US Heffingen C handled Black Star Mersch B 80-60 in the Championship round, building steadily before breaking the game open late. HEFC set the tone with an 18-11 first quarter, largely through Joel Thesen's early burst (12 points in Q1). BSMB responded in the second behind Pol Rodesch and Charel Weis to edge the period 18-17, but HEFC still led 35-29 at halftime. The third stayed tight (16-15), 51-44 before the decisive final act.
The key stretch came mid-fourth: after an unsportsmanlike foul on Rodesch, HEFC strung together an 11-0 run to move from 56-53 to 67-53, effectively settling matters. Erik Daling (36, 1.94m, NLD) later fouled out, removing a BSMB interior option during that swing.
Thesen (Season PPG: 26.10) finished with 32 points, adding 12 in the last quarter and repeatedly punishing the midrange. Axel Mertes (Season PPG: 15.67) added 24, steady at the line and productive in the third and fourth. Manuel Scholtus (Season PPG: 11.38) chipped in 12, including two threes in Q2. Contributions also came from Bob Banzer (5) and Nils Rock (17) with timely baskets.
For BSMB, Rodesch (Season PPG: 17.75) led with 19, while Weis (Season PPG: 10.57) had 12 and Ben Hilges (BSMB) scored 10 with two triples. Daling (Season PPG: 7.22) had 9 before fouling out; Jo Philipps (Season PPG: 2.57) added 8.
Coach JeanPierre Kunnert's group managed the tempo and capitalized on late-game opportunities, while coach Lisa Hilges' side stayed in touch for three quarters but couldn't weather the fourth-quarter surge. In the table, HEFC climbs three spots to 8th (3-6), whereas BSMB remains 12th at 0-9, their losing streak stretching to nine.
(AI generated)