Arantia Larochette overturned a 13-point deficit to win 95-86 at BC Mess in M-U16 Division 4 (Phase 2), a game of big swings and timely bursts. Mess, coached by Fernand Musquar, blitzed the first quarter 30-17 behind Théo Bakija (22 pts, Season PPG: 14.2) and a nine-point burst from Rafael Da Fonseca Rocha (14 pts), including several quick baskets in succession. Early on, Mess strung together an 8-0 run to go up 10-2 and later stretched it to 22-9.
Philippe Oly's Arantia reset in the second quarter and produced a 13-0 run (from 33-17 to 33-30), led by the energetic Noé Bissen (16 pts, Season PPG: 10.92), with help from captain Charles Wilhelm (20 pts, Season PPG: 15.29) and Jim Spaus (15 pts, Season PPG: 11.75). The half closed at 49-49.
The visitors seized control in the third as Philippe Volvert (27 pts, Season PPG: 20.88) caught fire, scoring repeatedly in a 6-0 spurt to 70-64 and sending Arantia to the final period ahead 72-65. Arantia opened the fourth with another 6-0 push (65-78). Mess answered through Noa Priso Dikoume (13, FRA), who put together a personal 6-0 run and 8 points in a short span to bring it back to 76-82.
Wilhelm steadied Arantia with a run of mid-range scores, and Volvert delivered the dagger late a three followed by a two for a personal 5-0 that made it 93-80. Volvert and Spaus both fouled out in the fourth, but only after doing major damage. For Mess, Bakija led, while Nils Muller (MES) added 17 in just his third game; Da Fonseca Rocha and Roan Musquar (12 pts) rounded out a balanced attack.
In the standings, Arantia climbs to 4th (+1) at 2-3, while Mess slips to 5th (-1) at 2-3. The win also snaps Arantia's three-game losing streak.
(AI generated)