AS Soleuvre controlled US Heffingen 99-83 in the Tour montée at Zolwer/Scheierhaf, overturning two regular-season defeats and climbing to 1st place (+3) in the classification, both teams now at 17-5. Soleuvre are on a six-game winning run.
Heffingen started sharper and led 24-21 after the first quarter, helped by frequent trips to the line, while Soleuvre's Raphaël Peffer picked up three P2 fouls in quick succession. The hosts responded in the second: Felix Whitcomb Kloman hit from deep and Christian Jeffrey Parker added a triple for a 29-24 period and a 50-48 halftime edge.
The third quarter was the hinge. Soleuvre opened with a 6-0 burst to 58-51 and won the frame 20-12, pushing the gap to 70-58 as Parker strung together back-to-back baskets. Their defense forced 17 turnovers (10 steals), offsetting Heffingen's 18 offensive rebounds. In the fourth, Thomas Killian Quarry (2.01m, USA) knocked down three free throws in a row to trim it to 82-74, but Soleuvre answered through Gilles Weis and Sandro Sana Sanches Gomes Junior before Parker and Kloman closed it out. Highest lead: +16, the final margin.
Shooting told the story: Soleuvre were good at the line (83%) and inside (57% on 2s), while Heffingen had good free throws (78%) but struggled from the field (44% on 2s, 22% on 3s).
Top performers
- Imports Soleuvre: Kloman (Season PPG: 30.29, RPG: 6.20, AssPG: 2.20) 32 points, 3 threes, 4 steals; Parker (Season PPG: 24.64, RPG: 13.00, AssPG: 2.19) a 29-point, 12-rebound double-double in 40 minutes.
- Locals Soleuvre: Weis (31, 1.85m) 14 points, 4 steals; Sanches Gomes Junior (Season PPG: 10.27, RPG: 5.61) an excellent 7/9 on 2s for 16.
- Imports Heffingen: Quarry (Season PPG: 28.55, RPG: 7.65) 28 points (13/15 FT), 8 rebounds; Luke Henry Haasl (2.08m, USA; Season PPG: 15.41, RPG: 10.92) 13 and 9.
- Locals Heffingen: Austin Joseph Parker III (Season PPG: 15.73, RPG: 7.00) 17 and 11; Jordan Rodrigo Carreira Kreps 9 and 7 boards.
Coach Eric Bettini's side owned the middle quarters (49-36) and protected the ball (6 turnovers), while Alexis Kreps' team lived at the stripe but couldn't find range.
(AI generated)