Etzella Ettelbruck won a close U22 qualification game against Basket Esch 87-77, pulling away only in the last quarter after three highly contested periods.
The first half stayed tight throughout. After 17-17 in the opening quarter, Etzella created a small cushion and reached halftime ahead 37-35. Basket Esch reacted well after the break: the visitors went in front several times in the third quarter, with Emmanuel Jesus Frederico (LAL), the 17-year-old 2.00m forward/center, and Deni Sabotic (LAL) driving that phase. Esch's best moment came at 58-51 late in the third before Etzella trimmed it to 60-58.
The game was still level at 60-60 early in the fourth, then Sabotic scored 5 points in a row to help LAL move to 65-60. That was the key danger moment for Gavin Love's team. Etzella answered with a 7-0 run, turning 60-65 into 67-65, and from there controlled the finish. Later, the home side closed on an 11-4 stretch.
Noah Wolter (ETZ) was decisive with 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Lenny Lopes Morais (ETZ) added 20, Sam Schaaf (ETZ) 18, Lou Clees (ETZ) 14 and José Miguel Domingos Sanches (ETZ) 13, giving Etzella five scorers in double figures.
For Basket Esch, Sabotic led all LAL scorers with 24 points, Jesus Frederico added 16, and Fabien Vandler (LAL) had 11. Jesus Frederico fouled out late and also received a game disqualification after a category 1 technical foul and a later flagrant foul, which weakened Esch in the closing minutes.
Etzella moved up to 4th place with a gain of 4 positions and now has a second straight win. Basket Esch is 5th at 2-1.
(AI generated)