Etzella Ettelbruck beat Basket Esch 84-69 in a game that stayed tight for three quarters before the home side broke it open late. ETZ, now 3rd after an 8-place jump, reacted well after their last defeat, while LAL remain 9th and are on a two-game losing run.
Esch started better and led 19-15 after one quarter. Their biggest margin was 6 points, helped by Jordan Hicks (36, 2.01m, USA) and Quinten Nelson (27, 1.85m, USA). Etzella answered in the second period: after trailing 33-30, they closed the half with a 10-4 run to move in front 40-37. Marvin Delgado dos Santos (17, 1.90m) and Travis Henson (27, USA) were central in that swing.
The third quarter was the key warning for Esch. They went back ahead 52-48, but Henson then produced 7 ETZ points in a row to turn the momentum again. At 58-55 going into the last quarter, the game was still open.
Etzella were the clear winners of the decisive stretch. They opened the fourth with a 4-0 push, then turned 62-58 into 69-58, and Billy Ray Mc Daniel Jr (42, 1.96m, USA) kept the pressure on with 10 fourth-quarter points. ETZ's highest lead reached 17.
Team numbers explain the gap: Etzella shot well across all areas, 15/18 FT (83%), 18/35 on 2-pointers (51%) and 11/29 from three (38%), with 21 assists, 14 steals and only 11 turnovers. Esch had 20 turnovers.
Henson was MVP with 31 points, excellent 8/8 free throws, plus 7 rebounds drawn fouls and 3 assists. Mc Daniel added 19 on an excellent 6/7 from two. Delgado scored 15 with 3/7 from deep and 4 steals. For Esch, Hicks had 15, Nelson had 15 and 8 assists, while captain Clancy Rugg (35, 2.03m) posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and an excellent 7/7 at the line.
(AI generated)