First-placed Sparta Bertrange B stayed perfect in the M-U16 Division 4: Phase finale, beating second-placed Arantia Larochette 88-71 at atert/central. SPAB now stands at 9-0 and extended its run to nine straight wins, while also completing a two-game season sweep against ARA.
The game started better for Arantia, which moved in front 8-2, with Charles Wilhelm scoring 6 of his team's first 8 points. Sparta then changed the rhythm completely. Coach Dimitrios Paspaltzis' team closed the opening quarter on a 22-7 run to turn that deficit into a 24-15 lead.
Arantia reacted well in the second period. Léo Rock and Jim Spaus gave the visitors real momentum, and Spaus scored 7 points in a row during a stretch that helped ARA get back to 30-30 and later 39-39. That was the key competitive phase of the night. Sparta answered with a strong 12-2 finish to the half, creating a 51-41 cushion.
The decisive break came in the third quarter. From 53-46, SPAB produced a 17-2 surge to reach 70-48, with 16-year-old David Alves dos Santos from Portugal, Lukas Maver and Jakob Kavas Puc doing most of the damage near the basket. Sparta's highest lead reached 23 points at 80-57 early in the fourth. Arantia had a late push through Philippe Volvert and Spaus, but the gap never came close again.
Vasileios Paspaltzis (Season PPG: 11.90) led Sparta with 23 points. Alves dos Santos (Season PPG: 9.08) added 17, Kavas Puc (Season PPG: 12.56) scored 16, and Maver (Season PPG: 14.04) finished with 13. SPAB built the win mainly inside with 37 made two-pointers.
For Arantia, Jim Spaus (Season PPG: 16.18) scored 26, Philippe Volvert (Season PPG: 20.25) had 14, and Rock (Season PPG: 6.50) added 12 with four three-pointers. ARA made 9 shots from long range, but Sparta's control of the interior and its two major runs shaped the game.
(AI generated)