Black Frogs Schieren B edged Luxembourg Phoenix after overtime, 63-52, in Schieren, pulling away with an 11-0 extra period to seal a close contest decided in the final five minutes. The result lifts the Black Frogs to 3-2 and 2nd place (+1), while Phoenix drop to 1-4 and remain 5th, their fourth straight defeat.
Game evolution told a clear story. The hosts took a narrow 18-16 lead after Q1, but Phoenix flipped the script with an 11-0 burst to open Q2, fuelled by back-to-back triples from Simone Buran (32, ITA), to surge ahead 28-39 at the break, their biggest lead (+11). The Black Frogs responded with a 13-5 third quarter, including a 9-0 run built on free throws and a Tanguy Labatut (29, 1.90m) and-one sequence, trimming it to 41-44. In Q4, Buran struck again from deep for 45-49, but baskets by Max Brouscher (Season PPG: 12.8) and captain Jerry Valente (31) leveled at 49-49. A late unsportsmanlike foul on Joseph Khazzaka (27, FRA) opened the door; Tim Ittenbach (29, 1.82m) converted both free throws and Francis Kneip (28, 1.85m) added another to force 52-52 and overtime.
Overtime belonged entirely to the hosts. Daniel Kemp (41) drilled the first shot of OT from long range, Ittenbach strung together four points in a row, and closing buckets from Kneip and Labatut completed an 11-0 shutout.
Balanced scoring under coach Jerry Valente carried the Black Frogs: Ittenbach and Kneip led with 13 each, Brouscher added 12, with key cameos from Labatut (6) and Valente's late equalizer. For coach Georges El Hajal, Buran was the clear standout with 20 points (four 3s), supported by Marc Haykal (36, LBN) with 8 and Joseph Zeidan (32) with 7, but Phoenix could not find a field goal in extra time.
Notable runs: Phoenix 11-0 to start Q2; Black Frogs 9-0 in Q3; and the decisive 11-0 in OT. The Black Frogs were the winners in a tight game decided after regulation.
(AI generated)