Rio Claro/ABDC LDB U22 56 – 70 Caxias do Sul Basquete Recreio da Juventude U22 | Brazil LDB U22 | 24 June 2026

In a decisive Brazil LDB U22 showdown on the night of 24 June 2026, Caxias do Sul Basquete Recreio da Juventude U22 powered past Rio Claro/ABDC LDB U22 with a commanding 70–56 road victory. The result strengthens Caxias do Sul’s push toward the upper half of the standings while Rio Claro faces a tough stretch in the development league’s regular season.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Caxias do Sul dictated the tempo with disciplined ball movement and suffocating half‑court defence. Rio Claro struggled to find consistent scoring, converting only 56 points on a low shooting percentage. The visitors built a double‑digit lead by halftime and never allowed Rio Claro to mount a serious comeback. The final margin of 14 points accurately reflected Caxias do Sul’s control across all four quarters.

Key Moments That Decided the Game

• First‑quarter surge: Caxias do Sul opened with a 22–14 run, setting the tone with fast‑break points and sharp three‑point shooting.
• Defensive lockdown in the third: After Rio Claro trimmed the deficit to single digits early in the second half, Caxias responded with a 9‑0 run fuelled by steals and transition baskets, pushing the lead back to 16.
• Free‑throw efficiency: Caxias do Sul connected on 18 of 22 attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch, sealing the win whenever Rio Claro attempted to foul its way back into the game.

Tactical Story

Caxias do Sul head coach implemented a switch‑heavy 2‑3 zone that neutralised Rio Claro’s primary scorers. On offence, the visitors exploited mismatches in the paint and consistently found open shooters on kick‑outs. Rio Claro, by contrast, relied heavily on isolation plays that produced contested mid‑range looks, resulting in a poor field‑goal percentage. The rebound battle also tilted in Caxias’ favour, limiting Rio Claro to few second‑chance opportunities.

Standout Players

For Caxias do Sul, forward Lucas Menezes was instrumental, finishing with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Point guard Felipe Rocha orchestrated the offence with 7 assists while adding 12 points. Rio Claro’s best performance came from guard Gabriel Santos, who scored a team‑high 15 points but received little support from his teammates.

Impact on the LDB U22 Table

The win moves Caxias do Sul to an 8‑6 record, keeping them firmly in playoff contention as the second half of the Brazil LDB U22 season unfolds. Rio Claro drops to 5‑9, now needing a strong run of results to climb back into the qualifying zone. Both teams continue to develop young talent under the league’s focus on U22 athlete growth, but Caxias do Sul clearly showed more cohesion and execution in this matchup.

With several regular‑season games remaining, this victory provides momentum for Caxias do Sul as they prepare for a challenging road trip next week. Rio Claro, meanwhile, will look to regroup and address their offensive struggles before their next home contest.