Musel Pikes won the deciding third barrage game in Heffingen, 84-77, and took the series 2-1 to secure their place in the Enovos League next season.
Game evolution was sharp. Musel opened better and built the first double-digit lead at 18-8 after Jaylen Key (Season PPG: 21.89, RPG: 10.58, AssPG: 1.42) scored 13 first-quarter points. US Heffingen reacted well in the second period: Charel Oly hit from deep, Jordan Carreira Kreps and Gerry Schuder Minden gave energy, and Austin Parker III (26, 1.96m, USA) pushed the hosts in front. Heffingen won that quarter 27-20 and led 42-40 at halftime.
The home side kept control in the third quarter. Jacob Washington (26, USA, Season PPG: 26.00, RPG: 10.33, AssPG: 2.33) got on a roll, and Heffingen went up 64-58 at the break after a late score correction. Early in the fourth, two free throws by Schuder Minden stretched it to 66-58, Heffingen's biggest lead.
That was the crucial turn. Musel answered with 10 straight points to move from 58-66 to 68-66, with Key and Konan Oth driving the swing. Heffingen briefly recovered through Thomas Quarry (26, 2.01m, USA), who finished with 15 points and good shooting from long range (3/7), but Parker III and Quarry both fouled out in the last quarter, a heavy blow for José Alberto Pais Costa's team.
Guy Schmit's side finished the close game better. Tom Welter (Season PPG: 9.06, AssPG: 5.50) hit the late go-ahead three for 80-77, and Everette Hammond IV (Season PPG: 22.71, RPG: 5.95) closed it from the line. Hammond posted 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Key was MVP with 29 points, 14 rebounds and excellent 3-point shooting at 60%. For Heffingen, Washington had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Parker III added 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, and the team shot a good 38% from three.
(AI generated)