Arantia Larochette controlled their M-U22 qualification tie against Basket Esch from the opening tip, winning 87-71 in Larochette. The first quarter set the tone: after 4-4, Arantia strung together a 26-7 burst to close the period 30-11. Noé Tibold (19, 1.98m) dominated early with repeated finishes and trips to the line, while Lee Brosius (17, 1.92m) and Oleksandr Senchenko (21, 1.85m, UKR) added steady scoring. Esch coach Dejan Pavlovic tried to cool the run with a timeout in minute 6, but Arantia kept their grip.
Esch answered in the second quarter through Deni Sabotic (17, 1.85m, MNE), who poured in a string of mid-range makes to win the period 24-19 and trim the deficit to 49-35 at the break. After halftime, coach Karolis Abramavicius' side reasserted themselves: Edson Rafael De Sousa Silva (18, 1.88m, PRT) hit from deep, Senchenko added another three, and an 11-0 Arantia run pushed it to 65-41. The hosts' highest lead came at 72-45 late in the third.
Esch kept competing in the fourth, with Chahine Bel Mokhtar (17, 1.98m) knocking down a three and Sabotic adding points at the stripe. The visitors closed on an 8-0 burst, but the gap was too large. Senchenko fouled out late, though Arantia's advantage held firm.
Tibold was the game's standout with 41 points built on 14 two-pointers and 13 made free throws. Brosius added 15 and Senchenko 14. For Esch, Sabotic paced the offense with 29, supported by Raphaël Cessat (19, FRA) with 14 and Bel Mokhtar's 10.
Arantia move to 2-0 and sit 2nd in the table; Esch drop to 0-3 (4th), now on a three-game losing run. Game evolution decided it early: a dominant first quarter and a decisive third were the difference.
(AI generated)
Arantia Larochette 
Basket Esch 
