Paris (AFP)

The leader of the French Elite Championship, Bourg-en-Bresse, fell for the first time of the season on Saturday on the floor of the CSP Limoges, winner at the last second (74-72) thanks to a basket at the buzzer of his news rookie, Kenneth Smith.

This defeat allows Boulogne-Levallois to take the lead in the championship, with 88% of victories.

The Metropolitans 92 quietly beat Boulazac (98-79) in a late match on the 4th day.

This is their 7th victory in eight matches this season, thanks to David Michineau (17 points, 6 assists), Tomer Ginat (12 pts, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and Miralem Halilovic (16 pts), facing a BBD who has still not won this season, despite Benjamin Sene, in great shape with 28 points, leading scorer of the meeting.

In Beaublanc, the CSP was in a great day and could count on the address of Philip Scrubb (21 points, including 6/8 at 3 points).

To the point of counting up to 17 points ahead against Burgiens overtaken by the pace of Limougeauds.

But the leaders sold their skin dearly, thanks in particular to Hugo Benitez, a young 19-year-old leader (14 pts), which allowed JL Bourg to return to the score at the end of the game (from 72-64 to 72-72 ).

At the end of the money time, it is therefore the new recruit, "Speedy" Smith, arrived this week, who gave the victory to his new team, after having accumulated eight assists, just to get in the bath.

And who avoided the CSP a fourth defeat in a row, in all competitions, after Hapoël Jerusalem, Monaco and Ankara.

In the two other late matches played at the end of the afternoon, Strasbourg easily balanced its record, four wins and four losses, by dominating Pau-Orthez (94-71) thanks to Jefferson (15 points), Colson (22 points) and Lansdowne (17 points).

And Gravelines-Dunkerque won with energy (84-80) a badly started match against Châlons-Reims, thanks in particular to Erik McCree, omnipresent (26 pts).

This is only the 2nd success in six matches for the Northerners, while Champagne Basket sinks in the standings, because of this 7th setback in eight matches.

The match between Nanterre and Cholet did not disappoint either.

In an undecided match, Cholet finally won (80-76) thanks to the individual performance of Michael Stockton (20 pts), for the 3rd time this season in Elite, the 2nd in a row after dropping Dijon.

Le Portel won on his floor by the smallest gap against Orléans (85-84), after having led the race for almost the entire meeting.

The French Championship will continue during the holidays with still late matches scheduled for Tuesday and Boxing Day.

© 2020 AFP