Musel Pikes edged Etzella Ettelbruck 55-54 at deichwisen/central after a tense finish, decided by a single point. The game swung on runs and free throws. After a balanced start, Musel stitched together a 9-0 burst to move 24-15 ahead. Etzella steadied through Lou Dos Santos' three straight free throws, and threes from Ben Schock and Seid Muratovic trimmed the gap before the break.
The second half turned into a shootout. Ben Matthias Schenk (18 pts; Season PPG: 21.71; 15, DEU) strung four free throws in a row and kept scoring inside, while Jaden El Basri (15 pts; Season PPG: 18.71) repeatedly punished the lane. Musel's lead peaked at eight (37-45). Etzella answered through Gilles Schock, who caught fire with threes and drives on his way to 20 points (Season PPG: 17.50). Dos Santos added back-to-back baskets to make it a one-possession game, but he soon fouled out, a blow to Etzella's momentum.
In the closing sequence, Raphaël Siebenaler (10 pts; Season PPG: 13.00) hit a key basket for 55, and Muratovic (12 pts; Season PPG: 15.40; 14, MNE) replied with a clutch free throw for 54-55. Defenses held from there.
Numbers underline the contrast: Musel lived at the line (11 made free throws) and converted 22 two-pointers, while Etzella relied on perimeter punch with seven threes. For Musel, Schenk and El Basri were the game winners, with support from Siebenaler and Elija Schanen (10). Etzella's best included Gilles Schock, Muratovic and Ben Schock (10; Season PPG: 14.75).
Coach Daniel Fernandes Sousa's group managed the key moments better late on. Musel resume winning ways after two losses and jump to second in the championship round (+4), while Coach Thierry Kremer's Etzella slips to fourth (-1).
(AI generated)