Black Star Mersch controlled proceedings in Ins, defeating CFBB U18 84-68 in the M-Nationale 2 round-robin. BSM burst out 0-8 and stretched the opening to 2-19, closing the first quarter 13-26. The visitors kept their foot down in the second (17-25) to lead 30-51 at halftime, powered by Donte Bezel Pope (23, USA) who piled eight points early in that period. A Felix Urwald triple late in the third sealed a 46-72 margin, BSM's largest gap arriving at +27 early in the fourth. U18 rallied with a 22-12 final quarter threes by Leis Sabotic and Théo Mc Leod without threatening the outcome.
BSM's shot selection and size told: 2P 65% and 3P 36% (both good by benchmark), plus a 36-29 edge on the glass. U18 struggled at the line (6/14, 43%) and inside the arc (39% 2P), limiting any comeback. Urwald drew seven fouls to keep the pressure on, while BSM's early foul counts on the perimeter didn't derail their rhythm.
Pope was the game MVP with 22 points (9/13 2P), 14 rebounds and 9 assists one short of a triple-double. Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 17.71, RPG: 9.0, AssPG: 2.5) added an ultra-efficient 17 points on 8/9 2P with 9 rebounds. Support came from the local core: Urwald (Season PPG: 10.14, RPG: 3.0) had 10 points and key free throws, and Jérôme Besenius hit 3 triples for 11.
For CFBB U18, the best sparks came from the club-trained group: Sarunas Sulcas (Season PPG: 8.6, RPG: 4.5) scored 12, Sabotic 10 with two threes, and El Hadji Modou Thiam Diop (Season PPG: 9.0, RPG: 7.13) added 9 with 2 blocks. Young guard Louis Cocard (16 years, 1.89m) chipped in 7.
Context matters in N2: BSM fielded two professional players, U18 none. In the table, BSM sit 2nd at 6-1 and are on a three-game winning streak; CFBB U18 remain 11th and winless. Coaches Kevin Sarlette and Denis Toroman saw the game decided early by BSM's opening run and interior efficiency.
(AI generated)