Racing Luxembourg (RAC) defeated Entente RES AMI (ERA) 75-66 in the M-Coupe des Jeunes 1/8 finals at tramsschap/central, advancing to the quarterfinals. The hosts exploded for 26-16 in the first quarter behind Sarunas Sulcas (RAC) and captain Stefan Stoykov (RAC), peaking at +13 (26-13). ERA answered in the second period with Nicolas Roque do Amaral's perimeter shooting and went to the break down just 39-36.
Game evolution swung right after halftime: ERA opened with a 4-0 to take a 39-40 lead, their only advantage since the opening minutes. RAC steadied through Pete Rajniak and Sulcas to 47-42 and 51-44, but Noah Stansbury Daleiden (ERA) powered a reply to 51-49. A tight contest turned in the fourth: at 53-51, an unsportmanlike foul on Stansbury Daleiden gave Louis Cocard (16, 1.89m, RAC) two free throws, both made, and Stoykov added a basket for 59-51. After an ERA timeout, RAC kept rolling, with Stoykov drilling a three for 66-53; the largest gap reached +16 at 71-55. Even with Sulcas fouling out later in the quarter, Racing managed the finish.
Top performers
- Racing: Stefan Stoykov (RAC) led with 23 points (two triples) and key fourth-quarter baskets; Sarunas Sulcas (RAC) added 16 before fouling out; Julian Klimkowski (RAC) scored 14. Oskar Berger (17, 1.82m, SVN) chipped in 8 and calmly sank three free throws in a row in Q2; Cocard had 7, including those important free throws after the U2 and a timely three.
- Entente RES AMI: Nicolas Roque do Amaral (ERA) posted 19 with three made threes; Noah Stansbury Daleiden had 17; captain Jules Reuter scored 17 with multiple long-range hits. David Lichy added 7.
Discipline played a role: ERA head coach Thorsten Freiheit received a C1 in the second quarter, and the unsportmanlike in the fourth directly fueled RAC's pivotal run. Coach Hristo Stoykov's side controlled the closing minutes and were the deserved winners in a game that was close until early in the final period.
(AI generated)