Nitia Bettembourg B won a close home game against Rebound Préizerdaul, 59-52, and moved up two places to 3rd in M-U14 Division 7 Phase 1. It also stopped a two-game losing run, while PRE slipped to 4th and is now on a two-game losing streak.
The game opened in PRE's favour. Préizerdaul led 25-18 after the first quarter and reached the biggest gap at 11 points, with Jaylen Joseph Simoes Marbes (12, PRE) driving that start. He was the clear offensive leader for the visitors with 22 points, including 4 made free throws and 2 triples. Ivan Adriano Muller (12, PRE) added 10 points, and Stella Fantini (13, PRE) scored 7.
Bettembourg changed the rhythm gradually. They trimmed the deficit to 35-30 at halftime, then produced the key swing in the third quarter. From 30-35 down, NITB went on a 10-1 surge to take control at 40-36, with Isak Gerguri (11, NITB) and Mohamed Djalo (11, NITB) central in that stretch. Gerguri finished with 16 points and Mota da Luz with 21, his season high. Mathys Mutambayi Kabwika (11, NITB) gave strong support with 8 points.
PRE still had a real chance late. Simoes Marbes scored 5 straight points early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 46-46, and Ily Descamps Guirrou (11, PRE) then put PRE ahead 48-46. Bettembourg answered calmly. After the 50-50 score, they finished better in the decisive possessions: Maïlo Mota da Luz (12, NITB) put them back in front, and Djalo scored the last 4 points of the game in a 6-0 closing run.
Coach Jack Da Costa Fernandes saw his team win each of the last three quarters after the difficult first period. PRE, coached by Datan Oliveira Mendes, had strong individual scoring at the top but could not hold Bettembourg's second-half momentum.
(AI generated)