Telstar Hesperange edged BBC Käldall 93-90 in Holleschb2/Central, a close finish decided at the stripe by the hosts. Coach Christophe Thil's side had to navigate foul trouble but found enough answers after the break to hand Coach Didier Frédéric Chomel's team a rare setback.
Käldall struck first: after 11-11, Ralph Anthony Lana strung together back-to-back triples in an 8-0 burst that opened the night's largest lead (+8 at 11-19). Telstar replied immediately with a 9-0 run to flip the momentum before the first pause, fueled by Max Klepper, Niccolò Spagnoletti, Gonzalo Muñoz Scharfenberg and two late free throws from Loïc Wohl.
Lana kept Käldall in front by the interval, but the game turned into a track meet after the break. Jamie Kappler drilled a three and later knocked down three free throws in a row; Lorenzo Ferrari connected from deep and then lived at the line; Spagnoletti (24, ITA) repeatedly attacked close to the rim; and Muñoz Scharfenberg (TEL) punished inside and at the stripe. Telstar pushed the margin to two and three possessions at times (84-78), only for Käldall to answer through Florian Briwa and Fabien Hirtz. An unsportsmanlike on Noam Chomel added to the visitors' problems.
Down the stretch, Briwa trimmed it to 92-90, before Ferrari (28, ITA) coolly added the final point at the line to seal Telstar's win. Telstar coped despite Klepper (Season PPG: 14.75) fouling out; Käldall lost Christian Michael Holman and Chomel on fouls.
Top performers
- Telstar: Gonzalo Muñoz Scharfenberg (24); Niccolò Spagnoletti 21; Lorenzo Ferrari 17; Jamie Kappler 13. Spagnoletti (Season PPG: 9.38) and Ferrari (Season PPG: 12.18) were vital in the decisive spell.
- Käldall: Ralph Anthony Lana 30 (Season PPG: 22.73), including five triples; Florian Briwa 22 (Season PPG: 17.63); captain Steven Mersch 19 (Season PPG: 22.14).
Standings note: Telstar climbs to 5th (+1), while Käldall slips to 3rd (-1). Käldall's six-game winning run comes to an end.
(AI generated)