Nitia Bettembourg edged Sparta Bertrange B, 65-63, in a tight M-U18 Division 3 opener at Nikibett/Central. Sparta started sharper (21-19 after Q1) and, sparked by Luc Blanc at the line and inside finishes, ripped a 9-0 run to 30-19, their largest lead (+11). Nitia answered immediately: a 12-0 burst flipped the game to 31-30, with Joan Hugo Francis Lumbu and Prosper Afakir driving the comeback and Hugo Palma Matias adding a three. Nitia led 37-32 at the break and stretched it to +8 (50-42) after three behind Thomas Prigent's interior presence.
Sparta rallied late. Thomas Boccara kept chipping at the line, Jazz Pelkes scored around the rim, and Jules Wurth (17) buried two late triples to tie at 60-60 and then put Sparta up 63-62. In the closing sequence, Ilyes Ikherrazén (16, BEL) hit for 63-64 and captain Afakir split at the stripe for 63-65, sealing Nitia's road win.
Top performers: Nitia Afakir 17 (6x2P, 5 FT), Prigent 15 (7x2P), Lumbu (17, FRA) 14. Sparta Wurth 26 (6x2P, 3x3P, 5 FT), Boccara 14 (5x2P, 4 FT), Blanc 8. Team trends: Sparta owned the stripe (17 FT made) and hit 4 threes to Nitia's 1, but Nitia dominated inside with 27 two-point field goals. Notable discipline moments: Aboubaker Fathi and Afakir committed back-to-back fouls in Q1/Q2 and finished on four. Coaches: Qassim Sahraoui (NIT), Christophe Dubois (SPAB).
(AI generated)