Bascharage Hedgehogs won a close relegation-round game against North Fox, 81-76, and completed a 3-0 season sweep of FOX. BAS moved up to 3rd place (+1), while FOX remained 5th.
FOX started better, with Jacob Matthew Salinero scoring the first 4 points, but BAS reacted quickly through Deni Sabotic and Veljko Dragasevic and closed the first quarter ahead 18-14. The second period stayed balanced: Bascharage led 21-14 and 26-21, FOX came back to 31-31, and the hosts only carried a 36-35 edge into halftime.
The game stayed on a knife-edge after the break. FOX briefly led 38-36, BAS answered to make it 50-46, then FOX drew level again at 56-56. Sabotic's late basket gave Bascharage a narrow 58-57 lead after three quarters. In the last quarter, Mathys Neves and Charel Linden pushed FOX in front 70-69. That was the key moment: coach Pavlovic's team answered with the decisive finish, tying at 74-74 through Dragasevic, then adding free throws and late scores to reach 81-74 before the final FOX basket.
BAS had the better ball movement with 25 assists to 14 and shot a good 19/22 on free throws (86%). FOX stayed in the game with 21 offensive rebounds.
Aziz Ndiaye (Season PPG: 18.20, RPG: 14.96, AssPG: 2.87), the 29-year-old Senegalese center, was MVP with 14 points, 16 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Dragasevic (Season PPG: 15.82, RPG: 5.15, AssPG: 6.31) added 22 points and 6 assists, with a good 6/13 from three. Sabotic had 15 points and 5 assists, while Vandler brought 14 points and excellent 6/6 free throws.
For FOX, Charel Linden (Season PPG: 16.61, RPG: 6.07, AssPG: 3.97) led all scorers with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Salinero (Season PPG: 5.78, RPG: 9.00, AssPG: 1.00) posted 20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, and 2.04m Belgian Jona Hanf added 15 rebounds and 2 blocks.
(AI generated)