T71 Dudelange took Game 1 of this best-of-3 quarter-final in Larochette, 88-86, after Arantia had won the two qualification meetings between these teams.
The game stayed tight for long stretches. T71 opened 4-0, Arantia answered through Michael Carter III (Season PPG: 23.33, RPG: 4.86, AssPG: 3.21) and Kevon Godwin (Season PPG: 22.41, RPG: 3.32, AssPG: 4.35), while Vic Heuschling (Season PPG: 7.52, RPG: 2.75, AssPG: 1.06) gave the home side a lift with three first-half triples. After 21-21 and 47-47, the first real break came in the second quarter when T71 moved from 21-24 to 32-24 with 11 points in a row.
Arantia reacted well. Heuschling scored 8 straight points in the second quarter, and in the third Karolis Abramavicius' team turned 51-55 into 61-55 with a 10-0 run, powered by Jonas Levickas (Season PPG: 11.89, RPG: 4.83, AssPG: 1.46), Godwin and Tyrell Sturdivant (Season PPG: 14.32, RPG: 8.62, AssPG: 0.83).
T71's answer was decisive. Maurice Calloo (Season PPG: 20.60, RPG: 7.38, AssPG: 1.38) and Jimmie Taylor III (Season PPG: 24.55, RPG: 6.68, AssPG: 2.89) led an 8-0 push late in the third for 69-63. In the last quarter Arantia kept coming back and tied at 83-83, but Christopher Jack hit a key three for 86-83, then Ivan do Rosario Delgado added the last two T71 points from the line.
Calloo and Denell Stephens shared MVP honors. Calloo finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in 40 minutes. Taylor added 25 with an excellent 60% from three (6/10). Stephens, the 40-year-old USA forward/center, gave T71 14 points, 12 rebounds and excellent 75% on 2-pointers. For Arantia, Carter had 29 points, Godwin 15, Heuschling 17 on an excellent 4/4 from two and 3/7 from three, and Levickas shot an excellent 5/7 inside.
Arantia shot better on 2-pointers, 58.8% to 45.9%, and had a good 75.8% at the line. T71 made the bigger difference from deep at a good 46.4% (13/28), against 30.4% for Arantia, and now leads the series 1-0.
(AI generated)