Sparta Bertrange B (SPAB) beat Etzella Ettelbruck B (ETZB) 86-60 at atert/terrain2, turning a tight first half into a clear win with a dominant third quarter.
ETZB struck first and edged the opening period 18-16 behind a blistering start from Jos Miguel Domingos Sanches (19, 1.76m, PRT), who poured in 16 points in the first 10 minutes, including two early free throws and a pair of threes. Early in the second quarter ETZB briefly stretched the lead to +4 (20-16 and later 30-26). SPAB answered with a 10-2 surge to close the half, sparked by Max Hagen (19, 1.89m) who drilled back-to-back threes, sending Sparta to the locker room up 36-32.
The game broke open after the break. Jules Beicht (25, 1.95m) authored a 16-point third quarter, mixing drives and perimeter shots, while Leo Engels (20, 1.97m) ran the floor for easy finishes. SPAB took the third 28-15 and never looked back, pushing the gap to a game-high +28 (86-58) after Beicht's late triple.
SPAB's scoring balance told the story: Beicht 32, Engels 19, Hagen 16 (four threes). Pol Schwartz added 7 and steady control. Sparta's shot profile was efficient: 29 made twos, 8 threes and 4 free throws, versus ETZB's 19 twos, 6 threes and 4 free throws. A brief second-quarter T1 on Peter-James Dobbin Vieira did not derail the hosts.
For ETZB, Domingos Sanches led with 23, while Noah Wolter (17) added 18 inside. Lenny Lopes Morais chipped in 5. Ayrton Babinyanga had three quick fouls in the first quarter, which weighed on the visitors' rotation despite a third-quarter three.
Coaches: Karl Abou Khalil (SPAB) managed the momentum swings well; Gavin Alexander Love's side started fast but faded after halftime.
Standings context: Sparta B move to 2-0, up to 1st place (+3), and are on a two-game winning run. Etzella B drop to 1-1 and 4th (-2).
(AI generated)