If an 18-year-old can learn a whole lot in one game, Bourg's Zaccharie Risacher did just that in a heart-thumping win over Cluj on Tuesday.
Risacher saved Bourg's roller coaster ride at the end
Straipsnis
3 Minutė skaityti
Few teenagers play with games on the line at a level such as the BKT EuroCup. Then again, not too many teens belong in that situation as much as Zaccharie Risacher of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.
A lot of eyes are on the skinny forward this season not just because he is the son of former Euroleague Basketball star Stephane Risacher, but because he is one of the most promising prospects in the world. Bourg head coach Frederic Fauthoux gave Risacher his first start of the EuroCup season in a head-to-head battle of undefeated teams with visiting U-BT Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday.
Risacher delivered right away, scoring the game's first 5 points with displays of what everyone admires so much in his game: smoothness in the open court, great handles, and a knack for finding creative solutions for himself and his teammates. He added 2 rebounds and a steal before the game was 5 minutes old, by which time his team led 17-8. Bourg's older guard took it from there, shooting the team to a whopping 55-38 lead at intermission as Risacher sat out the rest of the first half.
Upon his return after the break, Cluj mounted its expected comeback while Risacher struggled with a couple of turnovers. Still, Bourg led 57-43 when he took a seat again, not to be heard from until early in the fourth quarter, when Cluj was still threatening. Risacher soon combined a block and a fastbreak finish to take Bourg up 77-63 with 5 minutes left, but he missed his fifth free throw already as Cluj kept charging. As such, he was maybe the last person you would have expected on the floor after he left with 2 minutes remaining and the score at 83-78.
But Coach Fauthoux had better ideas. When Dennis Seeley's triple got Cluj as close as 87-85 with 24 seconds left, back came Risacher and sure enough the ball found the way into his hands. Cluj fouled him and Risacher missed the second of his attempts fora 90-86 scoreboard with 14 seconds left. After Cluj added free throws with 7 seconds left, Risacher was immediately fouled again. Any miss would have given Cluj a chance to tie.
This time, looking like his 3-for-9 performance at the foul line until then was the furthest thing from his mind, Risacher calmly drilled both of his opportunities to put the game away. Like that, Bourg was still undefeated at the top of Group B and its young future star was one game smarter for having taken responsibility when it mattered most.
In the end, he led Bourg in rebounds (5) and blocks (1) in less than 16 minutes on the floor while scoring 11 points, none more important than the only pair of free throws he really needed to make.
Game Videos
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Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Zavier Simpson: 'It was crazy!'
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Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Stephens's alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:08
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Stephens attacks the rim! Magic Moment
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Valencia Basket-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
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Kokila’s monster block! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c11bce19-a32f-4b67-9741-4be53fe450d9.jpg]()
Aris Midea Thessaloniki-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
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Casteneda’s bounce pass for Pansa’s dunk! Magic Moment
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Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:25
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What an assist by Mokoka! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2183c7a3-9f3c-4105-acd0-089253215742.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A167%3A25]()
Mokoka swats Stenionis! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9_GGOS1WVDg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cd5bc455-e41a-4367-a103-92808b23f8f3.jpg?crop=1288%3A724%3Anowe%3A31%3A30]()
Lovely team baseline move by Cluj! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r_IM8-CGA2U/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Umana Reyer Venice-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
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Salin creates a fastbreak from the floor! Magic Moment
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Aris Midea Thessaloniki-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
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Zimpson dances and scores! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c5c4946d-f4ae-4bdc-8dc0-09a52372ac70.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/292b724d-953f-4590-a792-ede9d1eebb00.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A41]()
Stephens posterizes Smith! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/rgPLUg6QWlk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:35
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Mokoka takes off for the massive dunk! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y9kg3RC5GC0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Turk Telekom-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:08
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Pansa rejects Durmaz! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb684647-7ca2-4db3-bacb-d87a9aaaf699.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A173%3A146]()
Mokoka takes off for the massive dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2e41e3d1-0b0e-439b-98c4-eb7a4a38913a.jpg?crop=1004%3A565%3Anowe%3A269%3A78]()
Hankins finds Mejeris for the slam! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/OfuZJh8iqBE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-7-bet Lietkabelis Panevezys | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Bt3SoMaLDc4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/fT9j4iI9Nv4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:36
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/08f66a7a-e67e-4697-a293-912167e07be0.jpg?crop=1261%3A709%3Anowe%3A24%3A89]()
Courby goes from defense to offense! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da540dff-7fcd-4b28-99ae-3edac2f31ed5.jpg?crop=1209%3A679%3Anowe%3A85%3A97]()
Simpson's circus shot! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/08f50204-31da-4227-966d-e88c93cd0cc0.jpg?crop=1211%3A681%3Anowe%3A77%3A36]()
Pansa dunks off Castaneda’s alley-oop pass! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Jji9axLj4fs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:28
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ce750352-36a6-4eaf-a17d-105f866432fe.jpg?crop=1191%3A670%3Anowe%3A103%3A62]()
Seeley's three to take the lead for good! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40a8fb17-a93a-470d-bbf2-ba8aeb7bcd48.jpg?crop=1271%3A715%3Anowe%3A0%3A68]()
An open lane for Guzman's dunk! Magic Moment
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/049e436b-d82f-40d6-b6ab-f0f547d742e7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A83%3A172]()
Big hustle, big dunk! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UuuwT3QFVM8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/BTGH04Yt0du0CkpC3jILvLWipkRMQLOn-1733264308516.jpg]()
Guzman with the massive dunk on the break! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9699c983-d978-48e4-ab59-59bd3a23002f.jpg]()
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6f2ab088-9fb2-49bf-8afa-cd5359c80bd6.jpg?crop=737%3A414%3Anowe%3A237%3A54]()
Hankins throws it down! Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/28/fqsidqDwWGesOmT3nVCvT8CS55xax7vp-1732833407181.jpg]()
Simpson-Hankins connection! Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b7272e42-e295-4671-9794-f450837be81d.jpg]()
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Valencia Basket | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/368cf634-f384-46dc-a028-77d0c608211c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A123%3A167]()
Castaneda's circus shot! Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e7fbb9f-b9c1-43c3-8b5f-c4827720c7f0.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Kokila's alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1IQTDgXgJiw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
U-BT Cluj-Napoca-Aris Midea Thessaloniki | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/da09db6a-b68a-46db-ab98-3242e4652862.jpg?crop=1240%3A698%3Anowe%3A55%3A56]()
Benitez from midcourt! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5b091b35-661b-4107-8ca5-71df3383c017.jpg]()
Pansa throws it down! Magic Moment
