First-placed AB Contern controlled the game in Reuler and beat North Fox 97-74, extending its winning streak to five. North Fox, now sixth after a gain of three places, stayed in touch only in short stretches.
Nigel Tolentino's team started sharply. Cameron Brooks-Harris (Season PPG: 25.60, RPG: 10.00, AssPG: 4.33) scored the first 5 points for Contern, and after Fox had cut the score to 6-7, the visitors closed the first quarter on a 20-7 run for 27-13.
Coach Nermin Civic's side reacted well in the second period. MVP Noryen Durand Lasley (36 pts, 24, USA) drove the offense and brought Fox back to 27-32. That was the key moment of the first half: Contern answered with a 19-8 finish and went into the break ahead 51-35.
The third quarter decided the game. Contern opened the half with 9 unanswered points, moving from 51-35 to 60-35, and the lead never dropped below 19 afterwards. Brooks-Harris and Gabriel Solomon (Season PPG: 7.80, RPG: 1.71, AssPG: 3.00) gave the visitors scoring punch, while Jeffrey Nicolas Jamal Schumacher (Season PPG: 16.20, RPG: 6.71, AssPG: 2.29) kept attacking inside. The gap reached 80-56 after three quarters and peaked at 25 points in the fourth.
Contern's efficiency made the difference: 59% on 2-pointers and 47% on 3-pointers, both good marks under this level, plus 15 assists and 11 steals. Brooks-Harris finished with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 5 blocks, shooting an excellent 57.1% from three and a perfect 6/6 from the line. Schumacher added 22 points on an excellent 9/10 from two. Borian Tymi (Season PPG: 17.00, RPG: 5.86, AssPG: 1.57) gave 12 points and 9 rebounds, and Christophe Mertzig (Season PPG: 7.50, RPG: 3.50, AssPG: 5.00) had 12 points and 7 assists.
For Fox, Lasley produced a major line with 36 points and 19 rebounds. Charel Linden (FOX) added 15 points and 6 assists.
(AI generated)