Cahorsauzet Basket Suffers Heartbreaking Overtime Loss to Toulouse in Season Opener
Cahorsauzet Basket (CSB) endured a difficult start to their prenational season, falling 88-80 to a resilient Toulouse team after a five-minute overtime period in front of a larger-than-usual home crowd. Despite leading by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, CSB was unable to close out the game, ultimately succumbing to a late surge and a dominant extra period by the visitors.
The narrow defeat underscores the competitive nature of the prenational league and highlights the challenges facing Cahorsauzet as they navigate a season aiming for regional prominence. This loss serves as an early test of the team’s composure and ability to perform under pressure, with immediate focus shifting to rebounding from the setback and solidifying their strategy for upcoming matches.
The game began with a strong offensive start from CSB’s new pivot, Nsumbu, who opened the scoring with a three-point shot. Both teams initially focused on strong defense, resulting in a tight score of 7-4 within the first five minutes.Bethune then ignited the Cahorsauzet offense with four consecutive points and a three-pointer, establishing a 16-8 lead by the seventh minute. Toulouse responded, narrowing the gap to 19-18 by the tenth minute.
In the second quarter, Cahorsauzet initially stifled Toulouse’s offense, but the visitors remained persistent, eventually taking the lead for the first time at the 18th minute (29-32) and carrying a 31-36 advantage into halftime.
the third quarter saw a dramatic turnaround for CSB, fueled by a 13-0 run in just four minutes, spearheaded by Thiandoume and Béthune. This surge extended their lead to 51-41 by the 27th minute, marking their largest advantage of the game. However, Toulouse refused to yield.
The fourth quarter witnessed a relentless attack from the Toulouse team, exploiting vulnerabilities in the Cahorsauzet defense. with 36 seconds remaining, CSB held a narrow 76-73 lead, but a clutch three-point basket from Toulouse forced the game into overtime. Cahorsauzet faltered in the extra period, managing only four points against Toulouse’s 12, ultimately sealing their fate.
Individual scoring highlights for Cahorsauzet included Nsumbu with 2 points, Thiandoume and Discazeaux with 14 points each, and Béthune’s critically important contribution. Duarte also featured in the game. In a supporting result, CSB 2 secured a 71-52 victory at home against Labastide-du-temple in regional 3 play.
