Racing Luxembourg edged BBC East Side Pirates 80-73 in the M-U14 Division 1 opener in Wasserbillig, taking control late after a game that swung repeatedly. Pirates led 20-19 after the first. Early in the second, captain Emil Denter (BEP, 13) strung together two baskets for 24-19, but Racing replied behind Elhadj Ibrahima Diallo (RAC, 13, PRT) and Alejandro Cuesta Jaramillo (13, ESP) to flip the half to 41-37 for the visitors. The Pirates answered with a 24-19 third quarter, powered by the Jankovic brothers and Denter, to edge ahead 61-60 entering the fourth.
The key stretch came to start the final period: Diallo scored four consecutive baskets for an 8-0 personal run, turning 61-60 into 68-61. Levi Balde added back-to-back field goals to extend it to 77-65, Racing's largest lead (14). A late U2 unsportsmanlike foul on Tim Focht (BEP) didn't help the hosts' push, while Stefan Jankovic carried four fouls in the closing minutes.
Diallo was unstoppable with 41 points, built on 18 made two-pointers, one three and two free throws. Cuesta Jaramillo added 13, Henrik Piirsalu 10 and Balde 9. For the Pirates, Denter and Stefan Jankovic each had 21, Petar Jankovic scored 18, and Nicolas Nestgen 10. Coaches Christian Nittler (RAC) and Gilles Poos (BEP) traded adjustments all night; Racing found the decisive answers in the fourth to claim the win in a close game.
(AI generated)