantha Bowman in a loss, but bounced back the next day with 35 points from Miela Sowah offsetting 31 points from Mia Loyd. The Northside Wizards had two tough losses, surrendering 45 points to Nicole Fransson and then falling again despite 44 points from Courtney Woods. Unique Thompson had 38 points for the Mackay Meteorettes in that game after she had 20 rebounds the previous day in another win.
A great showdown in the West conference had Sasha Goodlett score 42 points in a win after McKenna Dale had 35 points in the loss. The youngsters of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence split their games in the East conference, but Zara Russell had 30 and 31 point games. Riley Lupfer poured in 41 points in a blowout win and Kristina Moore had a 30 point game. Carlie McAlister had the biggest rebounding game with 21 boards.
There is one more round in the regular season in North West Tasmania after Tuesday’s games. The Burnie Tigers got a test from the Penguin Blues, which had Ellie Collins pouring in 33 points, but the hosts and leaders got the win behind 32 points from Millie Baker. The Devonport Warriors sit behind them after a win over the Wynyard Wildcats. The Latrobe Demons got a good win for momentum over the Ulverstone Redhoppers. Rhonda Price had 31 points for the Smithton Saints, but the Somerset Heat left with a win to set up a big game on the last day.
Europe
The championship in Iceland came down to a deciding game on Tuesday and it would have been hard to ask for anything more in a big game. Njardvik forced overtime with a fourth quarter comeback, but Haukar recovered in front of their home fans to grab the title. The neutral site championship game in the British league was played on Sunday with a large crowd witnessing a Sheffield Hatters win over Oaklands Wolves. It was close again on Tuesday, but Ragusa got 36 points from Nevena Vuckovic to seal a sweep in the Croatian finals over Tresnjevka. It was a much easier sweep in the Bosnian finals after Orlovi finished off Lavovi on Wednesday.
Chase for Promotion
The other spot in Turkey’s top division next season came down to one game on Tuesday and Dejah Terrell did everything she could, including grabbing 22 rebounds for Turgutlu, but Canakkale got the win and celebrated in front of the home fans. The other spot in Spain’s top division was also decided this weekend and Saturday’s semifinals had Estepona defeating Mallorca and Malaga defeating Zamora. That set up a city rivalry game in Sunday’s final and Estepona seized the lead by halftime to get the big win. Anorthosis Volos grabbed the other spot in Greece’s top division with their sweep of Aris. Toulouse made it official in France’s second division, winning with a sweep of Montbrison on Saturday. Le Havre will stay in the division, winning at home on both Friday and Sunday to take the series against Strasbourg Illkirch-Graffenstaden.
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