Amicale Steesel took a 76-57 home win over Arantia Larochette in the phase finale and moved to 1st place, gaining three spots. Arantia is now 2nd, up one place. Amicale also extended its positive run to three straight wins, while Arantia suffered a second consecutive defeat.
The game changed sharply by halves. Arantia started much better and led 15-7 after one quarter. After Patz put Amicale 2-0 up, Arantia answered with the first strong run of the evening and built control through Rui Carlos Silva (Season PPG: 15.40) and captain Finn Brosius (Season PPG: 11.14). Silva scored 12 points in the first half, Brosius added 9, and Arantia still led 33-30 at the break despite Amicale's late push.
The decisive stretch came in the third quarter. Danièle Stoffel-Adam's team opened the half with an 8-0 run, turning 30-33 into 38-33. Soon after, Amicale extended the swing to 19-5 and won the quarter 21-7. That was the key moment of the game.
Phil Linckels (Season PPG: 10.60) was the main difference-maker with 23 points, including several important baskets once Amicale moved in front. Harons Rafaels Faduls, 13, captain, added 13 points, Levi Lepage Post (Season PPG: 12.83) scored 12, and Charel Patz (Season PPG: 8.79) finished with 11. Noe Olmedo (Season PPG: 7.38) gave useful third-quarter scoring with 8.
Arantia got 20 points from Silva and 18 from Brosius, who stayed productive even after an unsportsmanlike foul in the first quarter. But after halftime, Amicale controlled the rhythm better, and the home side stretched the margin to a game-high 23 points at 76-53 before the final baskets.
(AI generated)