North Fox (FOX) beat Bascharage Hedgehogs (BAS) 77-58 in Reuler after a game that swung wildly before a dominant finish by the hosts.
FOX exploded out of the blocks with a 13-0 start, driven by early inside finishes from Stephane Banga Kpako (31, BEL). BAS steadied, closing the first quarter at 17-13. Early in the second, BAS briefly took control at 20-24 on baskets by Malik Demirovic (BAS) and Tristan Heilmann (BAS), but a long FOX surge flipped the script: a 24-7 close to the half produced a 44-31 advantage. BAS head coach Goran Lukic received a C1 technical during that spell.
The third quarter belonged to BAS (15-26). Demirovic hit from deep multiple times and Denis Sabotic (BAS) added points at the line. Viktor Horvat (BAS) nudged BAS ahead 56-57, before Sébastien Schmitz (26) answered with a three to set 59-57 for FOX entering the last period.
FOX then slammed the door with an 18-1 fourth quarter. Banga Kpako coolly sank two free throws to start, and Mathys Neves (19) followed with five points in a row (a three and a layup) as FOX opened on an 11-0 burst to 70-57 and never looked back, reaching the night's biggest lead at the horn.
Top performers
- FOX: Banga Kpako (31, BEL) 24 points; Charel Linden (24) 16; Jona Hanf (22, BEL) 10; Neves (19) 7, including the key fourth-quarter spark.
- BAS: Demirovic (BAS) 19, with several threes; Sabotic (BAS) 15; Heilmann (BAS) 12; Dzenan Eco (19, 1.96m) 8.
Captains: Linden (FOX) and Nino Luciani (29, 1.76m) for BAS. Coach Mike Pravisani's group controlled the critical moments opening blitz, late-answer three to close Q3, then the decisive final-quarter run.
(AI generated)