Bascharage Hedgehogs, leaders of the relegation round, escaped with a close 80-76 win in Reuler and completed a 4-0 season sweep of North Fox. It was BAS's eighth straight win, while FOX saw a three-game winning run end.
Coach Nicolas Schaefers' team took control early. After 5-5, BAS produced an 11-0 run, with Fabien Vandler (Season PPG: 10.06, RPG: 3.85, AssPG: 2.00) immediately on a roll. The visitors led 26-15 after the first quarter and pushed the margin to 13 in the second period. Veljko Dragasevic (Season PPG: 16.37, RPG: 5.32, AssPG: 5.97) gave support from the perimeter, while North Fox relied heavily on the 29-year-old American guard Jacob Matthew Salinero (Season PPG: 17.83, RPG: 9.42, AssPG: 4.17), who had 20 points by halftime.
FOX changed the rhythm after the break. A 20-14 third quarter brought them back into the game, with Thomas Leclerc and Mathys Neves making key outside shots. Salinero and the 2.04m center Jona Hanf (Season PPG: 8.77, RPG: 12.14, AssPG: 1.03) then carried the comeback to 59-59 early in the fourth.
The finish stayed tight. FOX reduced it to 73-76 and later 76-78, but BAS answered every time: Tristan Heilmann scored inside, and Sabotic finished the game with the last basket.
Vandler earned MVP honors with 30 points, 8 rebounds and good 5/10 three-point shooting. Sabotic added 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. For FOX, Salinero posted 26 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals, while Hanf was strong inside with 10 points, 16 rebounds and an excellent 5/6 on two-pointers. Team shooting remained modest overall: BAS shot 48% on twos and 28% on threes, FOX 50% on twos and 21% on threes.
(AI generated)