BC Mess B edged Black Star Mersch B, 55-51, in Mondercange after a tight, defense-first game that swung late. The visitors rode a hot opening from Brian O'Neill (35, FRA), who buried back-to-back threes in the first quarter and pushed Black Star to a 16-11 lead. At halftime, Black Star still held a one-point cushion (22-21).
The third quarter flipped the momentum. A triple by captain Gilles Weimerskirch (45) put Mess ahead 27-25, and the hosts strung together a 6-1 stretch to 33-28. Black Star answered to level at 38-38 before Philippe Charles Di Cato (MESB) scored for 40-38 after three.
Early in the fourth, Black Star briefly led 42-40, but Mess found answers in the clutch. Yves Gillet (MESB) knocked down two free throws to make it 45-44, and Mess built a 6-0 run to 49-44. The decisive blow came from Alexandre Caurla (MESB), who poured in four straight points (including two at the line) to reach the game's largest gap, 53-46. Dan Mathes (BSMB) hit a late three and free throws kept it close, but Weimerskirch iced it at 55-51. Mess' biggest lead was +7; Black Star's peaked at +6 in the first quarter.
Key performers
- Mess (homegrown group): Alexandre Caurla 19 (three triples) led the way, with Weimerskirch 10 and Yorick Melchior 5. Franois Villain added 6 before fouling out in the 4th, alongside Caurla, whose late burst nevertheless proved decisive. Support came from Ognjen Zimonjic 4, Di Cato 3, Nikola Sarkovic 2 and Damien Michels 2.
- Mess (other group): Gillet chipped in 4 important points at the stripe.
- Black Star (non-homegrown): O'Neill paced all scorers with 22 and five threes; Erik Daling added 2.
- Black Star (homegrown core): Pol Rodesch 13 battled inside (4 fouls), with Yann Marc Fischels 6, Charel Weis 5 and Mathes 3 (clutch 4Q triple).
Coaches Gilles Weimerskirch and Lisa Hilges traded timeouts around the mid-fourth as the game tightened, but Mess' late-game composure at the line and a timely 10-2 stretch from 43-44 to 53-46 made the difference.
Standings note: Mess climbs to 4th (+6, 1-1), while Black Star sits 11th (-4, 0-2).
(AI generated)