JSK Takes the Lead in Group 2 with a 68-62 Win Against Stade Nabeulien
With only three days left in the regular season, JSK is now tied for first place in Group 2 of the Tunisian basketball Pro A championship with USM, each with 13 points. Meanwhile, the Potiers, a newly promoted team, have taken a beautiful second-place position with a total of 12 points.
A Thrilling Match
In a heated atmosphere, the Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanise (JSK) won the leaders' duel against the Stade Nabeulien, the sensation of the Tunisian basketball Pro A championship, at the Aziz Miled hall on Friday with a score of 68-62. The team, led by coach Marouan Kechrid, had difficulty taking the lead against a solid opposing defense.
Turning the Tide
However, the teammates of Belhassen Chihi, who scored 17 points (5/6 at 2-pts) and 7 rebounds, were able to accelerate the pace in the second quarter, taking a 7-point lead (24-17) and ending the first half with a score of 38-31. In the third quarter, the power of JSK's Nigerian pivot, Francis Azolie (11 points and 9 rebounds), and the brilliant passes and accuracy of point guard Oussama Chabouh (15 points and 6 decisive passes, with a success rate of 83.3% at free throws and 50% at 3-pts) allowed the locals to take the largest lead of the match, 52-34, an 18-point difference, in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
A Late Comeback
Stung to the quick, the protégés of Portuguese coach Vasco Curado pursued the same momentum from the end of the third quarter and sounded the charge in the fourth and final quarter, relying on their trio of Ahmed Dhif (17 points and 6 decisive passes), American guard Tim Jones (11 points and 2 decisive passes), and experienced winger Mohamed Amine Magherbi (9 points and 4 rebounds). The performances of this orange trident allowed the SN to narrow the gap to 5 points, but it was insufficient to equalize the overall score and force overtime. Finally, the "Green and Orange" team conceded to a very athletic Kairouanese team with a varied game, with only a 6-point difference, despite scoring 30 points from the bench (compared to 24 for JSK) and 10 points in counter-attacks, including 4 ball losses committed by the opponent, while the Kairouanais could only score 7 points in counter-attacks.
The Current Standings
With only three days left in the regular season, JSK is now tied for first place in Group 2 of the Tunisian basketball Pro A championship with USM, each with 13 points, and the Nabeuliens occupy a beautiful second place, with a total of 12 points, a great comeback for a team returning to the elite.
