Basket Esch B, 10th in the standings, beat 9th-ranked Telstar Hesperange 70-63 and split the season series after the heavy 42-71 loss in the first meeting. Raouf Hatira's team also stopped a three-game losing streak, while Telstar fell to a fourth straight defeat.
The game turned on Esch's first half. LALB led 21-15 after one quarter and then created real separation in the second, going up 39-23 and reaching the break at 43-29. Rocana Burgund (Season PPG: 22.00) set the tone early and finished as the main difference-maker with 25 points, including important late baskets when the game tightened. Bruna Fonseca Cracel (Season PPG: 13.00) added 14 points, and Luca Stocklausen (Season PPG: 8.50) gave 9. Valentin (LALB) brought useful support with 7 points.
Telstar responded well after halftime. The third quarter was their best stretch, won 17-9, with Iris Roca Mandri (Season PPG: 8.07) and Ines Moreira (Season PPG: 12.11) driving the comeback. Roca Mandri scored 15, Moreira 13, and Milla Lutgen (Season PPG: 7.63) added 11. TEL cut the gap to 52-48 early in the fourth and later to 59-55, then Kabout's late points brought it to 67-63.
That was the crucial moment of the close game. Esch answered through Burgund again, who scored five straight for her team in the fourth quarter, then Fonseca Cracel sealed the last point from the line. Telstar's push became harder when Charline Lutgen (Season PPG: 10.07) fouled out in the final period, and Ivan Yeromin's side never got the equalizing possession.
(AI generated)