Chorale Roanne is the new Semaine Des As champion! Roanne won its first-ever Semaine Des As title by edging Le Mans 82-87 in the title game in Nancy on Sunday, marking the end of a spectacular four-day event full of intensity and great basketball. Marc Salyers led the winners with 29 points on 7-of-9 two-point shooting, 3-of-6 from downtown and 7 rebounds. Aaron Harper added 19 while Dewarick Spencer had 18 for Roanne. Kenny Gregory had 24 points on 6-of-8 two-pointers and 4-of-6 triples for Le Mans. Nebojsa Bogavac added 16, Alain Koffi and Yannick Bokolo each tallied 12 while Eric Campbell got 10 for the 2006 Semaine Des As winners. Roanne led for the better part of the game and held a 57-69 lead in the final period. Le Mans got within 82-83 with less than 2 minutes to go, but Harper and Salyers sealed a big win for Roanne.

The game turned into a three-point shootout in the early going, with Bokolo and Bogavac firing away from downtown for Le Mans, and Spencer and Harper doing the same to give Roanne a 6-10 lead. Spencer and Salyers shined in the opening period, but Bogavac and Koffi helped Le Mans to tie the game at 19-19. Gregory dunked it and Koffi added a layup, but more triples by Laurent Cazalon and William Soliman allowed Roanna to keep a 23-25 edge after 10 minutes. Salyers stepped up with 5 quick points to give Roanne a 27-32 lead early in the second quarter. Le Mans tried to look for Campbell and Nicevic inside, but Roanne kept its momentum going, 33-38. Gregory and Nicevic fueled a 6-0 run for a 39-38 Le Mans edge, but an outstanding Salyers allowed Roanne to keep a 42-45 halftime lead. Salyers remained unstoppable after the break, as he dunked, hit free throws and buried a triple for a 51-57 Roanne margin. He got some help from Spencer to push Roanne to a 57-64 lead after three quarters. Harper followed a layup with a bomb from downtown to make it a 12-point game, 57-69, early in the final period. Le Mans was not done, however, as Bogavac and Bokolo each had 5 points in a 10-0 run that brought their team within 78-79 with 2 minutes to go. Harper and Spencer stepped up with back-to-back baskets. Koffi answered with a layup-plus-foul and followed it with 1 of 2 free throws to trim the gap to 82-83. Harper made free throws while Salyers sealed his outstanding game with a final basket that allowed all Roanne fans to celebrate their team being the new Semaine Des As champion!