BBC East Side Pirates edged Sparta Bertrange 59-57 in Wasserbil. in a tight W-U14 Division 2 Phase 1 game, decided in the final minute.
Sparta started fast at 0-6, with SACAZE and WANDJI striking early. Pirates replied immediately with a 10-0 run, fueled by back-to-back baskets from KASEL and two scores from SCHMIT, to flip it to 10-6. Late baskets by LENTZ and BAUSCH closed the first quarter at 23-17. The second quarter stayed balanced: SACAZE kept SPA in touch, KASEL and SCHMIT maintained the BEP cushion, and an unsportsmanlike foul on BLAU punctuated the intensity. Halftime: 35-28 BEP.
After the break, SCHMIT extended the lead to a game-high +13 (41-28). Sparta answered with a 7-0 burst (BLAU, WANDJI) and, with GAUDNEK scoring in transition, narrowed to 42-39. Pirates stabilized through SCHMIT and RONCK for 50-42 after three.
The fourth quarter brought a surge from SACAZE, who stacked points at the line and from the field to trim it to 54-49. A late 6-0 Sparta run (BLAU, WANDJI, GAUDNEK) made it 56-55. KASEL responded, STOEVA hit back for 58-57, before WAGENER coolly added a late free throw for 59-57. Sparta then lost WANDJI to five fouls in the closing stretch, hurting their final push.
Top performers:
- BBC East Side Pirates: Louisa SCHMIT (13 yrs) led all scorers with 25 points; Emma KASEL added 12, and Liz DIEDERICH chipped in 7. MAUD WAGENER's last free throw was decisive.
- Sparta Bertrange: Anae SACAZE powered the offense with 24 points; Stacy Helene WANDJI (FRA, 12 yrs) had 13 before fouling out; Camille BLAU and Maya GAUDNEK added 7 each.
Coach Aziz Ndiaye's Pirates remain perfect (4-0) and stay atop the classification. Coach Laurent Cames' Sparta moves to 3-1, second. Pirates have now won four in a row.
(AI generated)