Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre
Encyclopedia
Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre is a basketball
club based in Le Havre
, France
that plays in the Pro A division of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball
. Their home arena is Dock Océane
.
when it was established 1932.
In 1952, under coach Edouard Barq, Le Havre qualified for the top league and finished its debut season with a winning record (9-8). In 1955, Claude Josephau carried Le Havre all the way to the French Cup semifinals where the club lost to Paris University Club
, 55-50, in front of a crowd of 1,200.
In the late 1980s, Le Havre battled its way back up the ladder and in 1993 secured a spot in the Pro B division of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball
. In 1995, the club made the semifinals of the French Cup. The team joined the French Pro A League in 2000. Despite hiring former France national team coach Michel Gomez for the first season in Pro A, the team struggled mightily and fired Gomez to avoid relegation. The team hired Eric Girard and brought in future stars Jermaine Guice and Ricardo Greer, who helped lead the club to the Semaine des As finals in 2003.
STB took 6th place in Group A of the 2003-2004 FIBA Europe League
with a record of 4 wins and 8 losses. STB then made the semifinals of the 2004 French Cup. At the 2004-2005 Eurocup, the team took 3rd place in Group B with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses. At the 2008-2009 Europcup, STB lost all 6 of their games to finish 4th place in Group C.
and Pape Sy
, 2004
National Invitation Tournament
MVP Daniel Horton, and former NBA player Bruce Bowen
are notable former members of the club. Mahinmi returned during the 2011 NBA lockout
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
club based in Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
that plays in the Pro A division of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
. Their home arena is Dock Océane
Dock Océane
Dock Océane is an indoor sporting arena located in Le Havre, France. The capacity of the arena is 3,598 people. It is currently home to the Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre basketball team....
.
Club history
The Saint Thomas d'Aquin sports club was founded in 1903 and its basketball division opened in 1924 by brothers Louis and Roger Pineau. STB Le Havre was the first team to register with the French Basketball FederationFédération Française de Basket-Ball
The Fédération Française de Basket-Ball is the governing body of basketball in France.It was founded in 1932 ....
when it was established 1932.
In 1952, under coach Edouard Barq, Le Havre qualified for the top league and finished its debut season with a winning record (9-8). In 1955, Claude Josephau carried Le Havre all the way to the French Cup semifinals where the club lost to Paris University Club
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, 55-50, in front of a crowd of 1,200.
In the late 1980s, Le Havre battled its way back up the ladder and in 1993 secured a spot in the Pro B division of the Ligue Nationale de Basketball
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
. In 1995, the club made the semifinals of the French Cup. The team joined the French Pro A League in 2000. Despite hiring former France national team coach Michel Gomez for the first season in Pro A, the team struggled mightily and fired Gomez to avoid relegation. The team hired Eric Girard and brought in future stars Jermaine Guice and Ricardo Greer, who helped lead the club to the Semaine des As finals in 2003.
STB took 6th place in Group A of the 2003-2004 FIBA Europe League
FIBA Europe
FIBA Europe is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which includes all 49 national European basketball federations.-Division A:-Division B: -Division C:...
with a record of 4 wins and 8 losses. STB then made the semifinals of the 2004 French Cup. At the 2004-2005 Eurocup, the team took 3rd place in Group B with a record of 6 wins and 4 losses. At the 2008-2009 Europcup, STB lost all 6 of their games to finish 4th place in Group C.
Notable Former Players
Current NBA players Ian MahinmiIan Mahinmi
Ian Mahinmi is a French professional basketball player, currently playing for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. At 6'11" and 230 lbs, he plays the position of power forward and center...
and Pape Sy
Pape Sy
Pape Sy is a French-Senegalese professional basketball player who is a member of BCM Gravelines of France. He is also under contract with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, but is playing overseas because of the 2011 NBA lockout...
, 2004
2004 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:...
National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
MVP Daniel Horton, and former NBA player Bruce Bowen
Bruce Bowen
Bruce Bowen Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'7", 200-lb. Bowen played small forward and graduated from Edison High School and Cal State Fullerton...
are notable former members of the club. Mahinmi returned during the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
.
Current roster
- Head Coach: Jean Manuel Sousa
- Assistant Coach: Eric Bartecheky
| Number | Name | Born in | Height (m) | Nationality | Position |
| 4 | Xaiver Gaillou | 1988 | 1.91 |  |
Guard |
| 4 | Slaven Rimac Slaven Rimac Slaven Rimac is a Croatian professional basketball player born on December 19, 1974, in Zagreb . He was a member of the Croatian National Team in 1996 Olympic Games and 1997 Eurobasket... |
1974 | 1.95 |  |
Guard |
| 5 | Fabian Causeur | 1987 | 1.94 | |
Guard |
| 6 | Rudy Jomby | 1988 | 1.99 | |
Forward |
| 7 | Bingo Merriex | 1980 | 2.04 |  |
Forward |
| 8 | Aleksander Bojic | 1981 | 2.07 |  |
Forward |
| 11 | Gedeon Pitard | 1987 | 1.88 | |
Guard |
| 12 | Jean Bernage | 1988 | 2.00 | |
Forward |
| 13 | Frejus Zerbo | 1989 | 2.08 |  |
Center |
| 13 | Romain Duport | 1986 | 2.18 | |
Center |
| 14 | Brian Laing | 1985 | 1.96 | |
Forward |
| - | Christophe Leonard Christophe Leonard Christophe Leonard is a French basketball player. He is currently playing for STB Le Havre in the French Ligue Nationale de Basketball. A native of Schoelcher on Martinique, Leonard is and weighs .... |
1990 | 1.99 | |
Forward |
| - | Brian Boddicker | 1981 | 2.04 | |
Forward |
| - | Nic Wise Nic Wise Dominique Giovanni Wise is a point guard for the STB Le Havre in France.-High school:At Kingwood High School, Nic Wise was a two year letterwinner. He played his freshmen Highschool year at Cinco Ranch in Katy. The following year he played under his father at Hightower Highschool... |
1987 | 1.78 | |
Guard |