There are also changes in the French five with Romane Bernies replacing Marine Fauthoux. That doesn't stop Alexis Peterson from starting strong, while France is extremely aggressive in stealing balls.
It worked because the “Mannschaft” lost a lot of balls, but the French women were also penalized by the referees, Marième Badiane and Romane Bernies having to quickly join the bench with two fouls. The entrance of Marine Johannès energized the attack of the Blues, with a first 3-pointer, then three free throws on an opponent's foul.
Germany loses a lot of balls
Iliana Rupert also made a good entrance and France took control of the match (23-19) after a quarter, thanks to Germany's 7 turnovers, including 4 just to Satou Sabally…
The short break did not calm Marine Johannès, who bombarded Germany and allowed the Blues to pull away, with the support of her captain, Sarah Michel Boury, who played with a mask to protect her nose.
At the post or behind the 3-point line, Alexia Chery also does well and the gap goes up to +16 (40-24) on a “Fourniesque” basket by Marine Fauthoux. The only black spot of the first half, the Blues leave offensive rebounds to Germany, who therefore limit the damage a little (45-33) at halftime.
Janelle Salaün penalizes from mid-distance and Gabby Williams does the same from afar and the gap increases to +19 (52-33). Romane Bernies already collects her fourth foul and Germany is eating into its deficit. Fortunately, Gabby Williams manages to slip to the circle to give the Blues a little breathing room (56-43)!
The Marine Johannès show
Leïla Lacan imitates her and Marine Johannès resumes her “show”, with a superb feint to go for the layup, then a new 3-pointer. And at the end of the third quarter, despite the 15 points of the returning Nyara Sabally, much better than her sister on the match, France leads its boat at +17 (66-49).
The “super sub” of the Blues begins the fourth quarter with a small one-foot jumpshot that Dirk Nowitzki, present in the front row, surely appreciated. For her part, the player concerned can only smile.
Alexia Chery also continues her festival from afar, but nothing stops especially Marine Johannès, who this time goes to the circle. She already has 21 points in 17 minutes on the court! Alexis Peterson gets angry and takes a technical but Satou Sabally and Jean-Aimé Toupane take a time-out to calm down their players, who relax mentally.
At +13 (73-60) with just over five minutes left in the match, it's not time to lose focus.
Belgium in the semi-final again!
Despite a few minutes of hesitation, a new 3-pointer from Marine Johannès puts France back at +17 (78-61) with 4 minutes 16 left. With 24 points, the shooter has already broken her record for the French team. And Germany takes a timeout and will have to hope for a miracle…
Except that the “Mannschaft” scores 6 points in a row and it is Jean-Aimé Toupane's turn to stop the game. At the buzzer, Valériane Ayayi does a lot of good for France (81-69), which is feverish in these last minutes and in turn loses a lot of balls. But Gabby Williams and her teammates hold firm (84-71) until the end.
Les Bleues are, like Les Bleus, in the semi-finals of the 5×5 tournament. They will meet Belgium, a team they know very well, and which qualified by beating Spain just before.
