Etzella Ettelbruck took a tight 64-61 home win over T71 Dudelange in M-U16 Division 1: Phase finale, a result that moves ETZ up to 3rd place (+1) while T71 remains 5th. It was Etzella's third win in four meetings with T71 this season.
Thierry Kremer's team set the tone early. ETZ opened 14-3 and controlled the 1st quarter 24-16, with Seid Muratovic (14, MNE, Season PPG: 16.73) and Ben Schock (Season PPG: 16.35) already active, while Bastian Torres (15, FRA, Season PPG: 11.33) stretched the floor. ETZ later reached its first 13-point margin at 31-18.
T71 reacted well before halftime. Eric Jeitz's side closed the 2nd quarter with a strong push and cut the gap to 32-30. Tunn Wirion (Season PPG: 17.58) was the main driver, and he kept that momentum after the break. In the 3rd quarter, T71 erased the deficit, went in front 37-40 and led 45-44 entering the last period. Wirion was on a real roll there, and T71 had clearly changed the rhythm of the game.
The decisive stretch came at the start of the 4th quarter. Muratovic scored 7 ETZ points in a row, and Etzella produced a 14-0 run from 44-45 to 58-45, their joint-highest lead of the night at +13. That sequence changed the game.
T71 still made it a one-possession finish. From 58-45, Dudelange answered with a 16-6 closing run. Wirion finished with 28 points, including 6 three-pointers, and Finn Dondelinger (Season PPG: 11.33) added 11. For ETZ, Muratovic led with 23, Schock added 17, and Torres scored 14 with 4 made threes.
(AI generated)