Regional Title Dreams in jeopardy After Loss to Jurançon

Bergerac’s aspirations for a regional title have been dealt a blow following a 85-78 defeat to Jurançon in the first leg of the Regional 3 quarter-finals. The match, held in Béarn on Sunday, April 27th, saw Bergerac struggle to maintain an early lead, leaving them with a seven-point deficit to overcome in the return leg.

Game summary: A Tale of Two Halves

Despite a promising start, where Bergerac led 24-17 at the end of the first quarter, jurançon seized control of the game before halftime, establishing a 44-32 lead. According to coach nicolas Beneyrol,bergerac’s struggles stemmed from poor shooting accuracy and a lack of cohesive teamwork against Jurançon’s zone defense.

We are penalized by our lack of address and an insufficient collective game in the face of their area defense.

Nicolas Beneyrol, Bergerac Coach

Bergerac showed renewed determination after the break, managing to close the gap in the third quarter. However, a less controlled final period saw them ultimately succumb to defeat, despite strong offensive performances from Dogbo and Ona-Embo, who each scored 21 points.

missed opportunities and a Costly “Money Time“

Coach Beneyrol lamented the team’s inability to capitalize on crucial possessions in the final moments of the game,referring to it as a mismanagement of the Money Time. He believes that better execution in those final plays coudl have considerably reduced the point difference.

The mismanagement of the Money Time costs us the defeat but we could have limited the three -point gap by playing the latest possessions better.

Nicolas Beneyrol, Bergerac coach

The team now faces a critical challenge as they prepare to host Jurançon on Sunday, April 4th, needing to overturn a seven-point deficit to secure a place in the semi-finals. The pressure is on for Bergerac to improve their shooting accuracy and demonstrate greater teamwork to achieve their regional title ambition.

Looking Ahead: Promotion and League Changes

While the immediate focus is on the quarter-final second leg, Bergerac can also celebrate their promotion to Regional 2m next season, alongside saint-Front-de-Pradoux. This advancement reflects their strong performance throughout the season. To fill their places, Monestier and Gardonne will be promoted, ensuring continued competitiveness within the league.