Etzella Ettelbruck left Dudelange with a 75-66 win in M-U16 Division 1 (Phase 1), closing strong after a balanced first half. The opening quarter swung wildly: T71 trailed 11-17 before Matteo Agostinucci (T71) ignited a 10-0 run, scoring 8 consecutive points himself (2+3+3) to flip it to 21-17. Coach Thierry Kremer's time-out steadied Etzella, who answered with a 6-0 finish to take the first quarter 23-21.
The second quarter stayed tight. Tunn Wirion (T71) strung together three inside baskets to keep the hosts level at 29-29, but Etzella's Jahleeon Nascimento Rocha Carvalho (ETZ, 13) hit back-to-back twos and the visitors reached the break up 41-36. After halftime, T71 rallied to 46-47 on scores by Matho Velnom Mendes and Wirion, yet Ben Schock's steady production restored a cushion and Etzella entered the fourth at 58-51.
The decisive stretch came early in the last quarter: Gilles Schock and Noah Mendes combined to drive the lead to a game-high +15 (69-54). Despite late baskets from Bo Wagner and Wirion, Etzella managed the margin to the end. Lou Dos Santos (ETZ) battled foul trouble, committing multiple infractions in a row in the fourth, while Finn Dondelinger (T71) survived early whistles (two P2 in Q1) to contribute later.
Top scorers: Etzella leaned on Ben Schock (25) and Gilles Schock (16), supported by Mendes (9), Yoann Ngan (6) and Rocha Carvalho (6, 13, MNE). For T71, Max Schartz (18) led, with Wirion (12), Agostinucci (11; three triples), Velnom Mendes (10) and Dondelinger (9).
Etzella are now on a two-game winning streak (loss, win, win) and move to 1st in the table (+3). T71 slip to 2nd and have dropped two straight (win, loss, loss). Coach Eric Jeitz's time-outs halted runs, but Etzella's fourth-quarter control proved decisive.
(AI generated)