Arantia Larochette edged Basket Esch 56-53 in Larochette after a dramatic late turnaround in W-U19 Division 1. The visitors dictated the game for three quarters and led 37-24 after a high-scoring first period, then carried a 47-30 cushion into the last 10 minutes. Arantia's response under coach Philippe Oly came late but decisively.
Esch started fast: Emilie Loesch strung together five quick points (3, then 2), and Ajla Adrovic buried back-to-back triples to open a 13-point gap. Captain Laure Valentin and Kim Ferron kept the offense steady as the lead held through the third quarter. Coach Karim Elbaoune's team was still in control at 40-53 in the fourth.
The game flipped from there. Sarah Nunes Birchen hit consecutive free throws and Suellen Santos Cruz added a three to trim it to 35-47. Esch briefly answered from the line and inside, but Arantia then closed with a 16-0 run: Nora Hansen, Nunes Birchen, Santos Cruz and Erika De Sousa Silva scored in sequence. Hansen tied it with two late free throws, and De Sousa Silva delivered the go-ahead basket for 55-53 and added the final free throw. Two Esch time-outs in the last minute could not stem the momentum.
For Arantia, Santos Cruz (13 pts, 17 years, POR) led the scoring, Hansen added 12 as captain, Rita Silva had 10, and De Sousa Silva contributed 9 including the game-winner. Santos Cruz and De Sousa Silva both navigated foul trouble (4 fouls each) in the closing stretch. Esch spread the points: Valentin (10, captain, 17 years), Adrovic (9, two threes), Loesch (8) and Ferron (8) led, with Emma Wallenborn (8 pts, 1.68 m, guard) also active.
With this comeback, Arantia snap a two-game skid and climb to 2nd in the standings (+4). Esch drop to 4th (-3) after letting a 13-point final-quarter lead slip.
(AI generated)