Arantia Larochette edged Sparta Bertrange 85-82 at Atert after a tense finish. Sparta raced to 23-11 in the first quarter behind Jarvis Williams and Victor Iwuakor, but Arantia closed the period with a 13-2 burst for 25-24. Early in the second, Tyrell Sturdivant hit back-to-back threes (25-29, 27-32), before Max Logelin (Season PPG: 17.6, RPG: 5.5, AssPG: 3.4) caught fire and scored 10 Sparta points in a row to keep the hosts ahead 47-45 at halftime. The quarter also featured offsetting technicals to Sturdivant and Logelin.
The third belonged to Arantia's perimeter. Vic Heuschling (Season PPG: 7.8) put them in front with a triple (47-48), and although an unsportsmanlike on Michael Anthony Carter III briefly swung momentum to Sparta (63-57 after a Logelin FT and a Yannick Verbeelen three), Edson De Sousa Silva (Season PPG: 11.1) answered with two quick baskets and later a three for a 65-70 lead at 30'. Arantia's largest gap came at 73-80 in the fourth, built in part by second-chance work (team OREB 14 to Sparta's 7).
Sparta clawed back at the line Logelin and Victor Stein, then Williams until Williams tied it 82-82 with two free throws. Carter III (Season PPG: 23.3) then buried the game-winning three for 82-85.
Shooting told the story: Sparta were good inside (2P 25/40, 63%) but struggled from deep (3P 5/22, 23%) and hit 71% at the stripe. Arantia balanced a good long-range night (3P 10/24, 42%) with poor free throws (7/16, 44%).
Standouts, domestic core:
- Sparta: Logelin 23 pts (7/10 2P), Verbeelen (Season PPG: 9.1) 16 pts.
- Arantia: De Sousa Silva 18 pts, Heuschling 12 pts (4/6 3P), Derek Wilson (Season AssPG: 1.8) 6 pts, 5 ast.
Standouts, other unit:
- Sparta: Williams (Season PPG: 26.8) 19 pts; Iwuakor (Season PPG: 18.4) 18 pts, 14 reb, 7 blk (game MVP).
- Arantia: Carter III 23 pts (including the winner); Jonas Levickas (Season PPG: 11.1) 17 pts, 11 reb; Sturdivant (Season PPG: 14.3) 9 pts, 8 reb before fouling out.
Context: Sparta's 11-game winning streak ends but they stay top (11-1). Arantia climb to 2nd (9-3). Note: Sparta fielded two professionals to Arantia's one an element in the league balance.
(AI generated)