Arantia Larochette won 108-91 at T71 Dudelange in the M-U22 qualification opener and took over 1st place, while T71 are 4th after the first round of results.
The game stayed open for three quarters. T71 edged the first period 27-24 and, under coach Mike Smith, built their best margin in the second quarter at 37-26. Uros Malesevic (20, 1.95m) and Nils Schroeder (21, 1.90m) carried much of that work, with Tom Kloos also stretching the floor. T71 still led 50-45 at the break.
Arantia, coached by Daniel Alves Brandao de Sousa, progressively changed the rhythm. Edson Rafael De Sousa Silva (19, 1.88m, PRT) was the key figure, scoring 44 points and keeping his team attached all night. In the third quarter, Arantia erased the gap, tied the game at 57-57, then briefly moved in front before T71 answered to lead 75-71 entering the last period.
The decisive stretch came after 84-84 in the fourth. Arantia produced 14 unanswered points to break the game open, moving from 84-84 to 98-84. De Sousa Silva scored 7 points during that surge, while Noé Tibold and Alan Genoud added important baskets. Arantia won the last quarter 37-16.
T71 still had strong individual production from Malesevic with 26 points, Schroeder with 22 and Kloos with 21. For Arantia, De Sousa Silva's 44-point performance stood out clearly, with Mathis Dieterlen (18, 1.86m, FRA) adding 14 before fouling out, and the supporting scoring from Brosius, Genoud and Tibold giving Arantia better balance late.
(AI generated)