Basket Esch dominated AB Contern 81-58 at Contern/Central before 125 spectators, completing a 2-0 sweep this season (84-62, 81-58). Franck Meriguet's team set the tone early: Jordan Hicks (35, 2.01m, USA) splashed three triples in the first quarter and Damien Thill added a late three for a 17-27 cushion. Contern briefly steadied, but Clancy Rugg (Season PPG: 20.35, RPG: 9.65, AssPG: 2.94) took over in the second with repeated trips to the line, pushing Esch to 35-48 at halftime.
The key stretch came right after the break: Contern scored first, then Esch strung a 9-0 run capped by Quinten Nelson's three for 37-55. Moments later, Contern head coach Anthony Franck Tomba was fouled out after two C1 technicals in succession, and Esch's lead ballooned to a game-high +24 (48-72) by the end of the third. Esch controlled the glass (36 defensive rebounds) and moved the ball (19 assists), while Contern struggled from deep.
Esch shot well where it mattered: 12/16 at the line (75%, good) and 9/24 from three (37.5%, good). Contern finished 10/18 FT (56%) and 4/21 from three (19%). Rugg led the core group with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 8/9 FT, Thill added 13 (3/7 3P), and the 17-year-old Emmanuel Jesus Frederico (2.00m, CPV) brought 6 points and 8 boards. Among the other scorers, Hicks had 15 (3/6 3P) and Nelson (Season PPG: 21.12, RPG: 5.82, AssPG: 4.29) posted 13 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, flirting with a triple-double. Corentin Cornu chipped in 5.
For Contern, Joshua Ferguson (Season PPG: 18.71, RPG: 12.39, AssPG: 3.09) produced 20 points, including a perfect 9/9 at the stripe and the game's first basket from long range. Jeffrey Schumacher added 16 with efficient finishing inside (6/9 2P), while Landon Lowder had 7. From the core contingent, captain Christophe Mertzig scored 5, with contributions from Olivier Summer and Mathieu Arendt.
Esch climbs to 5th (+1) and is on a three-game winning streak. Contern remains 12th and has now dropped eight straight.
(AI generated)