Bascharage Hedgehogs edged Black Star Mersch 66-62 in Mersch, sweeping the season series after November's 85-84 win. The visitors climbed to 6th (+1) while Black Star remain 5th. Notably, Black Star fielded two professionals, Bascharage none.
Game evolution swung wildly. Black Star controlled the first half (17-13, then 21-13 in Q2) behind a 15-0 surge from 23-26 to 38-26, with Romain Dieterlen (Season PPG: 7.00) and Donte Bezel Pope (23, USA; Season PPG: 32.17) scoring in succession. The lead peaked at +16 early in Q3 (42-26). From there, Bascharage chipped away with perimeter shooting: Veljko Dragasevic (28, 1.94m, HUN; Season PPG: 15.26) and Malik Demirovic (19; Season PPG: 4.22) combined for eight triples as the gap shrank to 53-47 after three.
A tense fourth quarter turned on details. After a coach's technical on Goran Lukic, Bascharage added points from the line, yet Pope kept Mersch in front, 60-58, and Desean Hampton (Season PPG: 19.32) hit two free throws for 62-58. The finish belonged to the Hedgehogs: an 8-0 closing run Deni Sabotic's layup, Demirovic's go-ahead three (the game-winner), then late free throws from Dragasevic and Demirovic sealed it.
Numbers that mattered: Bascharage drained 9 threes (Dragasevic 4, Demirovic 4), Black Star 6. Inside, Black Star leaned on Pope (27) and Dieterlen (16), who combined for 17 two-point field goals. For Bascharage, Dragasevic led with 24, Demirovic added 19, and the teenagers Demirovic and Sabotic (Season PPG: 7.90) provided timely scoring. Aziz Ndiaye (Season PPG: 17.82) hit key free throws late in Q3.
Form trends: Bascharage snapped a three-game slide with this late comeback; Black Star's three-game winning run was halted. Coaching note: Dejan Pavlovic's side kept composure down the stretch, capitalizing on free throws and the arc to overturn a 16-point deficit.
(AI generated)