Basketball - The Pelicans regain their wings against Sint Maarten

For the first time, young players from the All Youth Matters and St. Peters Ballers clubs in Sint Maarten were able to showcase their basketball skills in Saint Barthélemy. This was a new feature of the 2026 youth championship. On Saturday, February 28, two teams from All Youth Matters (under 11 and under 13) and one from St. Peters Ballers (under 15) were welcomed to the Saint-Jean playground by their Pelican's counterparts. Three games were played, with the young Pelicans winning two.
First, the under-11s won 20 points to 7. "After a heavy defeat last week, the team was able to bounce back," said coach Simon Malbranche. "This was thanks to two important factors: teamwork and enjoyment on the court. As a result, they managed to limit their opponents to just two points at halftime. This defensive performance enabled them to win the game."

A great victory
The under-13s also enjoyed success (32-13). "Despite a mixed start," said Léo Ciffréo Yousfi, coach of the Pelican's under-13 and under-15 teams. "After last week's defeat, this match was crucial, and that's what I reminded the players at the start of the game to make them feel that this time, we were at home," adds Léo, who explains that the turning point of the match came during a timeout at the end of the first half. "The team was re-energized by the captain's return to the court and took the lead," he said, highlighting the performance of an outstanding under-11 player. "The team was able to overcome a recurring problem at the start of the season, which was constantly leading at halftime and then ending up losing," says Léo. The concentration, commitment, and involvement of the entire squad made the difference. So much so that the opponents were only able to score three points in the second half.

The Ballers were too strong
For the under-15s, things proved a little more complicated. Unlike in the previous game, the Pelicans played with substitutes. With their coach's main instruction to "have fun" on the court and stay competitive from the first to the last minute, they took on the St. Peters Ballers. "This season, the result is not the priority, but rather the pride of representing your island by fighting hard and improving," insists Léo Ciffréo Yousfi.
Unfortunately, the young Pelicans were quickly outpaced in the first half. As a good assistant, Simon Malbranche came to the rescue to shake up the troops a bit. "With strong words," Léo adds. As a result, the team rallied and managed to close the gap a little. "The real shift in attitude came at the start of the second half," explains the coach. With a defensive retreat, provoked fouls, and more aggression towards the basket, the Saint Barth under-15s, led by their captain, showed a more combative side. So, despite the heavy defeat (36-99), Léo Ciffréo Yousfi insists that his team "left the court with their heads held high," with pride, "having made further progress and, above all, having enjoyed themselves."
Club president Pascal Peuchot recalls "a great day of basketball" and adds: "Our guests really enjoyed (their day in Saint Barth). We were delighted to welcome them. The energy was good. These teams from the Dutch side are now part of our league and will remain there for a long time. They thought basketball didn't exist in Saint Barth. We showed them what we were capable of."