Musel Pikes edged Basket Esch 74-68 in a close M-U18 Division 1 Phase 2 game, reversing October's 64-79 loss and climbing to the top of the classification (rank 1, +5). Esch sits third.
Game evolution
- Q1 (21-18): A balanced start with Omar Youssef Essid (MUS) and Geoffrey Schlammes (Season PPG: 23.00) setting the tone.
- Q2 (20-15): Esch briefly led 27-29 and 29-31, but Musel flipped it with a 12-2 surge highlighted by an Abram Macalou triple (Season PPG: 25.83) and Schlammes' scoring, reaching 41-33 at half.
- Q3 (30-31): High-octane quarter. Kevin Kelechi Nnganyadi (Season PPG: 6.14) kept Esch in it with three triples, but momentum swung when Emmanuel Jesus Frederico (2.00m, 16, CPV) picked up a T1 and a quick P2, and Esch captain Benjamin Muller (Season PPG: 14.00) slid into heavy foul trouble and fouled out before the buzzer. Musel built the night's largest lead at 65-54 and carried a 71-64 cushion into Q4.
- Q4 (3-4): A grind. Musel protected the margin at the line; Youssef Essid hit late free throws for 72-64 and 74-66 to keep Esch at bay.
Production and edges
- Made shots: Musel 23x2P, 4x3P, 16 FTs; Esch 22x2P, 6x3P, 6 FTs. The free-throw gap (16-6) proved decisive in a one-possession-type finish.
Top performers
- Musel: Schlammes 27 (Season PPG: 23.00); Youssef Essid 26 (MUS) with clutch fourth-quarter freebies; Macalou 13 (Season PPG: 25.83); Jules Jacquet 7 (Season PPG: 15.71).
- Esch: Jesus Frederico 14 (2.00m, CPV) as an active forward/center; Muller 14 before fouling out in the third; Nnganyadi 12 with three made threes.
Coaches: Majdi Anan's group controlled key runs and closed with composure at the stripe. Dejan Pavlovic's side fought back but the third-quarter technical plus Muller's fifth foul undercut their late push.
With this result, Musel Pikes are the early leaders in the championship round; Esch, now on a two-game skid, stays within reach in third. Schlammes and Youssef Essid were the game winners in a tight finish.
(AI generated)