Amicale Steesel were the game winners, edging Racing Luxembourg 90-84 in Steinsel. The hosts exploded out of the gates (30-20) and dominated the second quarter 35-19 to take a 65-39 halftime lead, built on inside efficiency and timely perimeter shooting. Ashton Lee Sherrell (Season PPG: 24.94, RPG: 8.39, AssPG: 1.00) powered the start with repeated finishes around the rim, while threes from Sean Bugeja and Malcolm Richardson stretched the gap to a game-high 26.
Racing flipped the momentum after the break, taking the third 27-17. A key swing came when Scott Morton committed an unsportsmanlike foul (U2) midway through the quarter; Flenard Whitfield (2.05m) and Antunio Xavier Bivins (USA, 33) capitalised with points from the line and in transition, trimming it to 82-66 after three. Early in the fourth, a bench technical on coach Adam Radomirovic did not derail Racing's push: Brendan Temple drilled a late three and Bivins added free throws as the visitors closed to 90-84 in the final minute, but Amicale held firm.
Shooting told the story. Amicale finished 61% on 2s (good) but only 33% from three and 70% at the line. Racing matched with 54% on 2s (good), struggled from deep (24%), and went 71% at the stripe. Racing won the glass 39-35, but Amicale's ball movement (22 assists to 8) balanced the ledger.
Individually, Sherrell delivered 28 points (8/10 2P, 9/13 FT) and later fouled out in the fourth after setting the tone. Alex Laurent (Season PPG: 14.63, RPG: 4.50, AssPG: 1.17) added 17. Richardson (Season PPG: 15.56, RPG: 7.22, AssPG: 5.83) posted 9 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, while Bugeja hit 11 with 3/5 from deep; Morton had 6 and 8 assists. For Racing, Bivins (Season PPG: 26.06, RPG: 10.00, AssPG: 1.11) scored 23 with 8 rebounds; Temple (Season PPG: 16.56, RPG: 10.95, AssPG: 2.74) logged a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double; Whitfield added 15, and Steve Lanners chipped in 14, including 8/9 FT.
Amicale extend their streak to seven wins and sit 4th (11-5). Racing drop to 9th (5-11). Coach Daniel Alves Brandão de Sousa's side controlled early and survived the late surge.
(AI generated)