US Heffingen C, 11th in M-Division 1, took a tight 54-52 win over 7th-placed Musel Pikes B and stopped a six-game losing streak. It was also a sharp turnaround from the first meeting, won by MUSB 87-47.
The game started in Musel's favour. The visitors led 14-11 after one quarter and 29-20 at halftime, then stretched the gap to 33-20 early in the third, their biggest lead. At that stage, MUSB looked in control behind Jules Jacquet (17), who finished with 19 points, and Luc Kirsch (Season PPG: 4.16), who added 10.
Heffingen changed the rhythm in the third quarter. Nils Rock (Season PPG: 15.00) was the key figure, scoring 15 points in that period and repeatedly cutting into the deficit. HEFC won the quarter 20-13 and entered the last 10 minutes only down 42-40.
The fourth was decided by short runs. HEFC opened with four straight points to move ahead 44-42. Jacquet answered with five consecutive points and put Musel back in front at 47-46. Heffingen then produced the decisive response: an 8-1 stretch, with Nicolas Colbach (Season PPG: 4.56) scoring 6 of those points and Bob Banzer (Season PPG: 5.40) adding the other basket, for a 54-48 lead. MUSB got only two late free throws from Majdi Anan (42, TUN).
Rock led all HEFC scorers with 29 points, while Colbach added 13. Banzer had 4, and Ethan Steinmetz (Season PPG: 5.50) hit an important third-quarter three. Heffingen's key scorers also had to manage foul trouble late, with Rock and Colbach both on four fouls. Under coach Jean-Pierre Kunnert, HEFC stayed composed in the closing minutes.
(AI generated)