Second-ranked Rebound Préizerdaul edged third-ranked North Fox 58-53 in Bettborn and completed a 2-0 season sweep in this phase finale after the earlier 50-42 win.
PRE took the first quarter 14-11, but FOX answered well and the game was level at 28-28 at halftime. The key stretch came after the break. From 30-31, Rebound Préizerdaul produced a 15-6 run to 45-37, with captain Jaylen Joseph Simoes Marbes (Season PPG: 10.13) and Maxime Hengen (Season PPG: 9.58) setting the tone. That gave coach Datan Oliveira Mendes' team its biggest lead at 8 points.
North Fox stayed in contact through Ben Franzen (Season PPG: 14.25), who finished with 19 points and scored from both inside and outside. In the fourth quarter, Ben Majeres (Season PPG: 5.00) brought FOX back from 48-42 to 56-53, including 5 points in a row late, but PRE had the last word when Simoes Marbes scored the final basket for 58-53.
Simoes Marbes was the main difference-maker with 25 points, including 5 straight points to close the first quarter and another 5 in a row in the third. Hengen added 9, while Stella Fantini (Season PPG: 4.33) contributed 7. For FOX, Franzen led the way, with support from Majeres (7), Jim Guth (Season PPG: 5.60) with 6 and Yann Weber (Season PPG: 3.00) with 6. Majeres was also in foul trouble and fouled out after his late push.
PRE won the third quarter 20-14, and FOX never led by more than 2 points.
(AI generated)