“It's incredible, we've been waiting for this for two years!
exclaims a young man covered in red and gold paint.
Supporter of the Hoche high school team, he was desperate to witness a victory for his people, after only two victories in 17 editions of this derby between the two Versailles institutions.
At the end of the match, as the supporters invaded the field, he was finally able to let his joy explode: Hoche won on the wire, 51 - 47. Grimés, disguised, boiling, these young students of the preparatory classes of the high schools of Sainte -Geneviève - nicknamed "Ginette" - and de Hoche came to watch the sporting event of the year: the basketball match between the two town establishments.
A sort of French-style "Oxford-Cambridge" in terms of its prestige - the two institutions, more than a century old, are renowned for the excellence of their teaching - and in an atmosphere reminiscent of that of American university matches with decibels galore, cheerleaders and spectacular entertainment.