Kordall Steelers edged Basket Esch B 64-61 in a tight M-U14 Division 4 Phase 2 opener at esch/ho4. The game stayed within one or two possessions for long stretches: Esch took the first quarter 19-18 and pushed their largest lead to six at 27-21 in Q2, but Kordall answered with a 7-0 burst capped by five straight points from Otiu (Season PPG: 9.8) to flip it to 27-28. Halftime was level at 32-32.
After the break, Esch briefly moved ahead 36-32 before Kordall strung together a 10-2 stretch, with Adham Asfarelouldidi (12, FRA; Season PPG: 9.17) scoring on back-to-back drives and Jovanovic (12) adding key baskets for a 38-42 cushion. The fourth quarter brought more swings: a Colle triple cut it to 55-58, then Jovanovic answered. In the final minute, Vetro (Season PPG: 12.2) made it 61-63, but Otiu's free throw sealed it.
Kordall's winning duo was Asfarelouldidi with 21 and Jovanovic with 20, supported by Otiu's 8 and Pelt (Season PPG: 5.4) with timely finishes. Esch leaned on Vetro's 19, the inside presence of Durovic (13) with 14, and Colle (Season PPG: 14.2) with 15 including two threes and several free throws. A crucial moment came late in the fourth when Colle fouled out, depriving Coach Damien Thill's side of a primary scorer for the closing possessions. Coach Arnaud Stéphane Sirjean's group managed their own foul trouble in the backcourt and still found answers through their two leading scorers.
Both teams led by as many as six. Kordall close it out with composure at the line and move to second in the new classification, while Esch B sit third. Notably, Kordall snapped a four-game losing streak with this win.
(AI generated)