Etzella Ettelbruck B edged Black Star Mersch B 78-77 in the MDivision 1 championship round at deichwisen/central, a onepoint finish shaped by swings in the final quarter. After 21-18 in Q1, Etzella built the night's biggest margin late in the second (41-29) before reaching halftime 41-35. Coach Nelson Delgado's group extended to 61-50 late in the third and entered the last period up 61-52.
The fourth turned. Pit Jaans (25) opened with two baskets in a row, and Dan Mathes followed with five straight points (a three and a two). With Charel Weis adding a triple, Coach Lisa Hilges' team strung together a 12-0 run to lead 70-65. Etzella steadied: Axel Bieux hit two free throws in a row, Lenny Lopes Morais (Season PPG: 6.0) buried a corner three for 74-73, and José Miguel Domingos Sanches (23 pts; Season PPG: 17.83; 19 years, 1.76m, PRT) drilled a big triple for 77-73. Weis answered from deep (77-76), but an unsportsmanlike foul on Mathes gave Domingos Sanches the line; his free throw for 78-76 stood up as the game-winner after Ben Hilges' late free throw closed it to 78-77. Earlier in the quarter, guard Nelson Delgado hit three consecutive free throws for a 65-58 cushion, then later fouled out, but Etzella held.
Top performers
- Etzella: Domingos Sanches led with 23. Marvin Delgado Dos Santos (16, 1.90m) added 11, Bieux 9, Lopes Morais 9.
- Black Star: Weis paced the guests with 21 (Season PPG: 10.33). Erik Daling (36, Dutch forward/center) and Jaans had 13 apiece, Pol Rodesch contributed 10 (Season PPG: 17.17), Mathes 10.
Etzella climbed to 9th (+2) at 3-4 and snapped a threegame skid. Black Star remain 12th at 0-7, now on a sevengame losing streak.
(AI generated)