Sparta Bertrange controlled Mambra Mamer 91-74 at the Atert/Central, building the result with a fast start and a composed finish. After an even opening (6-6), Sparta strung a 9-0 run to 15-6 and closed the first quarter 30-18. Mamer reacted in the second behind Alan Bedirhanoglu (29, 1.93m, SWE) and free throws by Domenick Thomas Sleva (27, USA), taking the period 23-19 to trail 49-41 at halftime.
The third quarter swung back Sparta's way when Max Logelin hit back-to-back threes for a personal 6-0 to 59-47. Despite a bench technical against coach Karl Abou Khalil at 65-56, Sparta kept a 65-56 lead after three. The hosts then put it away inside: Lennart Holsten (29, 2.05m, DEU), Jarvis Terrill Williams (35, 1.98m, USA) and Victor Chidi Iwuakor (25, 2.01m, USA) powered a 6-2 stretch from 69-59 to 75-61. Mamer's Povilas Mikalauskas answered with five points in a row (81-70 to 81-72), but Mamer lost Rashon Jamal Johnson Jr. (26, USA) to fouls in the fourth, and Sparta closed on an 8-2 run. Highest lead: +17 at the buzzer.
Among the Luxembourgers, Logelin scored 15 (two key triples in Q3), Tom Germeaux added 6, and Yannick Verbeelen went 2/2 at the line. The foreign contingent led the way: Williams posted 24 points (11/20 2P, 3 ast), Iwuakor delivered a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double with 4 blocks (MVP), and Holsten had 14 points (7/10 2P) and 8 boards.
For Mamer, Bedirhanoglu scored 24 (7/11 2P), Sleva produced a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double, and Johnson Jr. had 10 (5/9 2P) before fouling out. Among the Luxembourgers, Maid Adrovic chipped in 10 on an excellent 5/6 from two, while Gianni Beslija scored 8; Mikalauskas picked up two quick P2 fouls early but later hit a 3+2 sequence.
Team shooting underlined the outcome: Sparta 60% on twos (good) and 27% from three; Mamer 47% on twos and 16% from three. Turnovers favored Sparta (6 vs 11), while Mamer's 18 offensive rebounds could not offset perimeter struggles. Attendance: 250 (175 paying). Sparta moves to 3-0 and top of the table (+1), Mamer falls to 0-3 (11th). Sparta is on a three-game winning streak. Coach Darko Ristic's side is still searching for a first win.
(AI generated)