Basket Esch B controlled the game in Mersch, winning 62-54 after a start that set the tone. Franck Meriguet's team opened 23-7 in the first quarter, capped by an 8-0 burst (Tousch 3, Fischbach 2, Kühn 3). The lead stretched to 23 points at 7-30 early in the second. Lisa Hilges called an early timeout but Black Star Mersch B needed the middle quarters to slowly climb back: 16-13 in Q2 and 19-15 in Q3 cut it to 42-51.
Key sequence after halftime: an unsportsmanlike foul on Edi Sabotic allowed BSMB to stabilize and get within single digits, yet Esch answered each run. In the fourth, Laurent Tousch hit a free throw and a three for 42-55, and late back-to-back baskets by Luka Stankovic (18, 1.90m) kept the visitors comfortably ahead. The closest BSMB came was the final margin.
For the hosts, captain Pol Rodesch (Season PPG: 17.57) led with 20 and navigated foul trouble (four). Brian O'Neill (Season PPG: 19.67) added 19, including a steady stream of free throws that fueled the third-quarter push. Ben Hilges (36) chipped in 8. Erik Daling (36, 1.94m, NLD) battled but was limited to 1 point and fouls accumulated.
Esch spread the scoring: Antoine Kühn (Season PPG: 12.25) had 17 with multiple threes, Sabotic (Season PPG: 14.00) matched him with 17 despite that third-quarter U2, Tousch (Season PPG: 6.00) hit a timely triple and finished with 8, while Stankovic posted 12 in his debut.
Game evolution decided it: the 1Q blitz and the 7-30 mark in Q2 created a cushion Esch never relinquished. Basket Esch B moves to 4-4 and 5th in the classification; Black Star Mersch B remains winless (0-8), anchored at 12th.
(AI generated)