Amicale Steesel edged Sparta Bertrange B 74-71 in Steinsel, a close finish decided in the last minute. The hosts controlled the first half with a 25-18 opener and a 43-29 cushion at the break, driven by a fast start from Felix Engel (Season PPG: 23.5) and steady free throws from Vincent Segers (Season PPG: 17.5), who knocked down four in a row in the first quarter to help build separation.
Sparta changed the tone after halftime, winning the third quarter 23-13. Jim Thiry (Season PPG: 5.17) and Simon DerwaelThomsin (Season PPG: 17.75, 15, FRA) found gaps, while Vasileios Paspaltzis (Season PPG: 8.09, 14, GRC) kept the visitors close at the line. Early in the fourth, a technical on Max Schanck (AMI) gave Sparta momentum, sparking a 10-2 run that erased a 66-58 deficit and tied it at 68-68 on two calm free throws by Paspaltzis.
Coach Thorsten Freiheit's group answered. Segers powered to the rim, then Miguel Lopez Fernandez (Season PPG: 9.0, 14, ESP) added another basket for 72-68. After a Sparta timeout, Paspaltzis drilled a three (72-71), but Andreas Nys (Season PPG: 18.57) hit the decisive field goal for 74-71, and Amicale closed it out.
Top performers
- Amicale: Engel 20, Segers 18, Lopez Fernandez 11, Bobby Kirsch (Season PPG: 16.67) 10, Nys 8. Schanck added 5 but later fouled out after earlier foul trouble.
- Sparta: Paspaltzis 19 with late-game shot-making, DerwaelThomsin 14 (including a fourth-quarter three), David Alves dos Santos (Season PPG: 7.33, 15, PRT) 12, Thiry 10; Jakob Kavas Puc (Season PPG: 11.57) and Andrew Blanchard each 5.
Amicale's largest lead was +14 at halftime. Sparta's best spell came in the fourth with that 10-2 burst. With this win, Amicale rises to 2nd (3-2) in the M-U16 Division 3 Phase 2 table. Sparta remains 5th at 0-3 and is still seeking a first win; their overall skid extends to eight straight losses. Coach Dimitrios Paspaltzis' side nonetheless showed resilience, pushing the game to the final possession. Amicale, meanwhile, has won back-to-back and seven of its last eight.
(AI generated)