Arantia Larochette (ARA) overpowered Grengewald Hueschtert (GRE) 90-60 in the M-Coupe Minis 1/8 finales in Larochette, building control early and never letting go. Arantia opened 8-0, weathered GRE's reply to 13-13, then closed the first quarter on a 12-4 push for 25-17. The hosts broke the game open in the second, led by a blistering stretch from Noa Franssens (ARA): the 13-year-old poured in 16 points in the period, including two triples, to send Arantia to the break up 48-30.
GRE's best phase came after halftime through Jake Jozef Rajniak (GRE) and Rasmus Dollaris Praestegaard (GRE), trimming sequences and forcing exchanges (third quarter 17-15), but Arantia's depth answered. In the fourth, Finn Brosius (ARA) steadied things with free throws, Rui Carlos Silva (ARA) added a drive and back-to-back threes, and Franssens closed the door with consecutive triples. The hosts finished on a 14-2 run from 76-58 to the final buzzer, their largest lead set at +30.
Franssens (ARA) authored a standout 45-point performance, carrying stretches of offense with multiple personal flurries across Q1 and Q2 and six straight points to end the night. Supporting him, Sam Goehlhausen (ARA) added 14, Silva (ARA) 10, and Ben Welter (ARA) 9, while Brosius (ARA) chipped in 9 and key fourth-quarter free throws.
For GRE, Rajniak (GRE) led with 17, Praestegaard (GRE) had 11, and Henry Ian Hind (GRE, 11, IRL) scored 10, with Arnas Pakasius (GRE) on 8. GRE saw stretches of foul trouble (Tom Peter Zajc and Hind reached four), while Arantia's Silva also finished on four, but no player fouled out.
Coach Pit Hoffmann's side dictated pace and shot-making rhythm, using timely time-outs and rotation tweaks to sustain runs. Coach Nicolas Saquan Parrish's group battled to 13-13 and again in the third, yet Arantia's fourth-quarter surge sealed a clear cup win and a place in the quarterfinals.
(AI generated)