5th-ranked North Fox edged leaders Gréngewald Hueschtert 96-91 after overtime in Reuler, with no change in the standings. It was also a clear response to the first meeting, won by GRE 78-54, so the season series is now 1-1.
Charel Linden's team started fast. FOX led 7-2, then after GRE turned it around to 17-21, North Fox finished the first quarter with 14 points in a row from the 16-17 score to build a 31-26 lead. Nils Rob (Season PPG: 15.77) was already decisive there, scoring the last 6 FOX points of the period.
FOX controlled the second quarter well and reached its highest lead at 53-44. Rob and 17-year-old Montenegrin Dzenan Muratovic (Season PPG: 21.89) kept the pressure on, while Marvin Carvalho (Season PPG: 10.85) added scoring from inside and outside.
Paul Penning's side came back strongly after the break. Raik Steyer (Season PPG: 12.50) tied the game at 56-56, and although FOX still led 70-66 entering the fourth, GRE found its best stretch there. From 72-68 down, the visitors produced 10 unanswered points to move in front 78-72. Steyer and captain Linus Schumacher (Season PPG: 14.63) drove that run.
The finish of regulation was tense. Muratovic answered with 5 straight FOX points, but Rob and Muratovic both fouled out in the last minutes, important given their offensive weight. GRE forced 85-85, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Carvalho opened with a three for 88-85, but GRE answered with 6 straight points for 91-88. North Fox then closed the night with 8 unanswered points: Carvalho started it, Philip JOHANNS (Season PPG: 4.85) tied it at 91-91 and pushed FOX ahead, and Patrick Thoma Papp (Season PPG: 5.10) scored the last 4 points.
Top scorers were Rob 32, Muratovic 23 and Carvalho 21 for FOX; Steyer 32, Schumacher 29 and Felix Penning (Season PPG: 11.04) 15 for GRE. GRE's 5-game winning streak ended, while FOX collected a second straight win.
(AI generated)