Basket Esch overpowered Etzella Ettelbruck 85-62 at Deichwisen/Central, reversing October's 95-70 loss in Esch. Franck Meriguet's team controlled the glass and the paint and broke the game open after halftime.
Etzella started with an Eric Zenners triple and stayed in touch through a tight first half (16-13, 18-16 by quarters), Basket Esch up 34-29 at the break. Gavin Love's side briefly closed to 35-36 early in the third, but Esch answered with an 8-0 burst Jordan Hicks from deep, Clancy Rugg from deep, then Quinten Nelson in transition to 44-35. Moments later came another 8-0 run (Ceman layup, two Nelson threes) to 52-37. In the fourth, Hicks hit again from long range and Rugg strung together three free throws in a row after a technical sequence, pushing the gap to a game-high +23 (60-83), the final margin matching it.
Esch's efficiency and size told: 56% on twos (20/36) and 83% at the line (15/18) with a 37-24 rebound advantage. Etzella shot 30% on twos (11/37) and 27% from three (8/30), relying on free throws (84%, 16/19).
Clancy Rugg (Season PPG: 20.0, RPG: 9.87, AssPG: 3.0) led all with 29 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists, MVP of the night. Quinten Nelson (Season PPG: 21.47, RPG: 5.53, AssPG: 4.0) added 24 points and 6 steals, while Jordan Hicks (35, 2.01m, USA) hit 4/7 from deep an excellent 57%. For Etzella, Nicholas Davis (Season PPG: 21.5, RPG: 9.8, AssPG: 2.25) posted 13 points and 12 rebounds, Adrian Delph (Season PPG: 21.2, RPG: 6.65, AssPG: 3.55) had 11 and 11, and Philippe Gutenkauf (Season PPG: 16.0, RPG: 4.44, AssPG: 6.06) scored 19 with 11/12 at the line and 6 assists, drawing 9 fouls.
A late sequence saw Frédéric Gutenkauf commit a personal and a technical in succession. Despite frontcourt foul trouble (several Esch players on four fouls), the visitors' balance and rebounding held.
In the standings, Etzella sit 2nd (ranking gain +1), Esch climb to 5th (+2). Etzella's long winning run ends here.
(AI generated)