Sparta Bertrange won this semi-final opener 73-67 and leads the best-of-3 series 1-0, after a game with two strong momentum swings in front of 870 spectators.
Karl Abou Khalil's team started sharply. Sparta moved from 2-3 to 21-7 in the first quarter, with Jarvis Williams, the 36-year-old 1.98m USA wing, and Yannick Verbeelen setting the tone. Verbeelen then kept scoring in bursts, including 6 Sparta points in a row late in the opening period.
T71 answered with a big second quarter, 30-13. Yves Defraigne's side erased the 14-point deficit and went into halftime ahead 37-34. Christopher Jack and Jimmie Lee Taylor III were central in that comeback, and T71 closed the half on a 10-2 run. Jack was especially dangerous from long range, finishing with 15 points on 5/8 from three, an excellent 62.5%.
The third quarter stayed under T71 control for long stretches. Taylor III (Season PPG: 24.33, RPG: 6.71, AssPG: 2.97) pushed the visitors to their biggest cushion at 49-41, and T71 still led 55-52 after three.
The game turned again in the last quarter. Sparta first stayed close, then from 64-65 produced a decisive 9-2 finish. Max Logelin hit the key three for 67-65, and Sparta closed from the line and through half-court execution. T71 also lost Jack and Ivan Do Rosario Delgado on five fouls in the fourth quarter.
Verbeelen, the game MVP, delivered 26 points with 7/12 on 2-pointers, 3/5 on 3-pointers and 3/4 free throws; that was good inside, excellent from deep, and good at the line. Williams matched him with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 fouls drawn. For T71, Taylor III also scored 26, while Maurice Calloo added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Teamwise, Sparta did not shoot well, but created the difference with 33 free-throw attempts against 11, and only 8 turnovers against 13. Sparta has now won 3 in a row.
(AI generated)