CFBB U18 edged North Fox 68-64 in Reuler after a game that swung wildly before being decided in the final minute. The hosts started sharper, 21-14 after the first quarter, but Denis Toroman's team flipped the script with a 23-7 second period, fuelled by back-to-back triples from Samuel Rehak (U18) and Charel Brettner (Season PPG: 7.67, RPG: 2.83, AssPG: 0.33) to lead 37-28 at the break.
U18 stretched the margin to a game-high +13 (54-41) in the third after five straight from Rehak and a three by Rehak again, but Fox responded with a 9-0 run to close the quarter. Stephane Banga Kpako (Season PPG: 16.88, RPG: 7.15, AssPG: 2.85) poured in seven consecutive points in that spell to bring it to 50-54.
The fourth quarter stayed tight. Banga cut it to 54-56, yet Leis Sabotic (Season PPG: 5.38, RPG: 3.0, AssPG: 0.63) hit two timely threes for 58-64 before fouling out. North Fox, guided by coach Charel Linden, had one last push Linden drilled another three and Banga's free throws made it 64-67 but U18 sealed it at the line through El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (Season PPG: 9.33, RPG: 7.38, AssPG: 1.56) and Lee Brosius (Season PPG: 11.0, RPG: 6.83, AssPG: 1.83).
Numbers told a clear story: U18 owned the glass 37-30 and finished 50% on twos (not good by the given threshold), while Fox struggled at 2P (30%) and from the stripe (13/26, 50%). U18 shot only 17% from three, but their makes came at key moments.
For North Fox, Linden (Season PPG: 16.5, RPG: 6.23, AssPG: 3.46) led with 23 points, including an excellent 4/5 from deep, and Banga added 22 with 6 rebounds, 3 steals and an impressive 9 fouls drawn, plus 2/3 from three. Jona Hanf (Season PPG: 10.88, RPG: 10.92, AssPG: 1.08) battled to 6 points and 16 rebounds.
U18's balanced scoring featured Brosius and Rehak with 13 each, Brettner 11, and Sarunas Sulcas (Season PPG: 8.83, RPG: 4.40, AssPG: 1.40) and Sabotic 10 apiece. CFBB U18 were the game winners in a close finish, snapping their five-game skid and climbing to 10th, while Fox remain 9th.
(AI generated)