Arantia Larochette B controlled Basket Esch C 76-54 in Larochette, building the win on a decisive first-quarter surge and steady control thereafter. After Esch opened 0-2 and later edged ahead 7-8 through four early free throws from captain Noah Valentino Diaz Catani (16), Arantia closed the first quarter on a 16-0 run to 23-8, with Ruben Manuel Silva, Kian Bento Rocha and captain Tunn Van Meel driving the break. At the half it was 44-26, and the third quarter stayed even (14-14), before Arantia pushed the lead to a game-high +28 (76-48) in the fourth. Esch trimmed it late, but the gap was already decisive.
Van Meel (16, 12 years old) was central on both ends, repeatedly finishing around the rim. Silva (Season PPG: 8.83) added 14 with timely buckets, while Leo Rodrigues (12) and Bento Rocha (10) rounded out a balanced front line. Vitorino dos Santos (ARAB) strung together five straight points in the second quarter (2+1 included), keeping the cushion intact.
For Esch, Diaz Catani (Season PPG: 3.88) led with 16, including those first-quarter trips to the line, while Gabriel Stefan Kühne Meza (10; Season PPG: 7.86) hit back-to-back baskets to start the fourth and Mathys Bounounou Anriques (LALC) also reached 10. Paul Bernard added late points inside.
Notable sequences and discipline: Arantia's 16-0 close to Q1 set the tone; Kühne Meza posted four in a row early Q4; Bento Rocha committed three personal fouls in the opening quarter but managed the rest of the game without fouling out.
Coaches: Pit Hoffmann's group rebounded well from a rough recent stretch (after three straight losses, they've won again) and climbs to 2nd in the standings (+3). Karim Elbaoune's Esch are 0-2 and sit 5th (-1), still seeking their first win of Phase 2.
(AI generated)