Sparta Bertrange B edged BC Mess B 74-72 in a game that stayed on a knife-edge for 40 minutes. The opening told two stories: Sparta raced to 0-7 and later 6-17, before Mess reeled them in as Alexandre Caurlà strung together seven straight points to close the first quarter at 19-19. Halftime arrived with Sparta narrowly in front (37-38). The third period mirrored the balance (54-55).
The game swung early in the fourth when Sparta pieced together a 13-2 surge from 54-55 to 56-68, fueled by a Christophe Logelin triple, steady points from Pol Schwartz and a Tom Germeaux bomb. Mess refused to fold: a late 7-0 push, with Giovanni Kemevuako (21, 1.93m) and Caurlà driving the comeback, pulled it to 72-73. Arthur Stein then sank a key free throw for 72-74, and Sparta held firm on the final possession.
Numbers underline Sparta's path: 10 made threes to Mess's 5 (Germeaux hit seven) and a 10-7 edge at the stripe offset Mess's dominance inside (25 two-pointers to 17). The arithmetic of +15 from deep and +3 at the line narrowly beat the +16 Mess produced in the paint.
Germeaux (20, 1.99m) was unstoppable with 29 points, while Schwartz (Season PPG: 14.67) added 21. Logelin (SPAB) chipped 14 and a critical fourth-quarter three; Stein (Season PPG: 4.17) contributed a timely triple and the decisive late free throw. For Mess, Caurlà (Season PPG: 15.71) led with 19, Kemevuako added 14, and Jeff Bofferding (MESB) had 11. Captain François Villain (40) hit a late three but fouled out in the fourth, a blow during the closing chase.
Coaches Elton Jorge Ferreira and Noah Bertolini traded adjustments all night: Sparta leaned into perimeter volume, Mess pounded two-point looks and free throws in the rally. In the standings, Sparta stays 7th, Mess 10th. Mess have now dropped four straight, while Sparta add another win after ending their recent skid.
(AI generated)
BC Mess B 
Sparta Bertrange B 
