Keene Ignites Strasbourg to Betclic Elite Crown
Marcus Keene ignited Strasbourg with a 25-point performance, guiding them to a hard-fought 87-82 victory over Paris at the Rhénus Sport, clinching the Betclic Elite championship title. The Alsatians built a nine-point lead by halftime (49-40), but Paris, fueled by 35 points from their bench, fought back to level the score at 63-63 entering the final quarter. A Paris surge in the third period, where they outscored Strasbourg 23-14, had seemed to shift momentum decisively. However, Keene, bolstered by 23 points from reserve Mike Davis Jr., found his rhythm again, securing the win despite Allan Dokossi’s 13 rebounds and 6 steals for Paris. Strasbourg’s advantage was solidified by superior free-throw shooting (75% to Paris’s 63%) and tighter ball control, committing 16 turnovers to Paris’s 13. This historic triumph caps an intense season for Strasbourg, who are crowned champions after a thrilling series.