M-Nationale 2, Tour qualificatif (game 9, ins) BC Mess controlled CFBB U18 97-82, building the gap in a decisive second quarter (28-18) and peaking at a 22-point lead in the third. After an even start (18-21), Mess opened Q2 with a 7-0 burst two Kemevuako free throws, a Barnes triple and a Gauthier drive to seize momentum. In Q3, McCallum strung together a series of free throws and mid-range attacks while Barnes kept punishing close-outs; U18's brief rallies in Q4, fueled by Brosius' two threes, were answered by a Matos Pinto triple and steady scoring at the stripe.
Numbers told the story: Mess lived at the line (26/35, 74%) and feasted on turnovers (24 steals; U18 committed 37 turnovers). The Americans carried the scoring load Deanthony Kendrick McCallum (27 years, 1.90m, USA; Season PPG: 25.73, RPG: 5.00, AssPG: 4.88) posted 38 points with a good 76.9% at the line (20/26), plus 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 steals (MVP). Cobie Barnes (25, 1.95m, USA; Season PPG: 33.00, RPG: 11.50, AssPG: 2.13) added 37, including 6/13 from three (46%). Support came from Bernardo Matos Pinto (a timely pair of threes) and Fabbri Bruno Zinédine Gauthier.
For U18, the homegrown core fought: Lee Brosius (17, 1.92m; Season PPG: 12.5, RPG: 9.1) delivered 18 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 2/3 from deep; El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop battled to 10 points and 15 boards (4/4 FT); Charel Brettner contributed 13 with good 50% from three and an excellent 3/3 inside. Abram Macalou added 11 (5/7 2P).
Game flow notes: McCallum scored multiple one-point trips in a row in the third, and Barnes had back-to-back buckets spanning Q3-Q4. An unsportsmanlike on U18 in Q3 hurt any comeback attempt. Coach Stéphane Frentzel's side absorbed a C1 in Q2 but kept control. After two straight losses, Mess returned to winning ways, while U18 could not sustain their recent upturn.
(AI generated)