Basket Esch B edged Sparta Bertrange B 77-72 in Nikibett/Central, overturning a 15point deficit and sweeping the season series 2-0 (first meeting 76-47). Sparta burst from the blocks after an opening triple by Marko Latinovic, stringing a 10-0 run to 10-3 and closing the first quarter 20-13 behind Pol Schwartz and Heiko Rolles. Midway through the second, Karl Abou Khalil's side stretched it to 31-16 after back-to-back buckets by Arthur Stein, the largest lead of the night. Franck Mériguet's timeout steadied Esch, who closed the half on a 17-7 push to 38-33, with Raphaël Cessat (19, FRA) and Jules Frédéric Neuen active at the rim.
The third quarter became a trade of blows: Stein hit a three, Nicolas Hittelet (27, 2.00m) answered from deep, and Mathieu Verharen Würth added another triple. Latinovic replied from long range and kept Esch within one, 55-54, after 30 minutes.
The game turned in the fourth. An unsportsmanlike by Hittelet early in the quarter gave Esch points and momentum (58-59). Schwartz's free throws rebuilt a 63-59 Sparta cushion, and Rolles (26, DEU) pushed it to 67-63. Then Latinovic (Season PPG: 13.07), the game winner, scored five in a row first the tying two, then a goahead three for 67-70. Laurent Tousch's late two and a string of free throws iced it, with Neuen and Antoine Kühn (Season PPG: 10.79) adding from the line. Hittelet, who shared team-high honors with 18, later fouled out, blunting Sparta's reply.
Top performers
- Esch non-locals: Latinovic 23; Cessat 12 (19, FRA).
- Esch locals: Neuen 14 (Season PPG: 8.45); Kühn 11; Tousch 11 with clutch free throws.
- Sparta locals: Hittelet 18; Schwartz 18 (Season PPG: 14.55); Verharen Würth 9; Stein 7.
- Sparta non-locals: Rolles 10 with a late flurry; Giulio Sartorati (17, ITA) 4.
In the table, Sparta remain 4th and Esch 6th. Esch also halted a mini-slide with a timely road win in a tight finish.
(AI generated)
Sparta Bertrange B