CFBB U18 edged North Fox 76-74 in a tense Relégation opener, decided in the final possessions. The visitors set the tone early (16-21 after 10') behind the hot hand of Jacob Matthew Salinero, and kept a four-point cushion at halftime (34-38). In the second quarter, Nadjahou Mousel Mounda strung together back-to-back threes to stretch the Fox lead, while U18 had to navigate an unsportsmanlike phase in the third (two U2s whistled), yet stayed within reach.
Fox pushed the gap to +9 at 60-69 in the fourth, their largest lead, before the game flipped. U18 answered with a 9-0 run on three consecutive triples Louis Cocard, Jules Reuter and Mathis Dieterlen tying it at 69-69. From there, El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop took over, scoring 7 of U18's last 9 points and delivering the game-winner for 76-74 after Salinero had briefly tied it with his fifth three of the night.
Salinero was the standout for North Fox with 35 points, tying his season high, and Charel Linden (Season PPG: 16.95) added 14. Belgian center Jona Hanf (2.04m, 22) fouled out in the last quarter, a notable loss inside, and Tom Uding committed two quick fouls late as U18 lived at the line. For the hosts, Thiam Diop led with 22, while Dieterlen and Samuel Rehak contributed 10 apiece; Reuter (9) and Ewan Da Silva José (7) chipped in at key moments. Captain Abram Macalou (Season PPG: 11.50) steadied U18 earlier despite a third-quarter U2 that was later annulled.
Coach Alexandre Carradore's group showed poise in the final stretch, overturning a late nine-point deficit. In the Relégation standings, CFBB U18 open on top (1-0), with North Fox at 0-1 in second place. CFBB also move to 3-0 in the season series after earlier wins (68-64, 91-44).
(AI generated)