Black Star Mersch edged US Heffingen 84-78, flipping the script from their first meeting (98-78 for HEF) with a fast start and enough poise late to fend off the leaders.
Game evolution
- Start: Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 20.0) opened with back-to-back triples for 6-0. Bench big Vladimir Vukovic (35, BEL) then poured in six in a row for 18-4, and BSM closed Q1 up 23-10.
- Highest lead: Mid-Q2, BSM stretched it to 37-17 (+20). HEF answered with an 8-0 run to close the half (two free throws by Austin Parker III, threes by Jordan Carreira Kreps and Lee Bourgeois), 42-32 at the break.
- Third quarter: Kevin Sarlette (Season PPG: 9.27) hit a triple to start a 7-0 BSM burst (49-32). HEF trimmed it to 59-50 behind Gerry Schuder Minden and Luke Henry Haasl.
- Fourth quarter: Donte Bezel Pope (Season PPG: 32.88) controlled the line, converting a string of free throws, while HEF's Thomas Killian Quarry (26, 2.01m, USA) answered with multiple trips to the stripe to keep it tight. A technical on coach Alexis Kreps (C1) added another BSM point. Hampton fouled out with BSM up 69-55; later Quarry (27 pts) also fouled out after keeping HEF alive with a long sequence of free throws. Bourgeois' late three cut it to 83-78 before Pope sealed it at 84-78.
Top performers
- Mersch imports: Pope led with 33 points, including a heavy dose at the line in Q4.
- Mersch locals: Sarlette (11) hit big shots and late free throws; Dean Gindt (Season PPG: 12.44) added 12 with three triples; Vukovic (35, BEL) changed the first quarter with eight.
- Heffingen imports: Quarry posted 27 (15 from the line) before fouling out; Parker III (Season PPG: 15.28) had 12.
- Heffingen locals: Bourgeois (Season PPG: 4.71) contributed 13, Schuder Minden 9; Carreira Kreps 7 with two threes.
Context
HEF remain top (16-2). BSM climb to 4th (+2) at 11-7 and record a second straight win after a three-game skid. Game winners: Black Star Mersch. Coach Goran Lukic's side built early separation and survived HEF's late push.
(AI generated)