BC Mess edged Sparta Bertrange 72-68 at Atert/terrain2 in a balanced M-U18 Division 2 opener. The first half swung back and forth: Mess by one after Q1 (17-18), then Sparta, driven by Théo Mc Leod (17, 1.79m, FRA), took a 38-36 lead at the break.
Sparta's best phase came early in the third: a 7-0 run (Mc Leod's triple, then Georgios Tsaramanidis) pushed them to 53-46, their highest lead. Coach Santiago Janeiro's timeout settled Mess, who answered with a 10-2 stretch through Leis Sabotic (17, 1.88m, MNE) and captain Jamie Freymann to flip it to 55-57 after three.
The fourth quarter opened with Tian Kuharic tying it, but Mess delivered a decisive 7-0 burst Yann Krings scoring, then Freymann knocking down back-to-back free throws for 57-64. Sparta rallied to 68-69 on a Tsaramanidis three and an Ata Tastekin basket, yet after a Mess timeout, Sabotic scored inside and Freymann added a late free throw to seal it.
Mess winners in a close finish: Sabotic 19, Freymann (MES) 16, Krings (MES) 15 with a key fourth-quarter triple, and Pedrito Kemevuako (MES) 16 despite 4 fouls. For Sparta, Mc Leod poured in 25, with support from Kuharic (SPA) 12, Tastekin (SPA) 12 and Tsaramanidis (SPA) 10. Diego Maestro Varillas (SPA) battled foul trouble (4). In the standings, Mess sits 3rd; Sparta 4th.
(AI generated)