Sparta Bertrange protected home court against Amicale Steesel, 89-83, in a game they controlled for three quarters before withstanding a late push. Sparta opened 4-0 through Jarvis Williams and closed the first period with an 11-1 burst (from 20-19 to 31-20) sparked by a Williams triple and five quick points by Philippe Arendt. At halftime it was 53-40, and a composed third quarter, including three straight free throws by Williams after a foul on a three, pushed the gap to 74-60. The largest lead came early in the fourth at 78-60. Steesel rallied to within six in the final minute behind Jonas Theisen's corner three, but Williams and Victor Iwuakor had already done enough damage. Game winners: Williams and Iwuakor.
Sparta's offense leaned on efficient interior play (29/47 on 2s, 61.7% - good). Williams (Season PPG: 28.0, RPG: 6.38, AssPG: 2.62) delivered 31 points with a perfect 3/3 from deep (excellent) and 4/5 at the line. Iwuakor (25, 2.01m, USA) added 19 points on 8/11 from two (excellent) and 5 blocks, giving Sparta crucial rim protection. Among the locally developed core, Max Logelin (Season PPG: 17.89, RPG: 5.46, AssPG: 3.31) scored 21, went 7/9 on twos (excellent) and drew 10 fouls; captain Victor Stein chipped in 7.
Steesel shot a solid 22/40 on twos (55% - good) but just 10/30 from three (33%) and 9/15 at the line (60%). Malcolm Richardson (Season PPG: 16.22, RPG: 6.89, AssPG: 1.89) had 23 points (4/9 3PT - good), while Ashton Sherrell (Season PPG: 23.44, RPG: 8.89, AssPG: 0.78) posted 24 and 11/18 on twos (good). Among the homegrown contingent, captain Noah Medeot (12 pts) hit three triples but fouled out after an unsportsmanlike in the fourth, a turning point that yielded two free throws for Williams and stalled the comeback. Scott Morton added 7.
Turnovers weighed heavily: Sparta kept it to 12, Steesel coughed up 19. With the win, Sparta stays perfect (9-0) atop the table; Steesel sits fifth and is now on a three-game skid. Coach Karl Abou Khalil's group absorbed a third-quarter technical and still managed the final minutes, while Daniel Alves Brandao de Sousa's side fought back too late.
(AI generated)