M-Division 2, Championship round (return, game 1) in Oberanven: Gréngewald Hueschtert C controlled Basket Esch C, 64-49.
Esch struck first through Darren Marschal and a triple by Dorian Da Cruz (2-5), but Olaf Recht's team settled as Olafsson (GREC) strung together two quick baskets to level at 10-10. From there, the hosts found separation behind Mathieu Franco, a 34-year-old from France, who buried four triples, including back-to-back long-range strikes that turned a one-possession game into a multi-score cushion. Anastasios Kotsopoulos (GREC) then took over with steady scoring and repeated trips to the line to finish with 20.
A crucial phase arrived at 57-47: Esch committed three fouls in a row (including two by Antoni Cimino), and Kotsopoulos converted from the stripe in successive trips to push it to 62-47, the night's biggest lead (+15). Craig Forde added a basket in the host surge, while Michail-Kosmas Kouris (GREC) navigated foul trouble (four fouls) but still chipped in 6, including a timely three.
For Gréngewald, leaders were Kotsopoulos (GREC) with 20 and Franco with 16, with Olafsson (GREC) adding 14 inside. Esch's backcourt kept them in touch: Marschal scored 16, Da Cruz 9 with three made threes, captain Sven Reis added 9 (two triples), and Cimino (24, France) had 8.
Raoul Burg's side slides to third (-1 in the table) and a third straight defeat, while Gréngewald holds fifth, taking the head-to-head after losing the first meeting. The game's rhythm swung on Gréngewald's perimeter bursts (Franco's threes) and a late free-throw run fueled by Esch's consecutive fouls.
(AI generated)
Gréngewald Hueschtert C 
Basket Esch C 
