Third-placed Etzella Ettelbruck took a controlled 80-66 win at Arantia Larochette in the M-U14 Division 3 final phase and completed a 2-0 season sweep after the earlier 69-60 meeting. Etzella stayed 3rd in the table, while Arantia, despite the defeat, moved up one place to 4th. Form also mattered here: Etzella is now on a three-game winning run, whereas Arantia has lost five in a row.
The game turned quickly after Arantia's 2-0 start. Etzella answered with 12 consecutive points and led 22-14 after the first quarter. In the second period, the visitors kept the pressure on, with the margin reaching 16 points at 25-41 before the halftime score of 45-29.
Arantia reacted well after the break. Coach Pit Hoffmann's team won the third quarter 24-14 and cut the gap to 53-59. Rui Carlos Silva (Season PPG: 15.71) was the engine of that push, scoring 9 points in the period. Captain Finn Brosius (Season PPG: 10.81) and Jules Schalbar (Season PPG: 9.67) also helped the home side get back into the game, and 13-year-old Portuguese player Vasco Vitorino dos Santos added an important basket in the rally.
The crucial moment came in the fourth quarter. After Arantia reduced the deficit to 61-65, Etzella responded with a decisive 12-2 spell to restore full control.
Jahleeon Rocha Carvalho (Season PPG: 29.18) and Lenny Weber (Season PPG: 17.31) were the major difference for Etzella, scoring 29 points each and combining for 58 of the team's 80 points. Lenn Dos Santos (Season PPG: 8.19) added 14. For Arantia, Silva finished with 20, Brosius had 11, Schalbar 9 and Sam Gölhausen (Season PPG: 12.85) scored 8.
(AI generated)