Sparta Bertrange handled Basket Esch 86-62 at atert/central in front of 300 spectators (210 paying), staying perfect in the qualification phase. The hosts built control early: 22-14 after Q1 behind repeated inside touches for Victor Chidi Iwuakor (25, 2.01m, USA), then 38-24 at the break. Esch briefly rallied in Q3 through Quinten Nelson and Clancy Mac Rugg, but Jarvis Terrill Williams strung together three straight field goals to steady Sparta. The decisive blow came at the start of Q4: a 20-5 burst featuring triples by Tom Germeaux and Max Logelin pushed the gap to a game-high +32 (76-44). Late baskets by Gabriel Da Veiga Rodrigues and Emmanuel Jesus Frederico trimmed the final margin.
Sparta's perimeter shooting was a separator (11/25 from three, 44%, good), coupled with clean execution (21 assists, only 5 turnovers). Esch owned a slim rebounding edge (36-35) and was solid at the line (13/17, 76%, good) but struggled from deep (5/22, 23%) and committed 16 turnovers.
For Sparta's non-domestic contingent, Jarvis Terrill Williams (Season PPG: 28.2, RPG: 7.0, AssPG: 1.0) delivered 24 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists on 5/5 FT, while Iwuakor added 19 points and 9 boards. From the local core, Logelin (Season PPG: 13.2, RPG: 5.6, AssPG: 4.3) scored 16 with 4/7 from three, and Germeaux (Season PPG: 3.8, RPG: 0.9, AssPG: 0.6) chipped in 13 on excellent efficiency.
For Esch's non-domestic leaders, Nelson (Season PPG: 22.6, RPG: 6.4, AssPG: 4.2) had 23, and Rugg (Season PPG: 18.0, RPG: 7.0, AssPG: 2.0) 16. Among the local group, Da Veiga Rodrigues scored 6, Jesus Frederico 4 and Jeffry Monteiro Neves 4. Coach Franck Meriguet's side couldn't turn rebounding into momentum, while Karl Abou Khalil's team moved to 5-0 and remains 1st. Esch slips to 7th and is on a two-game slide.
(AI generated)