Basket Esch controlled Racing Luxembourg 86-56 in the M-U14 Division 2 Phase finale at esch/ho4, building the win early and never letting go. Coach Raouf Riahi's side struck first with a 26-15 opening quarter, highlighted by an 11-0 run from 5-5 to 16-5. The gap widened in the second quarter (27-15) as Esch produced another burst 7-0 after a timeout to reach 53-30 at the half. The third (17-11) pushed the margin to 70-41, and although the last period was even, Esch twice hit the night's highest lead at +30 (80-50 and the final horn).
Rodrigo Pacheco Reis (13, PRT) led Esch with 18 points, steady at the line and active in the lane. Support came from Lorenzo Vetro (Season PPG: 10.00) with 17, Mathéo Muratovic (Season PPG: 16.82) with 16 and Arthur Léo Pierre Colle (Season PPG: 12.79) and Lyan Gomes da Cruz (Season PPG: 7.38) with 12 each five scorers in double figures underline Esch's balance. Vetro still contributed in the fourth despite committing three fouls in quick succession, while Colle managed his four fouls without fouling out.
Racing found offense mainly through Elhadj Ibrahima Diallo (Season PPG: 23.10; 13, PRT), who finished with 15 points, and Henrik Alfred Piirsalu (Season PPG: 11.06) with 10, but early foul trouble for Piirsalu (two quick personals) and later for Lucas Robert Kampe (four fouls) hampered rhythm. A brief spark came via a Jean Georges Pongas three and timely points from Nikita Lamidiaux and Nicolas Breistroff, yet Esch's second-quarter surges defined the game's flow.
Esch moves to 3-0 in the Phase finale, second behind Résidence Walferdange on the same record, and is now on a five-game winning streak. Racing drops to 0-3 in this round and continues a seven-game slide. Coaches noted: RIAHI Raouf (LAL), CUESTA Israel (RAC).
(AI generated)