Sparta Bertrange overpowered Musel Pikes 91-62 in the Coupe de l'Avenir semi-final at Atert, pulling away from the opening minutes and never looking back. A 26-12 first quarter set the tone, built on Thandizo Jon Zulu (15, SVN) at the rim and Hugo Dubois' outside touch. After Musel's early timeout at 10-4, Sparta closed the period with a 9-1 burst, then stretched the lead to 50-23 at halftime. A technical on Pikes head coach Daniel Fernandes Sousa at 50-23 underlined a frustrated first half for the visitors.
Musel's best spell came in the third. Ben Matthias Schenk (15, DEU) strung together early baskets and, with Raphaël Siebenaler, trimmed the margin enough to take the quarter 22-18. But every time Pikes threatened, Sparta answered: Max Flechtner's three and Petar Kulisic's triple re-established a 68-45 cushion late in the third.
Sparta's balance was decisive. Zulu led with 24 points, supported by Kulisic (14, Season PPG: 24.20), Alexandre Olinger (13) and Dubois (12, three triples). Aaron Torresani added 10 and Flechtner 7. As a team, Sparta buried seven three-pointers and converted 29 two-point field goals.
For Musel, Schenk (19) and Siebenaler (18) carried the scoring, with Jaden El Basri adding 13, but the Pikes never found perimeter rhythm and finished without a made three. Both teams sank 12 free throws, yet Sparta's edge inside and on the arc created a maximum lead of 29 points, which matched the final margin.
Key moments in the fourth affirmed the outcome: Zulu scored back-to-back baskets to push Sparta to 74-47, and an unsportsmanlike foul on Schenk at 82-58 halted any remaining momentum. Coach Christian Wulff's side controlled the game's evolution from start to finish and secured their place in the Coupe de l'Avenir final.
(AI generated)
Sparta Bertrange 
Musel Pikes 
