Sagesse Narrowly Beat Chabeb El Batroun, 84-82
In a nail-biting D1M contest at Chabeb El Batroun, Sagesse escaped with a 84-82 victory over Chabeb El Batroun on Saturday, January 10. Paris Bass led the charge for Sagesse with a game-high 25 points and 9 rebounds.
Chabeb El Batroun took a 41-34 lead into halftime, but Sagesse mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Chabeb El Batroun 50-41 after the break. The third quarter was the decisive stretch, with Sagesse outscoring their opponents 28-14 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 6 dunks in total, with A. Fairly (Chabeb El Batroun) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. A. Kopaly (Chabeb El Batroun) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter during a crucial stretch. A. Fairly was a force on the defensive end with 9 blocks.
Paris Bass was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks in 35 minutes of action. He shot 9-of-17 (53%) from the field, 1-of-3 (33%) from three-point range, 6-of-8 (75%) from the free-throw line. Youssef Khayat provided valuable support with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists. Kevin Murphy also chipped in with 20 points off the starting lineup.
Sagesse's bench was a major factor, contributing 18 points off the pine. Ali Haidar was the standout reserve, providing 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals in a spark-plug role. Sagesse also generated 10 second-chance points and 19 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Sagesse at 46% and Chabeb El Batroun at 44%.
Sagesse dominated the boards 42-34, including 10 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions. Sagesse's ball movement was superior with 23 assists to Chabeb El Batroun's 18.
The biggest momentum shift came when Chabeb El Batroun put together a 12-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Down the stretch, Sagesse came up clutch when it mattered most. K. Murphy nailed a key basket with 00:05 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
Despite the result, Desmond Washington showed his quality for Chabeb El Batroun, contributing 34 points, 10 assists, 2 steals. Ruot Monyyong added 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.