Sentinels Surge Late, Edge Samurai 109-105 on Blackwood's Clutch Buck
Paris Secures Thrilling Victory Behind Balanced Attack
By Alex Thompson
PARIS – The Paris Sentinels battled back from a late deficit to secure a hard-fought 109-105 victory over the Tokyo Samurai on Saturday, a crucial win for their February 2026 Season campaign. In a game that saw multiple lead changes and stellar offensive performances from both sides, it was a clutch field goal from Julian Blackwood in the final minute that ultimately sealed the deal for the home team.
The Sentinels established an early rhythm, with their potent offense finding success through a balanced scoring effort. However, the Samurai, led by a scorching performance from Rhys Caldwell, refused to back down. Tokyo clawed their way back in the second half, fueled by a barrage of three-pointers and aggressive defense that forced turnovers.
The fourth quarter was a nail-biter. Tokyo’s Cassian Patel and Rhys Caldwell exchanged blows, keeping the Samurai within striking distance. With under two minutes remaining, the Samurai even took a brief lead. But the Sentinels responded. After a key steal by Caleb Singh, Paris orchestrated a possession that ended with Julian Blackwood driving to the basket for the go-ahead basket. Freya Singh then added a crucial free throw to extend the lead. Rhys Caldwell had a chance to tie, but his final shot fell short as the buzzer sounded, sending the Paris faithful into a frenzy.
“That was a testament to our team’s resilience,” said Sentinels Head Coach Antoine Dubois. “Tokyo played a fantastic game, and Caldwell was incredible. But our guys kept their composure and executed when it mattered most. Julian stepping up like that was huge.”
Rhys Caldwell led all scorers with 30 points and 8 rebounds for the Samurai. For Paris, Rhys Williams was a consistent force with 17 points, while Julian Blackwood added 11 points, including the game-winner. The Sentinels’ ball movement was exceptional, contributing to their impressive assist total.
“We knew it would be a battle,” commented Paris guard Freya Singh, who contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds. “They have a lot of firepower, but we stuck together. We trust each other to make plays.”
Key Notes:
- Rhys Caldwell’s 30 points led all scorers.
- The Sentinels tallied 30 assists on 41 made field goals.
- Tokyo Samurai drained 19 three-pointers.
- Paris Sentinels held a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.