Arantia Larochette opened the W-U16 Division 2 championship round with a 40-31 road win at Gréngewald Hueschtert, built on a decisive surge after halftime. The game was balanced early, with short swings on both sides, but Coach Osorio Silva's team seized control late in the third quarter with an 11-0 run that flipped a 30-29 deficit into a 40-30 cushion. Mara Ronkar (Season PPG: 13.44) fueled that stretch with 5 straight points, while captain Clara Walter (15, DEU; Season PPG: 10.30) added key baskets and a late free throw. Arantia's largest lead reached +10 before Gréngewald could stop the bleeding.
For the hosts, Coach Bojan Eric saw a standout display from sharpshooter Eve Van der Schilden (Season PPG: 13.00), who buried three triples and finished with 14. Yadanar Mamou Greenhalgh (Season PPG: 14.00) contributed 7, and Sophie Dupong (Season PPG: 9.25) added 3, but foul trouble and a cold spell during Arantia's decisive run hurt Gréngewald's rhythm. Greenhalgh picked up three fouls in the third quarter, and Fatou-Imane Ba (15, FRA) reached four personal fouls, limiting options just as the game tilted.
Arantia's balance was the difference: Ronkar and Walter shared top scoring honors with 12 each, while Sara Ferreira Afonso (Season PPG: 15.42) added 9 and Yara Mores chipped in 4. The visitors also made timely trips to the line in the key stretch, stacking single points that consolidated the momentum.
Form-wise, Arantia halted a three-game losing skid with this win. In the Phase finale standings, Arantia moves to 2nd, Gréngewald sits 3rd after the opening round.
(AI generated)