Nitia Bettembourg handled CFBB U18 83-64 in the Relégation round-robin, avenging both qualification losses (45-75 away, 85-86 away) with a fast, physical start and steady control. Christopher Teck opened 2+1, Elvio Alissoutin answered from deep, then El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop strung together three straight baskets for 9-4. Cameron Brooks-Harris and Nicolas Parrish pushed the gap, and an unsportsmanlike on Ewan Da Silva at 21-9 underlined a one-sided first quarter (28-9). Nitia kept the pace in Q2 Diop repeatedly at the rim, Chris Leclerc dropping a triple for 50-28 at halftime.
U18 found rhythm after the break through Da Silva and Stefan Stoykov, and captain Abram Macalou (16) pieced together five consecutive points (two FTs and a three) to reach 60-44, before Brooks-Harris replied with back-to-back baskets. Nitia's largest lead arrived at 79-49 early in the fourth; U18 finished with a 15-6 flurry via Alissoutin, Jules Reuter and Sarunas Sulcas.
Numbers framed the story: Nitia shot 58% on 2s (good), while their 3P was 15%. U18 struggled at the line (45%) and from three (19%). The hosts controlled the glass overall (43-35), won the blocks battle 7-1 and edged assists 19-15; U18's 24 turnovers hurt any comeback chances.
Players. Imports: Cameron Brooks-Harris (25, USA; Season PPG: 24.43, RPG: 11.17, AssPG: 4.33) delivered an MVP line of 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 steals and 6 blocks. Nicolas Parrish (Season PPG: 18.07, RPG: 5.94, AssPG: 4.75) added 8. Local core: Thiam Diop (19, ESP; Season PPG: 8.74) erupted for 23, with timely contributions from Leclerc (a key three) and Daniel Prior.
For CFBB U18, Reuter and Alissoutin scored 10 each, Macalou added 9, Stoykov 8. Coach Denis Toroman's side grabbed more offensive boards but couldn't convert efficiently.
Coached by Bradley Gene Melton, Nitia tops the Relégation group (2-0, ranking gain +4) and has now put two wins together after a long losing spell. Notably, Nitia fielded two professionals while CFBB U18 had none.
(AI generated)