Fourth-ranked Sparta Bertrange took control early and won clearly at sixth-ranked US Heffingen, 119-56, in the phase finale. This return game was very different from the first meeting, which Sparta had edged 71-69.
Sparta opened with a 7-0 burst and already led 34-14 after the first quarter. Heffingen briefly stayed in touch through Nils Rock (Season PPG: 15.07) and Ethan Steinmetz (Season PPG: 12.15), but the visitors broke the game before halftime. After Rock cut it to 19-41, Sparta answered with a massive 23-4 sequence to close the second quarter at 64-23.
Heffingen showed its best stretch after the break. The home side won the third period 22-20 and at one stage scored 12 of the first 14 points of the quarter, with Rock carrying the offense. He finished with 36 points, matching his season high, including six 3-pointers. Steinmetz added 12, while Tun Elcheroth scored 6 but his game was shaped by foul trouble, with three fouls already in the first quarter before fouling out later.
Sparta quickly restored full control in the last quarter and stretched the margin to its highest level at the end. Ata Tastekin, the 1.91m 16-year-old from Türkiye, produced 20 points, and Jules Wurth (Season PPG: 10.33) also scored 20. Thandizo Jon Zulu added 15, Tim Reisdorffer 15, Maximilaan Flechtner 13 and Pierre Rodrigues 10, underlining the away team's depth.
For Sparta, it was a win after four straight losses. Heffingen's losing streak extended to seven, and the club stayed last in the standings at 0-8.
(AI generated)