May 24, 2012
French League playoffs, Semifinals, Game 3: May 26, 2007
A remarkable rise in the French League took another giant step when Roanne reached the finals by winning its do-or-die third game in the semis by 89-80 against Chalon at home on Saturday. Historically a second-division team, Roanne is making its first playoff appearance in the first division. The team finished ninth overall last season, its fourth in the French League, after three in a row in which it barely avoided relegation. Now, Roanne has an incredible chance to become champion as it goes into the winner-take-all one-game final against Nancy on June 2 at the neutral Bercy Arena in Paris. Roanne reached the final by slowly but surely pulling away against Chalon in the third semifinal game. Aaron Harper was the hero for the winners with 24 points and 13 rebounds. He had plenty of help from Dewarick Spencer, who pumped in 28 points. Together, they split 9 of Roanne's 11 three-point shots. Marc Salyers added 15 points, while Pape Badiane pulled 10 rebounds. Chalon got 24 points from Terrell Everett and 14 from Jermaine Guice, but got killed on the boards by 46-32. Roanne turned a minimum 20-19 first-quarter lead to 49-43 at halftime, then exploded in the third quarter to go ahead 67-54 and never look back on the way to victory.

FRENCH LEAGUE: Semifinal Playoffs, best of 3 games
RecordTeam
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
2
Nancy (1)
87
87
x
0
Adecco Asvel (5)
78
75
x
2
Roanne (2)
76
82
89
1
Chalon/Saone (3)
66
87
80

Semifinal Playoffs Games
Game 1
Adecco Asvel vs. Nancy
78-87
May 22
Game 1
Chalon/Saone vs. Roanne
66-76
May 22
Game 2
Nancy vs. Adecco Asvel
87-75
May 24
Game 2
Roanne vs. Chalon/Saone
82-87
May 24
Game 3
Roanne vs. Chalon/Saone
89-80
May 26
Monday, May 28, 2007
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