AB Contern B edged Musel Pikes B 78-73 in a close M-Division 1 round-robin (game 10), reclaiming first place in the classification. The visitors exploded out of the gates (0-6) and took the first quarter 27-17. They stretched their largest lead to +13 (26-39) before halftime behind the efficiency of 34-year-old captain René Wolzfeld.
Musel flipped the game with a blistering third quarter. The hosts strung together a 14-0 run from 37-49 to 51-49, forcing a timeout. Eric Steffen (Season PPG: 18.50) drilled multiple triples, while Guy Schmit (Season PPG: 13.57) added a quick burst, and MUSB led 63-57 after three.
Contern reset under coach René Wolzfeld and opened the fourth on a 7-0 run to retake control. The closing stretch belonged to Ben Goergen (Season PPG: 13.60). With the score tight (72-75), he hit back-to-back two-pointers to 77-72, and Wolzfeld's late free throw set the final margin. Christophe Manuel Torres dos Santos added two key baskets in the last period.
Key numbers tell the story: Musel won the arc (10 made threes to 7, powered by Steffen's six), but Contern dominated the stripe (15 made FTs to 7) and had the edge inside (42 points from two-point shots to 36). That free-throw cushion proved decisive in a five-point game.
Leaders Contern: Wolzfeld 23 (8 FTs, 1 three), Goergen 15 (6 FTs), Patrick Walravens (Season PPG: 12.44) 13. Musel: Eric Steffen 23 (six threes), Schmit 17, and Marko Mustafic (20, 1.88m, HRV) 13. Veteran David Torres dos Santos (42, PRT) hit a second-quarter three for Contern.
Contern B are back to winning ways after their last outing, with eight wins in their last nine, and now sit top of the table. Musel Pikes B remain fifth.
(AI generated)