JDA Dijon muzzles Strasbourg and makes a strong statement in play-in race
Against an inconsistent Strasbourg team, JDA Dijon showed their firepower this Saturday evening at the Rhenus. Thanks to an iron defense and perfectly coordinated teamwork, Laurent Legname’s players dominated Strasbourg (58-77), securing the point differential advantage after their narrow away defeat (91-94). The Burgundy team (12 wins and 13 losses), ninth in standings, now has a two-win lead over SIG, who sits in 12th place.
Iron defense leads to controlled victory
The game started looking balanced, with SIG led by Filip Kruslin (8-6, 4th) but already showing an incisive Markis McDuffie on the Burgundy side. After a tight first quarter (15-16), Dijon turned the game around in a perfectly managed second period. Through aggressive defense and effective rotations, they inflicted a 5-20 run on their hosts. SIG, completely stifled, had more turnovers (7) than points scored (5) in this quarter. At halftime, Dijon already led by 15 points (20-35).
👏 | First two points for young Sharife Cooper in #BetclicELITE for @jdadijonbasket! 🔥
📺 Watch the end of the first period live on DAZN 👉 https://t.co/K47QZCarbz pic.twitter.com/YcgIw9Bn8J
— DAZN France (@DAZN_FR) April 12, 2025
Hrovat, Kamardine, Julien… A well-organized team effort
After the break, Gregor Hrovat strung together decisive plays to further extend the lead (24-43, 24th). While Strasbourg tried to respond through the Kruslin-Invernizzi duo, the gap was never really closed. Axel Julien and Phil Booth managed the tempo, and in the final quarter, Ilias Kamardine shone in offense. Dijon’s defense remained impenetrable until the end, sealing a clear and decisive victory (58-77).
Post-game reactions: « Recovering our defensive foundation »
Laurent Legname didn’t hide his satisfaction: « This is a very impressive victory. […] The players responded in the best possible way by maintaining our defensive pressure consistently for 40 minutes, » he told the Bien Public. For captain Axel Julien, the key was clear: « We held them to 58 points, only 5 in the second quarter. When we hold teams under 60 points, it’s a 95% chance of winning. »
🔥 Victory and strong defensive performance on Strasbourg’s court for JDA who takes back the point differential advantage against SIG ✓ #MyJDA #JDAFamily pic.twitter.com/Vjfawr6RS7
— JDA Dijon Basket (@jdadijonbasket) April 12, 2025
On Strasbourg’s side, frustration prevailed. Filip Kruslin acknowledged that « the problem is us » despite targeted preparation, while Thomas Drouot spoke of « an offensive desert » and « a game plan that was followed for only five minutes of the entire match. »
Commentaires