Paris (AFP)

Leaders of the French Championship, the Monegasque basketball players won 86-85 in Orléans in the last seconds, to snatch their eighth success since the start of the season on Friday, while Villeurbanne won against Limoges (84-75).

In the standings, the Roca Team of Monaco reinforces its place at the top of the Elite, with only one defeat conceded at the opening of the championship in mid-September, for eight victories.

The French Championship has been slowing down since the end of October and the closed doors imposed on clubs due to the health situation and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Big differences exist between the teams: 13 matches played by Boulogne-Levallois, only 8 by Boulazac.

Friday in Orleans (four wins for six losses), Zvezdan Mitrovic's players were led by one point (85-84) about twenty seconds from the buzzer but Jaleel O'Brien scored the decisive basket for the players of the Rock six seconds from the end (86-85).

Monaco relied on three players - French pivot Mathias Lessort (21 points), American rear Rob Gray (22 pts) and American leader Dee Bost (18) - to overcome Orleans.

Reigning French champion (2019), Villeurbanne has surfed on his good momentum in the Euroleague in recent weeks (five wins in six games) to relaunch in the French Championship.

TJ Parker's players have won at the Astroballe against Limoges 84 to 75, their sixth victory in nine games played since the start of the season, and this despite Jerry Boutsiele's 26 points for the CSP.

This success, built around the double-double of Moustapha Fall (19 pts, 11 rebounds) allows Asvel to climb back to 5th place, tied with Le Mans.

Often cited as a title contender at the start of the season, Boulogne-Levallois, who had just lost twice in a row to Roanne (80-67) and against Strasbourg (71-63), went to beat Le Portel 86-73.

Carried by the 20 points of leader David Michineau, the Metropolitans 92 have a record of nine wins for four losses.

Saturday evening, Nanterre (4v.-4d.) Will host Dijon (9v.-2d.), Monaco's first pursuer in the standings.

© 2021 AFP