CFBB U18 controlled this M-Nationale 2 qualification game from the opening tip and beat Black Star Mersch 107-45 in Ins. Denis Toroman's side set the tone with a 9-0 start and held BSM scoreless for five minutes. After Sam Tibold answered with two late threes, U18 still closed the first quarter 20-8. The second period broke the game open: U18 carried a 13-0 run across the quarter break for 33-8, kept attacking inside and reached halftime with a 49-20 lead.
The flow never really changed after that. Jerome Hansen's team had some offensive answers through Tibold and Alvyn Madoki Bigas (Season PPG: 7.50, RPG: 5.46, AssPG: 0.85), but CFBB U18 kept winning possessions. U18 finished with excellent 2-point shooting at 71.7% (38/53), plus 33 assists, 22 steals and a strong 56-22 rebound edge. BSM shot 39.1% on free throws, 29.0% from 2 and 26.1% from 3, and their losing streak continued.
The decisive push came again in the fourth quarter. From 76-38, U18 went on a 23-0 run to 99-38, stretching the gap beyond 60; the highest lead was 62. Ewan Da Silva Jose (Season PPG: 7.14, RPG: 6.43, AssPG: 4.00) earned MVP honours with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals. The 19-year-old 1.96m forward El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (Season PPG: 9.29, RPG: 10.14, AssPG: 3.57) added 11 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Louis Cocard (Season PPG: 13.60, RPG: 3.50, AssPG: 1.50) scored 16, while Tom Kloos (Season PPG: 9.71, RPG: 3.43, AssPG: 2.29) had 11 before fouling out.
For BSM, Tibold (Season PPG: 14.75, RPG: 3.86, AssPG: 0.29) stood out with 22 points and 10 fouls drawn.
(AI generated)