Arantia Larochette edged Gréngewald Hueschtert 81-76 in Oberanven to open the Championship round, surviving a furious late rally. The first period was balanced (18-19), then Coach Abramavicius' side broke the game open before halftime with a 22-11 second quarter for 29-41 at the break. Early in the third, Arantia strung together an 8-0 burst to 29-49, their largest lead (+20). Coach Parrish's group answered: Raik Steyer (17) and Valentin Maggi fueled momentum, cutting to 48-59 after three and finally leveling at 61-61 in the fourth as Maggi hit back-to-back buckets.
Arantia reacted with a pivotal 8-0 run (free throw by Tom Faber, a basket and a triple from Lee Brosius, plus another Faber finish) for 61-69. Santiago Capozucca (Season PPG: 8.75) then carried Gréngewald, delivering two personal 5-0 spurts two triples and two drives to put GRE ahead 73-71. In winning time, Mathis Dieterlen (Season PPG: 17.83; 17, 1.83m, FRA) drilled a three, Faber (Season PPG: 8.50) added another from deep, Brosius (Season PPG: 27.17) was steady at the line, and Dieterlen sealed it with two free throws.
Scoring leaders: Arantia Dieterlen 21 (7 made free throws, two triples), Brosius 17, Maximilien Nuss (Season PPG: 11.40) 13, Faber 12, Vincent Diderrich 8, with Lars Bosdijk (1.98m) adding inside punch. Gréngewald Steyer 21, Maggi (Season PPG: 8.83) 19, Capozucca 16, Egidijus Jarukaitis (Season PPG: 11.13) 13. Captain Nicolas François L. Dupong (Season PPG: 8.18) fouled out in the fourth, a late blow for GRE.
Shot mix: Arantia 24 two-pointers, 7 threes, 12 free throws; Gréngewald 25 two-pointers, 6 threes, 8 free throws. Arantia are third in the new standings; Gréngewald sit fourth. Form-wise, Arantia have won five of their last six, while Gréngewald's skid stretches to six defeats.
(AI generated)