Sparta Bertrange overpowered Bascharage Hedgehogs 90-44 at atert/central in M-U18 Division 2 (Phase 1), riding a strong second and third quarter to their third straight win. Quarter scores: 18-13, 24-9, 23-8, 25-14. With the result, Sparta moves up to 2nd (3-2, +1 in ranking), while Bascharage stays 6th at 0-5.
Bascharage, under coach Veljko Dragasevic, opened fast behind Kodjovi Armel Yohann Koutsawa (20 pts, Season PPG: 14.80), who scored 11 of the team's first 13 points to build a 2-9 lead. Coach Elton Jorge Ferreira's Sparta answered with an 11-0 run to close the first quarter (from 7-13 to 18-13), fueled by Tim Reisdorffer (14) and Théo Mc Leod (10; 17, 1.79m, FRA).
The game broke open in the second period when Nikolaos Papanikolaou (15, Season PPG: 11.60) poured in nine points in a row (2+2+2+3) to push Sparta from 22-19 to 31-19. By halftime it was 42-22. Sparta then started the third with a 7-0 burst (Tian Kuharic, Jules Wurth from deep, Reisdorffer) and never looked back, with Alessandro Gonçalves da Cruz picking up two quick fouls that disrupted Bascharage's defense. The final margin (46) also stood as the highest lead.
Sparta's inside presence was decisive: Kuharic (Season PPG: 15.71) led with 23 points, built on 10 two-pointers and 3 free throws, while Reisdorffer's seven field goals added steady scoring. Papanikolaou hit two threes and orchestrated key momentum shifts; Ata Tastekin (6, Season PPG: 12.20) and Georgios Tsaramanidis (6, Season PPG: 5.33) supported the rhythm, and Wurth's third-quarter triple stretched the gap.
For Bascharage, Koutsawa remained the bright spot, mixing drives and free throws. Support came in small doses from Chris Jay Reding (4) and Mateo Bogatu (4; 17, 1.86m, ROU). Sparta's surge across Q2-Q3 (47-17 combined) decided the contest and consolidates their spot behind leaders Racing Luxembourg, while Bascharage continues to search for a first win.
(AI generated)