Arantia Larochette edged Musel Pikes 87-84 in Larochette after a swing-heavy U22 qualification game that flipped multiple times and was settled at the line in the final minute. The visitors burst out 15-27 in the first quarter and even led by 13 (21-34) mid-second, but a timely adjustment from coach Karolis Abramavicius preceded a 19-2 Arantia run to close the half ahead, 40-36. Musel responded after the break through Marko Mustafic (19) and stayed within one possession, 59-57, after three.
The fourth quarter was a tug-of-war. Alan Genoud (Season PPG: 10.83) hit a key triple for 64-61, but Konan Boglin Oth (Season PPG: 23.00) then authored Musel's surge, scoring the team's next six scoring actions for 11 straight points to flip 70-65 into 72-74. Arantia steadied: Mykolas Maindron (26, 1.82m, FRA) pieced together points at the stripe and from deep, and with the hosts up 83-78, Oth dragged Musel back to 83-82. In the clutch, captain Noé Tibold (28; Season PPG: 21.33; 1.98m) buried two free throws for 85-82, Oth replied (85-84), and Maindron hit two more for 87-84. Arantia's defense then closed it out.
For the winners, Tibold's poise late and Maindron's all-around shot-making set the tone, with support from Genoud (13) and Mathis Dieterlen (12, 1.83m, FRA). Lars Bosdijk added 6. Musel's attack was led by Oth (24) and Mustafic (13.56 PPG, 1.88m, HRV), with David Ferreira Gordo (17; Season PPG: 9.09) and Jason Hartz (12; Season PPG: 16.00) chipping in. Several key players managed four fouls yet stayed on the floor in crunch time.
Arantia takes revenge for the one-point loss at Musel earlier in the season and remains top of the table (11-1), now on an eight-game winning streak. Musel stands third (7-6) and has hit a three-game slide. Coach Adrien Frédérique Jacquet's side showed resilience, but Arantia's closing execution decided a one-possession game.
(AI generated)