Entente RES AMI B controlled the game in Bettembourg, defeating Nitia Bettembourg 70-52 in M-U18 Division 3 (Phase 1). The visitors built their win with timely runs and superior inside scoring and free throws.
After a balanced start that saw Nitia edge ahead 11-9, ERAB closed the first quarter on a 7-0 burst for 16-11. In the second, ERAB stretched the gap to +10 (29-19, then 31-21) before Nitia trimmed it to 24-31 at the break. A decisive 8-0 run early in the third (from 26-31 to 26-39) gave ERAB their first real cushion; Nitia's Liam Raas (NIT) answered with a personal 7-point flurry (a three and two twos) to 39-50, but ERAB still led 52-41 after three. Nitia briefly threatened at 46-54 on back-to-back baskets by Ilyes Ikherrazen (Season PPG: 2.80), only for ERAB to reply with a 9-0 run to 63-46 and finish with the night's largest lead (+18).
ERAB's scoring balance stood out: Aurel Nicula (Season PPG: 9.88) poured in 22, fueling the third-quarter surge with points at the line and at the rim; Finn Stoltz (ERAB) added 15; Matt Mossong (ERAB) 13. Captain Illia Malkin, 17 (UKR), matched his season-high with 11 and hit 3 free throws. ERAB made 25 two-pointers and 11 free throws, compared to Nitia's 17 and 6 (Nitia did lead from three, 4 to 3).
For Nitia, captain Prosper Afakir (Season PPG: 12.40) scored 15 despite foul trouble (4 PF), supported by Joan Hugo Francis Lumbu (Season PPG: 16.20) with 11 and Raas (NIT) with 7. Coach Filip Dukic's team snapped a four-game losing run and climbed to 4th (+2, 1-4), while Coach Qassim Sahraoui's Nitia slipped to 5th (1-3) and a third straight defeat.
(AI generated)