Basket Esch edged Arantia Larochette 69-64 in Larochette to reach the Coupe Fillettes semifinals after a game of sharp momentum swings.
Esch started better (22-17 after Q1), with Diana Costa de Sousa striking early and captain Jana Lucius adding a triple for a 7-2 push. Arantia flipped the script in the second quarter. Behind captain Jana Agnès and Emma Brunetti, the hosts built an 11-0 run from 29-30 to 40-30, then closed the half up 44-38 after a 27-16 period.
The game turned again after the break. Esch opened Q3 with an 8-0 answer to tie at 44-44, fueled by Emma Muratovic and Costa de Sousa. Moments later, Costa de Sousa scored five in a row (a three, then a two) for 46-51, and Esch carried a 53-51 lead into the last quarter. They then struck with a 6-0 start to Q4 (51-59) and stretched the gap to +10 at 55-65. Arantia's response two free throws and a three from Agnès cut it to 60-65, but Esch replied each time, Muratovic sealing it at 62-69 before a late Arantia basket.
Top performers stood out on both sides. For Esch, 11-year-old Emma Muratovic led all scorers with 24 points, while 13-year-old Diana Costa de Sousa (PRT) added 22, including a key third-quarter triple; Lucius chipped in 9. For Arantia, Agnès produced 22 points despite carrying four fouls, Brunetti added 17 with several timely drives, and Michele Elsen had 12.
Coach Pierrette Birchen's team showed composure after halftime, overturning Arantia's largest lead (+10 at 40-30) and then building their own +10 cushion in the fourth. Coach Pedro Nunes Jordão's group battled to the end, but Esch made the decisive runs and advances to the next round.
(AI generated)