Kangaroos Mechelen defeats Castors Braine in thrilling match to secure third consecutive cup win at Vorst Nationaal

Basketball Final Belgian Cup (women) Kangaroos Mechelen-Castors Braine

© BELGIUM

Brussels

Kangaroos Mechelen won the Belgian Cup for the third year in a row. In Vorst Nationaal, which welcomed no fewer than 2,200 spectators, the Maneblussers won against Castors Braine after a thriller with 74-65.

Nervousness was present in both teams during the study round. That translated into many missed shots. The intensity and physical play made up for a lot and it was the 18-year-old Finnish talent Elina Aarnisalo who gave Kangaroos Mechelen the lead with the American Cathy Reese: 7-4. Castors Braine let it happen and saw Belgian Cat Ine Joris score. The Antwerp power forward scored 7 points in the first quarter and, together with Emmeline Leblon, ensured that Castors Braine stayed in the wake of the Mechelen team after 13-9: 19-17 after the first quarter.

In the second step, the Walloon Brabant team was able to take over again via Ine Joris and Jessica Lindstrom after 21-19 and 26-29. Castors Braine did not use the momentum and Kangaroos Mechelen responded wittily through ex-Belgian Cat Heleen Nauwelaers. With a bomb she secured a 31-29 Mechelen bonus halfway through.

© BELGIUM

Castors Braine was not alert in the third quarter. A sophisticated Kangaroos Mechelen immediately punished that. Elina Aarnisalo continued to swing nicely, Laure Resimont dropped bombs and Kangaroos Mechelen ran away to a 43-37 and 49-39 lead after a 35-31 score with fast basketball. The gap was on the scoreboard, Castors Braine had no reaction in the third period and had to suffer the law of the strongest at that moment. Kangaroos Mechelen started the final quarter with a 54-41 lead and smelled a third consecutive cup win.

The Mechelen ladies completely missed the start at the beginning of the final slide. Castors Braine responded wittily and with a 2-12 intermediate sprint. Through Victaria Saxton, among others, the connection was made at 56-53. What followed was a real thriller (60-55 and 62-60). Laure Resimont managed to score 65-60, but Emmeline Leblon immediately tied the score with a three-pointer: 65-63. The Finnish Elina Aarnisalo scored 70-65 for Kangaroos Mechelen and Laure Resimont secured the deserved Mechelen victory with free throws. Heleen Nauwelaers (18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists) was named MVP of the final.

Kangaroos Mechelen-Castors Braine 74-65

Quarters: 19-17, 12-12, 23-12, 20-24

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