Gréngewald Hueschtert B edged US Heffingen 95-89 in a tight M-U18 Division 3 Phase 2 game decided in the final minutes. The first quarter set the tone at 16-16. Heffingen, driven by its leaders, took a 42-45 edge to halftime and still held a one-point lead after three (69-70). The last period flipped the script.
At 77-81 down, Gréngewald's Santiago Capozucca (Season PPG: 10.92) hit five consecutive points (3+2) to level at 83-83. Moments later, with the game still tied, Danilo Hess (17 years, 1.90m; Season PPG: 29.44) was penalized with a technical foul; Capozucca converted the free throw and immediately buried a three for 87-83. Nicolas Dupong (Season PPG: 9.24) added a free throw and Egidijus Jarukaitis (Season PPG: 9.71) scored inside for 90-85. Heffingen's reply through Hess and Ethan Steinmetz (1.78m; Season PPG: 12.14) kept it close, but another Capozucca triple (93-87) and two late free throws by Jarukaitis sealed it. In a close finish, Capozucca and Jarukaitis were the game winners for GREB.
Numbers underline the story: Gréngewald spread the load with four in double figures Capozucca 24 (2x1pt, 5x2pt, 4x3pt), Dupong 17 (6x1pt, 4x2pt, 1x3pt), Harik Avanesov 17 (1x1pt, 5x2pt, 2x3pt) and Jarukaitis 13 (5x1pt, 4x2pt). Team totals: 18 free throws made, 25 two-pointers, 9 threes. Heffingen leaned heavily on its duo as Hess scored 38 (4x1pt, 17x2pt) and Steinmetz added 33 (5x1pt, 8x2pt, 4x3pt); team totals: 13 free throws, 32 two-pointers, 4 threes.
Foul trouble mattered. Heffingen finished with three players disqualified Tun Elcheroth, Nils Rock and, crucially, Hess late in the fourth while Gréngewald's Juan Santiago Lopez Oderigo fouled out. Coach Nicolas Saquan Parrish's side also benefited from key timeouts around the decisive run, while José Alberto Pais Costa's team couldn't quite stem Gréngewald's late momentum.
Gréngewald moves up to 5th (+1) and snaps a four-game losing streak. Heffingen remains 2nd. Notably, GREB also won the previous meeting this season (77-60).
(AI generated)