Black Frogs Schieren controlled the middle quarters to defeat Black Star Mersch 94-79 in Schieren, moving up to 3rd place (3-2) while ending Black Star's three-game winning run (now 5th, 3-1). The first quarter was tight (18-19), with Donte Bezel Pope (23, USA) setting the tone inside for the visitors. The second period swung back and forth: Khyree Terell Armstead (Season PPG: 17.6) and Gabriel Solomon (Season PPG: 11.4) answered with perimeter shooting, while a sequence with two fouls in a row by Borian Tymi including an unsportsmanlike allowed Kevin Sarlette to hit two free throws for 32-34. Nigel Tolentino's team regained control before halftime, 48-44.
The game broke open right after the interval. Armstead drilled back-to-back threes for 56-46, igniting a 23-7 run to a highest lead of +20 (73-53). Eric Christopher Anderson (Season PPG: 18.8) supported that surge with free throws, a two and a three, and Leandro Rodrigues-Machado added a timely triple. Rainer Kloss's timeout could not stem the momentum.
In the fourth, Pope kept pushing (he later added a three and a pair of twos), and Desean Hampton (26, USA) strung together free throws in earlier phases including three in a row after being fouled on a three but Schieren controlled the scoreboard from the line and beyond the arc. Solomon added late foul shots and a three to keep the cushion safe.
Key numbers underline the story: Schieren hit 14 threes to Black Star's 7, a decisive edge on the perimeter. Top performers for the hosts were Armstead 30 points (five threes), Solomon 22 (five threes) and Anderson 16 (two threes). Tymi added 13. For Black Star, Pope led with 29, Sarlette had 16 (seven free throws), and Hampton 16 (eight free throws, two threes); Felix Urwald and Romain Dieterlen chipped in 7 each.
Black Frogs' win arrives after alternating results (loss, win, win, loss, win), while Black Star's perfect start ends here.
(AI generated)