Bascharage Hedgehogs edged Black Star Mersch 57-55 in a tight M-U14 Division 4 game in Bascharage. The visitors opened better, racing to 0-6 and closing the first quarter up 9-14. Midway through the second, Mersch built the highest lead of the day at 13-25, before Bascharage answered with a 10-0 run: Mathis Vasaune (BAS) started it and Karlo Saric (BAS, 13) strung together three baskets in a row to bring it back to 23-25. Halftime: 27-31.
After the break, Black Star pushed again to 32-41 behind Denis Notarnicola (BSM, 12) and Ylan Madoki Bigas (BSM, 13, BEL). Auric Kirsch (BAS, 13) then took over, scoring repeatedly in the lane, including back-to-back baskets to tie it at 42-42; a late Renato Ribeiro da Silva (BSM) finish kept Mersch up 42-44 after three.
In the fourth, Mersch led 43-48, but Bascharage chipped away at the stripe through Leo Chiapolino (BAS) and, at 48-52, produced the decisive 8-0 surge: Kirsch netted six points in that spell and Saric hit the go-ahead layup for 56-52. In the closing seconds, Notarnicola knocked down three free throws in a row to cut it to 57-55, but the hosts held firm.
Key was foul trouble late: Mersch lost three starters to five fouls in the fourth Notarnicola (20 points), Madoki Bigas (17) and Ribeiro da Silva (6). Bascharage's Andrija Cubrilo (BAS) also fouled out after 6 points.
Top performers:
- Bascharage: Kirsch 18, Saric 12, Chiapolino 8, Cubrilo 6.
- Black Star: Notarnicola 20 (including one three), Madoki Bigas 17, Ribeiro da Silva 6, Luca Donini 6.
Coach Nicolas Schaefer's timeout at 8' in Q4 preceded the final push, while Aleksandar Petrovic tried to stem momentum with breaks in Q3 and early Q4. In the standings, Bascharage climbs to 1st (+3) at 2-1 ( win, loss, win, while Black Star sits 4th at 0-2, still seeking a first victory.
(AI generated)