Sparta Bertrange won 96-65 in Esch and turned an early deficit into a one-sided road result. Basket Esch opened well, going up 8-2, then 17-10, and still led 19-16 after the first quarter. Sparta changed the rhythm in the second period: they came back to 24-24, then 31-31, and finished the half on a 13-6 stretch for a 44-37 lead.
The decisive break came after the interval. Sparta controlled the paint and punished almost every Esch miss, pushing the margin from 46-41 to 68-49 by the end of the third quarter. Early in the fourth, two free throws by Yannick Verbeelen (Season PPG: 11.71, RPG: 2.1, AssPG: 2.1) helped launch another separation, and the visitors later reached their highest lead at 89-54.
Sparta shot an excellent 75.6% from 2-point range (31/41), while Esch hit a good 40.9% from 3-point range (9/22) but only 35.0% on 2-pointers. Rebounding also leaned heavily to Sparta, 39-21.
MVP Shelton Williams-Dryden (24, 1.97m, LUX) made a major impact with 22 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 6/7 on 2-pointers and 3/6 from deep. Avelon Luke John Jr (Season PPG: 16.71, RPG: 8.8, AssPG: 1.9) added 15 points and 6 rebounds, Max Logelin (Season PPG: 14.57, RPG: 5.3, AssPG: 3.7) had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, and Verbeelen produced 13 points with excellent 5/7 shooting inside.
For Franck Meriguet's Esch side, Quinten Nelson (Season PPG: 20.43, RPG: 2.89, AssPG: 2.78) scored 17, Damien Thill (Season PPG: 9.29, RPG: 4.44, AssPG: 3.44) hit 3 triples for 9, and Emmanuel Jesus Frederico (Season PPG: 7.57, RPG: 5.78, AssPG: 0.22) brought 11 points and 7 rebounds.
In the table, Sparta climbed six places to 3rd at 5-2, while Basket Esch is 6th, also at 4-3.
(AI generated)