Arantia Larochette B edged BC Mess B 60-59 in Larochette in the M-U14 Division 6 Phase finale, decided by a late free throw. Coach Pit Hoffmann's team burst out 6-0 and led by as many as 10 (18-8) in the first quarter. Mess answered with a 26-point second quarter led by Rayan Macedo Mendes, who strung together multiple baskets around halftime to push the visitors in front 36-33 at the break and up to +5 early in the third (33-38).
The game flipped late in the third: Arantia closed the period on a 9-1 run. Samuel Schmit and Ruben Silva brought energy, Mingxuan Li (ARAB) added a 1+2 sequence, and Schmit scored on back-to-back drives for a 48-45 lead after 30 minutes. The final quarter was a grind with no three-pointers made all night; points came inside and at the line.
Mess briefly regained control at 59-57 on Théo Pepporte's bucket. Macedo Mendes, outstanding with 28 points (Season PPG: 9.86), drew fouls but also picked up whistles in quick succession; his fifth came in the closing stretch, a turning point for the visitors. With both coaches managing time-outs, 11-year-old Mingxuan Li (ARAB) delivered the last three Arantia points first the tying layup for 59-59, then the decisive free throw for 60-59.
Top performers
- Arantia: Enaël Jonathan Rodrigues Pinto (15), Samuel Schmit (Season PPG: 10.63) and Ruben Silva (Season PPG: 8.82) with 10 each, Li (ARAB) with 9 including the game-winner, and Elias Arbaut (Season PPG: 5.17) with 6.
- Mess: Macedo Mendes (Season PPG: 9.86) 28 before fouling out, Noé Koroglanoglou (Season PPG: 5.29) 14, Dimitrios Louskos (Season PPG: 5.75) 6, Elija Jungers (Season PPG: 6.18) 6, Pepporte (Season PPG: 7.50) 5.
In the standings, Arantia climbs to 3rd (+2) at 2-2 in the Phase finale, while Mess slips to 5th (-1) at 1-3.
(AI generated)