Arantia Larochette edged Kordall Steelers 67-59 in Rodange in MU16 Division 4 (Phase 1). The game swung repeatedly before Arantia closed it out late to move to first place (21), while Kordall sits third (12). Arantia is on a twogame winning streak; Kordall has dropped two in a row.
Kordall, led by captain Abriel Adam (14, BEL), took the first quarter 1413 behind early baskets from Mickael Pereira Briga (14, PRT). The second quarter turned when Arantia strung together a 70 spell, sparked by Charles Wilhelm and Noa Franssens, to build the first gap (+7 at 2330) before halftime at 2931.
Momentum shifted sharply after the break. Mahé Schmitz opened with four straight points for 3331 KDS, but Arantia answered with an 110 run keyed by Philippe Volvert (five unanswered himself) and Franssens for the game's biggest lead (+9 at 3342). Kordall immediately hit back with an 80 burst Adam, Schmitz and a Pereira triple to 4142, before Arantia restored a 4349 edge entering the fourth.
The final quarter was tight. Schmitz kept Kordall in touch with a flurry of twos, and his late buckets tied it 5959. The winners emerged in the closing minute: Franssens put Arantia ahead, Volvert sank four free throws in a row, Jim Spaus added another, and captain Wilhelm buried a three to cap an 80 finish.
Key numbers tell the story: Arantia earned a 14point edge at the line (18 made free throws to 4) and hit five triples to Kordall's one. Kordall dominated inside with 26 twopointers to Arantia's 17, but couldn't match the perimeter and foulline production.
Top performers: Arantia Volvert 21 (9 FTs, 6 twos), Wilhelm 15 (two threes, the dagger), Franssens 13, Spaus 10. Kordall Adam 19 (nine twos), Schmitz 17, Pereira Briga 17 (team's lone three). Despite four fouls, Schmitz kept scoring late; Arantia's Léo Rock also finished on four.
Coaches: João Pedro Osorio Silva's side managed timeouts around the big thirdquarter swings, while Julien Noël Edouard Bordonne's group showed resilience but fell short in the final possessions.
(AI generated)