Arantia Larochette edged Etzella Ettelbruck 87-83 at Coque Arena to take the Loterie Nationale Cup after a tense finish.
The game swung repeatedly. Etzella burst out 8-0, all from Nicholas Thomas Davis (24, 2.01m, USA), before Arantia closed the first quarter on a 13-2 run behind Kevon Lamar Godwin (25, 1.88m, USA) and led 20-16. Etzella answered before halftime: threes from Thomas Henkel and Philippe Gutenkauf (30, 1.83m) powered a 6-0 close for a 42-39 lead. The third quarter belonged to Vic Heuschling (29, 1.96m), who drilled four consecutive scores (3,2,3,3) for 11 straight points, turning 47-47 into 58-47 and setting up a 69-59 Arantia advantage. Tyrell Sturdivant (30, 2.04m, USA) stretched it to 77-64 early in the fourth, Arantia's largest lead (+14 at 78-64).
Etzella rallied with an 11-0 run to 75-78 through Billy Ray McDaniel Jr (41, 1.96m, USA), Davis and Henkel. A technical on Henkel gave Godwin a free throw, and Godwin added a key bucket for 81-75. Late, Carter III (28, 1.96m, USA) kept adding from the stripe, Delph (25, 1.95m, USA) hit a three for 83-84, but a subsequent Etzella basket was cancelled. In the final minute, Philippe Gutenkauf fouled out after an unsportsmanlike and a personal; Sturdivant then sank the last free throws to seal it.
Arantia leaned on the arc (14/40 threes, 35%) and a clear rebounding edge (12 offensive, 33 defensive), while Etzella lived inside and at the line (2P 24/40, 60% good; FT 14/17, 82% good) but shot 25% from three.
Top performers
- Arantia non-locals: Godwin 25 points (4 threes); Carter III 17; Sturdivant 13 and the clinching free throws.
- Arantia locals: Heuschling 22 with six threes (excellent 3P).
- Etzella non-locals: Davis 25 (opened with the team's first eight; game MVP), McDaniel Jr 17, Delph 13.
- Etzella locals: Philippe Gutenkauf 14 with three threes before fouling out.
Coach Karolis Abramavicius' side won the key third-quarter stretch and managed the foul game late. Gavin Alexander Love's men used a challenge in Q3 and twice came back, but Arantia's perimeter volume and glass control decided a close final.
(AI generated)