US Heffingen edged North Fox 70-66 in a close M-U18 Division 4 game in Heffingen, staying unbeaten (3-0) and moving to 1st place (+1). North Fox sits 3rd and is now on a two-game skid after an opening win.
Game evolution set the tone. Fox opened 0-4 through Yannick Johanns (FOX), but Heffingen answered with an 8-0 burst led by Danilo Hess (17, 1.90m) and BOSSELER (HEF) to take control and close Q1 at 20-13. In the second quarter, Hess lived at the line and from mid-range, pushing the lead to a game-high +13 (36-23) before halftime at 40-30. Fox's reply arrived after the break: Marvin Carvalho (FOX) hit back-to-back threes and Fynn Schlechter (16, 1.75m) kept scoring, yet Hess strung together 5 in a row and produced 11 points in the third, preserving a 57-47 cushion.
The last quarter belonged to Fox, who chipped away from 69-60 to 69-66 on a 6-0 run fueled by Schlechter and FERNANDES DOS SANTOS (FOX). Amid a physical finish that included one unsportsmanlike per side, Hess split late free throws for 70-66 to seal it for coach Jos Alberto Pais Costa.
Hess poured in 45 points and carried Heffingen through every phase. ELCHEROTH (HEF) added 11 before fouling out, while LAFORGIA (HEF) and ALMEIDA MONTEIRO (HEF) provided timely points. For coach Pol Schlechter's North Fox, Fynn Schlechter scored 23, Carvalho 13 (including two third-quarter triples) and Johanns 11. Captain Nils Rob (FOX) fouled out, as did Johanns, which weighed on Fox's late push.
Runs and moments: Fox's 0-4 start; Heffingen's immediate 8-0 reply; the hosts' highest lead at +13; Carvalho's third-quarter long-range spark; and Fox's 6-0 surge inside the final minute before Hess's last point. Heffingen remain perfect; Fox's late rally fell just short.
(AI generated)