M-Coupe de l'Avenir, 1/8 finales at contern/central: BBC East Side Pirates defeated AB Contern 61-51 after a tight first half and a decisive late surge.
The game opened balanced (12-12), and remained so to halftime (27-27). Contern made the first real break with a 10-0 run in Q2 to 25-18, fueled by Tao Tock (CON) scoring twice in a row and Emil Dostert (CON) adding inside baskets. Pirates steadied before the break and edged the third period 17-14 to lead 44-41.
The key sequence arrived early in Q4. After Contern leveled at 46-46, the Pirates, coached by Gérard Boby, delivered a 13-3 closing run. Emil Denter (BEP) hit important points, Mil Boby (BEP) added a basket, Dany Toth Gomes (15, FRA) coolly sank free throws, and captain Sam Schaeffer (BEP) sealed it with late points, stretching the lead to the night's maximum (+10).
For BEP, Schaeffer (BEP) led with 18 points built on eight 2-pointers and 2 free throws, including back-to-back scores in Q3 that flipped momentum. Boby (BEP) added 13 with one three, Denter (BEP) had 9 with 3 made free throws, and Toth Gomes (BEP) contributed 8, four from the line. The Pirates' 10 made free throws (vs. Contern's 5) weighed in the final margin. Sean Harmelin Dostert (BEP) chipped in 8 while managing four fouls without fouling out.
Contern, guided by coach Ayodele Michael O., leaned on Dostert (CON) with 18 points (including 2 free throws) and Alex Wies (CON) with 12, highlighted by two made threes and early shot-making. Max Muller (CON) had 7, Tock (CON) 6 from his Q2 burst, and Alexandre Lopes Meysembourg (CON) 5. Wies finished on four fouls but stayed in.
Game evolution: CON led by as many as 7 (25-18), BEP's largest gap came at the finish (+10). After 48-48, Pirates closed a 13-3 stretch to win this knockout tie.
(AI generated)