Arantia Larochette edged Les Sangliers Wooltz 59-56 in Wiltz after a tight, back-and-forth W-U19 Division 2 Championship Round game. The visitors burst to 0-5 (Lucie Rock from deep, Nora Hansen inside), before 16-year-old Célia Abessolo Minane (Season PPG: 24.0, CMR) flipped the script with four straight field goals for SAN, pushing them ahead 10-7. Arantia closed the first quarter 12-14 and held a 24-27 lead at halftime on a mini-surge by Sarah Nunes Birchen.
SAN briefly moved in front early in the third (28-27) through captain Lena Hodzic (Season PPG: 9.83), but Arantia replied with a 7-point cushion (32-39) built by Suellen Santos Cruz and Hansen at the stripe. Hodzic then strung together a personal 4-0 to end the period at 38-39, setting up a nervy finish.
The fourth quarter swung wildly. Arantia created three separate 7-point leads (38-45, 40-47, 42-49). Coach Emma Marie Broermann used a timeout as SAN climbed back: Stella Kirch scored twice and Abessolo Minane added another pair for a 6-0 run to 50-51. Arantia answered immediately Rock drilled a three and Santos Cruz hit another for a 6-0 reply (50-57). SAN still had a last push: Hodzic and Abessolo Minane brought it to 56-57 before Rock calmly sank two free throws to seal it.
For Arantia, Santos Cruz (17, PRT; Season PPG: 9.57) led with 15, Rock added 11 including a clutch triple and the deciding free throws, and Mara Ronkar chipped in 11; Hansen's steady free throws were timely. For SAN, Abessolo Minane dominated with 32, supported by Hodzic's 10 and key late baskets; Kirch and Lou Biver added 4 and 6 respectively. Hodzic picked up two quick fouls in Q2 but stayed on court.
In the standings, SAN remain first (1-1), while Arantia climb to second (1-1, ranking gain +1), snapping a three-game losing slide. Coach Joao Pedro Osorio Silva's late timeout management proved useful in the closing minute.
(AI generated)