Basket Esch overturned a 15-point first-half deficit to beat Résidence Walferdange 89-80 in Esch, closing with a commanding 24-12 fourth quarter for coach Franck Meriguet.
Esch opened 5-0 on Quinten Nelson, but Résidence, guided by Rainer Kloss, replied with a 21-8 punch and later stretched it to 36-21 behind John Clark Slajchert and Brendan Bailey. Résidence led 47-41 at halftime. Nelson sparked Esch after the break with a 5-point burst to 46-47 and the hosts drew level at 49-49, yet Résidence edged back in front 68-65 at the end of the third after a late Slajchert triple.
The game flipped early in the fourth. With Esch down 69-70, Jordan Hicks hit a three and, after a foul, completed the four-point play, part of an 8-0 run (Hicks 5, Clancy Rugg 2, plus Hicks' bonus) to 77-70. Dino Ceman later drilled a key three for 86-76. Even an unsportsmanlike foul on Rugg didn't halt the momentum; he and Nelson closed it at the line.
Esch's efficiency inside and at the stripe made the difference: 2P 61% and 22/25 free throws (88%), while Résidence struggled on 2s (41%) despite a solid 39% from three. Esch also controlled the glass (35 defensive rebounds to 26).
Top performers
- Esch (domestic): Clancy Rugg (Season PPG: 19.5, RPG: 9.4, AssPG: 2.5) delivered 24 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists (MVP).
- Esch (imports): Quinten Nelson (Season PPG: 21.3, RPG: 5.7, AssPG: 4.3) poured in 31 points with excellent 8/8 FT and 7/8 on 2s, plus 5 assists; Jordan Hicks added 17 points and 10 rebounds, including the decisive four-point play.
- Résidence (imports): Brendan Bailey (Season PPG: 22.8, RPG: 9.9, AssPG: 1.4) had 29 points and 11 rebounds; the 25-year-old American guard John Clark Slajchert scored 28 with an excellent 4/7 from deep and 4/4 FT.
- Résidence (domestic): Tom Schomer contributed 11 points and 3 assists; Filip Vranjes added 6 points and 5 boards.
Esch have now won two straight, while Résidence's three-game winning run was snapped.
(AI generated)