US Heffingen, now first after gaining one place, beat fifth-placed Vibball Luxembourg 68-58 in a game that swung on two strong home runs.

Vibball started better and led 14-10 late in the first quarter, with Michel Ange Mafolo Ondekane (VBE) and Noah Rudolf (VBE) giving the visitors early scoring. Heffingen answered with 7 straight points to close the quarter 17-14, a first important momentum change.

The second quarter was Heffingen's best stretch. After Vibball had reduced it to 19-17, Gerry Schuder Minden (19, 1.80m) sparked a 7-0 burst for 26-17. Ethan Steinmetz (HEF) added free throws and more inside scoring, and the home side reached halftime up 40-30. Heffingen's biggest lead then grew to 43-30 early in the third.

Vibball reacted well. Michel Ange Mafolo Ondekane (VBE) and Kouami Samuele Dogbonou (VBE) carried the comeback, and the visitors won the third quarter 14-9 to get back to 49-44. That kept the game open.

The decisive sequence came at the start of the fourth. Heffingen opened with an 8-0 run from 49-44 to 57-44, with Tun Elcheroth (HEF), Danilo Hess (18, 1.90m) and Schuder Minden all scoring. That gave the home team control again. Vibball still pushed through a late 9-0 stretch, cutting 64-47 to 64-56, but Hess and Nils Rock (HEF) made the final free throws to secure it.

Heffingen had balanced production: Schuder Minden led with 20, Steinmetz scored 13, while Rock and Hess added 12 each. For Vibball, Mafolo Ondekane and Dogbonou both finished with 18, and Benjamin Mafolo Ondekane added 10. Coach José Alberto Pais Costa saw his team respond well after Vibball's third-quarter rally, while coach Ildiko Vass got a strong scoring effort from her leading pair.
(AI generated)