Arantia Larochette (ARA) controlled a friendly against US Heffingen (HEF) 88-71, breaking it open after halftime. The hosts led 20-17 after the first quarter, then saw their edge trimmed to 41-40 at the break. The decisive stretch came early in the third: from 44-42, Arantia strung together an 11-0 run fueled by D. Wilson (ARA) from deep, J. Levickas (ARA) and E. De Sousa Silva (ARA) at the rim, plus a 5-point burst by K. Godwin (ARA) for 53-42. By the end of the period it was 61-47, and Arantia managed the gap the rest of the way.
Godwin (ARA) led with 22 points, repeatedly punishing closeouts with timely threes and midrange finishes. Levickas (ARA) added 13 and T. Sturdivant (ARA) 12, with N. Tibold (ARA) and De Sousa Silva (ARA) chipping in 10 and 11 respectively. In key first-quarter minutes, V. Heuschling (ARA) scored five in a row (a three and a two) to flip 15-17 into 20-17.
Heffingen?s offense ran through TOM (HEF) with 25 points, mixing perimeter makes and free throws to keep his side in touch. AUSTIN (HEF) had 16 and LUKE (HEF) 11, including early fourth-quarter touches plus a GERRY (HEF) three to spark a brief 5-0 to 61-52 before Arantia answered through Sturdivant and Godwin to restore a double-digit cushion.
Foul trouble mattered late: De Sousa Silva (ARA) fouled out after contributing heavily to the third-quarter surge, and LUKE (HEF) also exited with five, limiting HEF?s interior options. In the fourth, the HEF bench drew a C1 technical on coach A. Kreps, while Arantia coach K. Abramivicius?s group kept composure, stretching the lead to its peak of 17 by the final buzzer.
(AI generated)