US Heffingen handled Black Star Mersch 98-78 in M-Nationale 2: Tour qualificatif, flipping a slow start into a controlled win. Black Star edged the first quarter 16-12, but the game turned late in the second. At 33-32, an unsportsmanlike foul on Felix Urwald opened the door for a 10-0 Heffingen burst: Jordan Carreira Kreps hit a free throw and a three, Luke Henry Haasl added two finishes inside, and more free throws pushed it to 43-32. Heffingen led 43-36 at the break and never trailed again.
The third quarter was balanced (23-23) as Urwald and Donte Pope answered from deep for Black Star, while Thomas Killian Quarry kept piling points at the stripe. In the fourth, Heffingen pulled away behind Gerry Schuder Minden's three triples and repeated trips to the line, closing the period 32-19. Black Star's foul trouble bit hard: Urwald (21 pts, excellent 9/10 FT) and Desean Hampton (15 pts) both fouled out; Romain Dieterlen followed.
Heffingen's profile was clear: pressure the paint, win the glass and live at the line. They owned rebounds 46-35 (19 offensive) and attempted 40 free throws, converting a good 75%. Their 2-point shooting was good (52%), while the three-ball was off (23%). Black Star hit a good 86% at the line but struggled from distance (23%) and finished at 49% on twos, alongside 19 turnovers.
Quarry (Season PPG: 27.38, RPG: 6.8, AssPG: 2.0; 2.01m, USA, 26) led all scorers with 36, powered by 14/17 FT and relentless rim pressure. Haasl (Season PPG: 15.38, RPG: 13.3, AssPG: 2.3; 2.08m, 24) posted 17 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks, including eight offensive boards. Among the locals, Schuder Minden (Season PPG: 13.0, RPG: 3.3, AssPG: 1.8) added 16 with 4/9 from three, and Carreira Kreps (Season PPG: 9.17) chipped in 13 (7/8 FT).
For Black Star, Pope (Season PPG: 30.33, RPG: 12.0, AssPG: 3.0) delivered 32 points and 10 rebounds, including 5/14 from deep. Urwald (Season PPG: 11.5) added 21, and Hampton (Season PPG: 17.38) had 15 before fouling out.
Alexis Kreps' side stays perfect on top (8-0), now on an eight-game winning streak. Norman Kloss' Black Star sits third at 6-2.
(AI generated)