The champion will defend his title. Saturday night, the Amicale qualified in two sets by eliminating Arantia (88-100). Steinsel is now waiting to know his opponent since Basket Esch went to win on the T71 floor after double overtime (79-80).
This Saturday evening, it was on the Larochette side that the Amicale and Arantia met for the second round of the semi-final. After a one-sided first act, which saw Arantia take a beating and lose JJ Overton, guilty of a disqualifying foul and who has since left the club. And as Malik Wilson, guilty of a very nasty gesture against Etzella, received a six-match suspension, it is therefore without two players from the five majors that Christophe Ney’s men approach this reunion against the champion in title.
But the Arantia has heart. And demonstrates it from the start by starting with a 17-2 in just 2 minutes. This is not a meeting that will be played in the first half on the defensive level, but two teams completely dedicated to attack. The first quarter will end in favor of DJ Wilson’s teammates, with a score of 38-26. Pure offensive madness. The second is played exactly the same way. A quick game in transition, baskets falling on both sides of the floor. However this time, Steinsel is slowly but surely returning to the contacts of his evening host and can thank Alex Reese for that, who already has 22 points scored during this first half. Thanks to a three-point basket thirty seconds from time, Tom Konen tied the two teams, before the Ukrainian Oleksander Senchenko managed to put a free throw out of two and allowed his team to return to the locker room with a small point. ‘advance.
Upon returning from the locker room, Christophe Ney’s players decided to leave with an all-terrain defense, to prevent the Friendly from accelerating their collective game. A defense that allows them to regain a slight lead and when Dylan Rocha puts his basket at three points, seven points separate the two teams (65-58, 25th). The players of Christophe Ney, who officiates perhaps for the last time on the Larochette bench, throw all their strength into this battle. They know very well that fifteen minutes later there will be either a huge achievement or an end to the season. And in view of their way of fighting collectively, they are clearly not in the second perspective.
The men of Etienne Louvrier, with Scott Morton, Jarvis Williams and Alex Reese at the same time on the ground, decide to accelerate. And after Reese it’s Williams’ turn to hurt the opponent with two free throws and a long-distance missile, which allow the outgoing champion to pick up just a small point from his opponent (72-71, 29th). A third quarter that ends in a perfect tie on a dunk from Steven Julian at the last second to put the two teams tied (76-76).
The Steinselois coach said it well before the meeting: “There is nothing more dangerous than an injured beast.” And this is indeed what Arantia demonstrates, with only one pro player on the floor, who is on a par with the defending champion after thirty minutes of the match. But for the first time since the start of the game, it was Steinsel who took control at the start of the last quarter… before Dylan Rocha restored equality on his fourth long-distance warhead of the evening. But things will get tough for Arantia, who sees Dylan Rocha join the bench prematurely, following his fifth foul while the Friendly takes a six-point lead (81-87, 34th). This time it’s over. For five long minutes, Larochette did not score a single point. Fatal against an opponent who has such an offensive armada despite, it must be remembered, the absence until the end of the season of his master to play Bobby Melcher. Too strong during the last ten minutes, the champion validates his ticket for the final. As in the quarter-finals, it only took two sets for the Fraisiers to complete the series. They can now calmly wait for their opponent, since the other meeting will be entitled to a good one, following the victory after double extra time for Basket Esch on the T71 floor (79-80).
Alexandre Adam
Arantia – Amicale 88-100 (55-54)
WARRANTY : 30 baskets including 16 at three points, 12 throws out of 19, 22 faults including 2 unsportsmanlike: Wilson (18th) and Freimann (35th). 1 eliminated: Rocha (34th).
NESUSHCHYI 1, WILSON 8, ROCHA 19, FREIMANN 17, JULIAN 21 then Maindron 5, Senchenko 11, Kneip, De Sousa 6.
FRIENDLY : 35 baskets including 12 at three points, 18 throws out of 27, 18 faults including 1 technical: coach (15th) and Morton (18th), 1 eliminated: Medeot (39th)
MEDEOT 12, THEISEN 16, KONEN 20, WILLIAMS 17, REESE 30 then Martin 2, Morton 3, Keup.
Arbitration by Mrs. Nuszkowski and MM. Muho and Richartz. 300 spectators.
Evolution of the score: 5th 22-11, 10th 38-26, 15th 48-42, 25th 65-60, 30th 76-76, 35th 81-88.