Johnson's Sparkle Powers Saint-Quentin to Pro B Title
Nick Johnson's explosive scoring propelled Saint-Quentin to the Pro B championship, as they overcame a significant deficit to defeat Poitiers 84-81.
In a pulsating atmosphere at the Palais des Sports Pierre Ratte, Saint-Quentin secured the Pro B title, winning the series 2-1 against Poitiers.
The home side established a commanding 44-28 lead by halftime, extending their advantage to 70-51 entering the final period. However, Poitiers, inspired by Aurèle Brena-Chemille's 18 points off the bench, mounted a furious rally, narrowing the gap to just three points in the dying moments. Despite shooting just 36% from the field and recording zero blocks, Poitiers battled hard, matching Saint-Quentin with 42 rebounds and receiving 42 points from their bench players. Ultimately, Saint-Quentin's bench, spearheaded by Johnson's game-high 22 points and Giovan Oniangue's 15, proved decisive, contributing 44 points. Cat Barber also orchestrated the offense with 17 points and 9 assists, crucial in securing the championship.
Saint-Quentin's victory seals their promotion to Pro A, capping a remarkable season with a championship triumph.