Sparta Bertrange controlled AS Soleuvre 89-66 in the Coupe de l'Avenir 1/16 finales at Zolwer/Scheierhaf, building the game on a dominant start and managing the gap the rest of the way.
Sparta opened on a 9-0 run and closed the first quarter up 30-10, with early baskets from Thandizo Jon Zulu (SPA), Alexandre Olinger (SPA) and Aaron Torresani (SPA), whose three made it 0-9. Soleuvre steadied in the second quarter (22-22) behind Nik Lahure (SOL) and Yann Conan (SOL), but the halftime margin still read 52-32 for the visitors. After the break Sparta kept the pressure and led 74-47 after three. A 5-0 start to the fourth pushed the highest lead to +32 (79-47). Soleuvre then fired back: captain Nik Lahure (15) poured in 9 points in a row, triggering an 11-0 run to 58-79, but Sparta answered through Vasileios Paspaltzis (14, GRC) and Lo c Schmit (SPA) to close it out.
Zulu (SPA) led the winners with 19 points, relentless around the rim and adding a free throw. Maximilaan Flechtner (SPA) scored 13, including a three, while Torresani (SPA) had 11 and Olinger (SPA) 10. Depth mattered too: Tristan Kalman Mosonyi (SPA) 8, Paspaltzis (SPA) 6, William Scarsbrook (14, GBR) 4 and Andrew Blanchard (USA) 3 contributed across quarters. Sparta's offense leaned inside (only two made threes), but their succession of two-point field goals kept the scoreboard ticking.
For Soleuvre, Nik Lahure (SOL) delivered a game-high 29 and authored the fourth-quarter surge. He was supported by Conan (SOL) 9, Max Kunen (SOL) 8 with two threes, Evan Leal de Oliveira (SOL) 5, Lou Lahure (SOL) 4, Tim Weber (SOL) 4, Matteo Fratini (SOL) 3, Nils Krantz (SOL) 2 and Tim Heiderscheid (SOL) 2. Soleuvre hit six threes and actually made more free throws (6) than Sparta (5), but Sparta's 40-point opening half set the tone.
Coaches: Christian Michael Wulff's side imposed rhythm early; Olivier Haan's team competed after the break but the first-quarter gap proved decisive.
(AI generated)