Arantia Larochette left Niederkuer with a 101-85 win over Kordall Steelers after breaking the game open with a dominant third quarter. In front of 100 spectators, Kordall edged ahead by halftime (41-40) after recovering from a 18-21 first period, but the visitors flipped the script after the break with a 37-16 third frame.
The key stretch came right after the interval: Edson Rafael De Sousa Silva (18, 1.88m, PRT) scored the first two baskets of the half and Arantia strung together a 13-1 run to move from 43-44 to 57-44. A coach technical on KDS head coach Lopez Pena during that surge did not help the hosts' momentum. Arantia's lead peaked at +21 (74-95), and although Kordall fought to the end, the gap stayed comfortable.
Shooting told part of the story. Arantia finished an excellent 32/47 inside the arc (68%, good), while Kordall answered with 26/44 (59%, good). From deep both struggled (ARA 7/25, 28%; KDS 7/27, 26%), and at the line neither reached the good threshold (ARA 16/23, 70%; KDS 12/17, 71%). Despite Kordall's strong work on the glass (38-29 total, including 17 offensive boards), Arantia won the possession game with far fewer turnovers (8 to 15) and more activity in the lanes (7 steals to 1).
Among Arantia's domestic core, captain Vic Heuschling (ARA) chipped in 7 points. Up front, Jonas Levickas (14 pts, 6/8 2P) and Tyrell Sturdivant (30, 2.04m, USA) added 15 points and 9 rebounds. The overseas backcourt drove the third-quarter burst: Kevon Godwin (25, 1.88m, USA) posted 15 points with 2/5 from three and 5 assists, while Michael Anthony Carter III (28, 1.96m, USA) delivered 17 points on 6/8 2P plus 3 steals. De Sousa Silva led all homegrown scorers with 18 (7/9 2P, 1/1 3P).
For Kordall, Gianluca Pellegrino Ombroni (32, 1.91m, ESP) signed an all-around line of 15 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, drawing 9 fouls. Steve Kuhlmann (KDS) had 16 points, Robertas Jonaitis (KDS) 15, and Jackson Scott Sivills (23, 1.95m, USA) 12 with 8 rebounds.
Arantia's roster featured two professionals to Kordall's one, a difference that matters in the Enovos League. In the table, Arantia jump to 2nd (2-2, +8 places), while Kordall sit 8th at 1-3. Coach Osorio Silva's side now alternates results (loss, win, loss, win); Kordall have dropped two straight.
(AI generated)