Etzella Ettelbruck edged Amicale Steesel 83-80 in Steinsel after another tight late-game finish and, with a second semifinal win over the same opponent, moves on to the finals. ETZ is now on a 3-game winning streak.
Amicale started better and went 12-7 up before the first break at 12-10. In the second quarter, Daniel Alves Brandao de Sousa's team created real separation at 22-14, and the home side later led 31-25 after consecutive threes from Sean Bugeja and Bob Rech. Etzella answered with an 8-0 run to flip the score from 25-31 to 33-31 at halftime.
The third quarter belonged for a long stretch to Amicale. After falling behind 33-37, the home team produced a 16-5 run, with Ashton Lee Sherrell (Season PPG: 22.85, RPG: 8.68, AssPG: 1.03) and Scott Morton (Season PPG: 9.37, RPG: 4.06, AssPG: 2.49) pushing the score to 49-42. Etzella stayed composed and reduced the gap to 56-54 entering the last period.
Amicale still held its highest lead at 69-61, but Gavin Love's side reacted immediately. Billy Ray Mc Daniel Jr (41, 1.96m, USA) and Adrian Delph (Season PPG: 20.44, RPG: 6.44, AssPG: 3.38) led a 14-4 surge, capped by Philippe Gutenkauf's three for 75-73. Amicale briefly recovered to 80-78 on Alex Laurent's late three, before Etzella finished with the last 5 points: one free throw from Philippe Gutenkauf, a basket from Mc Daniel Jr, then two more free throws from Gutenkauf.
Sherrell posted a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double and shot an excellent 75% on 2-pointers. Morton added 20 points, hit 4/4 free throws, and later fouled out. For Etzella, Nicholas Davis (Season PPG: 20.96, RPG: 10.44, AssPG: 1.51) delivered 20 points and 11 rebounds on an excellent 7/9 from 2-point range before fouling out, while Mc Daniel Jr scored 24 with excellent shooting: 7/7 FT and 3/4 from three.
Team shooting mattered: Amicale was good at the line and inside with 12/14 FT and 19/30 on 2-pointers, but only 10/38 from deep. Etzella balanced lower field accuracy with 26/34 free throws.
(AI generated)