US Heffingen controlled Sparta Bertrange B 81-62 at nikibett/central in M-U18 Division 3 Phase 2. Sparta edged a tight first quarter 14-13, powered by two early triples from Flechtner (SPAB), but Coach Stéphanie Halsdorf's team blew the game open with a 0-7 start to the second period and a dominant 11-26 quarter to lead 25-39 at halftime.
Heffingen's captain Danilo Hess (Season PPG: 32.33) was relentless, finishing with 31 points, repeatedly getting to the line and scoring off drives. Nils Rock (Season PPG: 12.6) added 18, and Ethan Steinmetz (17, 1.78m) chipped in 14. Tun Elcheroth (Season PPG: 9.83) contributed 11 including a string of free throws that punished Sparta's fouls during the key second-quarter surge. Heffingen's edge at the stripe was decisive: 20 made free throws to Sparta's 6. They also led inside (26 made 2s to 22). Sparta had one more triple (4 to 3).
Coach Christophe Dubois' side tried to respond after the break, but an unsportsmanlike foul on Martin Cezard Mangel in the third gave Heffingen three quick points and restored a comfortable cushion (40-57 after three). Konstantinos Laliotis (Season PPG: 11.0) led Sparta with 18, Flechtner (SPAB) added 12, Thomas Boccara (SPAB) had 9 and captain Jazz Pelkes (Season PPG: 7.78) scored 7. Sparta's rotations were strained by a spate of second-quarter fouls (three quick personals on Flechtner), and Heffingen kept converting.
The visitors' highest lead reached 21 at 60-81 before a late basket closed the gap. Heffingen move up to 4th in the classification (+2), now 1-1 in Phase 2; Sparta fall to 0-2 and remain 5th, extending a recent losing run.
(AI generated)