Kordall Steelers won a close game against Résidence Walferdange, 93-86, after overturning a long second-half deficit. KDS had led 27-23 after one quarter, but RES changed the rhythm in the second period. After KDS went up 36-29, Walferdange produced a 17-0 run to close the half at 46-36, with John Clark Slajchert (Season PPG: 27.05, RPG: 5.45, AssPG: 3.85) and Brendan Bailey (Season PPG: 22.73, RPG: 9.27, AssPG: 1.48) driving that surge.
RES kept control in the third quarter and reached the game's highest lead at 58-42. Kordall answered well out of its timeout and cut the gap to 60-56, but Walferdange still entered the last quarter ahead 69-61. Early in the fourth, RES led 73-63 before the home side put together a decisive 10-0 run to tie at 73-73. The unsportsmanlike foul on Marvin Saldana during that phase and later a technical on coach Rainer Kloss helped KDS regain momentum.
The finish stayed tight at 79-79 and 84-83, but Gianluca Pellegrino Ombroni (Season PPG: 15.26, RPG: 6.76, AssPG: 4.90) hit back-to-back threes for KDS, and the Steelers closed the game with better execution from the line. Pellegrino and Bailey both fouled out late.
KDS shot good percentages across the board: 81.3% on free throws, 54.8% on 2-pointers and 40.7% on 3-pointers. RES was excellent on free throws at 90.9% and good on 2-pointers at 51.9%, but only 22.2% from deep.
Erik Timko, the 24-year-old American guard, was outstanding for KDS with 26 points, including an excellent 6/9 from three. Robertas Jonaitis (Season PPG: 23.23, RPG: 9.69, AssPG: 1.41) added 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Jalen Reynolds (Season PPG: 16.00, RPG: 7.60, AssPG: 1.00) gave KDS interior presence with 16 points and 7 rebounds. For RES, Bailey finished with 26 points and 9 rebounds, Slajchert had 28 points and 7 assists, and Oliver Vujakovic (Season PPG: 14.95, RPG: 5.73, AssPG: 2.43) scored 12.
(AI generated)