Black Star Mersch B (BSMB) edged Gréngewald Hueschtert B (GREB) 60-55 in the M-Coupe FLBB 1/8 finales in Oberanven, controlling the middle quarters and holding off a late surge.
Game evolution
- GREB started brighter at 5-2, but BSMB closed the first quarter ahead, 21-15.
- A decisive stretch came late in Q2: from 25-26, BSMB pieced together a 10-0 run to 25-36, taking a 36-27 lead into halftime.
- After the break, Pol Rodesch (BSMB, 32) delivered six consecutive points early in Q3 to push it to 31-42. BSMB's largest lead reached +12 at 52-40 early in Q4.
- GREB answered with an 11-2 run in the final period, fuelled by the line: Yannick Peffer strung together three free throws in a row, and 19-year-old forward/center Kian Wensveen Grou added four late free throws to bring it to 55-57. In the closing minute, BSMB steadied: Yann Marc Fischels hit 1/1, then Rodesch sealed it with two more at 55-60.
Top performers
- BSMB: Rodesch was the difference with 30 points, scoring in bunches in Q2-Q3 and converting late. Support came from Brian O'Neill (7) and Erik Daling (6; 35, 1.94m, NLD), plus six by Charel Weis. Notably, O'Neill and Daling both fouled out, yet coach Lisa Hilges' side managed the finish with poise.
- GREB: Wensveen Grou led with 19, showing composure at the stripe in crunch time. Yannick Peffer (19, 1.84m) added 14, and Maxime Peffer 8.
Discipline and momentum
The game featured several momentum-swinging whistles: an early unsportsmanlike on Wensveen Grou in Q1, another on Jeff Krier in Q2, and one on Christophe Lenert for BSMB in Q4. Yannick Peffer took a technical in Q1 but responded with steady scoring. Despite GREB's late push and BSMB's foul trouble, the visitors protected the lead with free throws and timely stops under coach Nicolas Saquan Parrish's late adjustments on the other bench unable to flip the scoreboard.
(AI generated)