Gréngewald Hueschtert B edged Black Star Mersch B 81-76 in M-Division 1 after overturning a 10-point first-quarter deficit. BSMB blitzed the start (25-15) behind a balanced inside game, and still held a 36-34 lead at half and 58-57 after three. The game flipped early in the third when Kian Wensveen Grou (Season PPG: 11.00) poured in eight consecutive points four free throws wrapped around two field goals to push GREB in front 42-36 and change the momentum.
Ricky Easterling's men then closed with a 24-18 fourth quarter. The decisive stretch came midway through the final period: Luca Pividor (Season PPG: 14.56; 18 years, 1.78m) buried three triples in quick succession and later added four straight free throws, turning 63-59 behind into a two-possession cushion at 70-66 and beyond. Yannick Peffer (Season PPG: 8.33) added timely perimeter scoring and rim attacks, and Wensveen kept finding points in the lane and at the stripe. Mika Demuth (Season PPG: 15.13) contributed 17 and, despite a late technical, hit the final free throw to seal it.
For BSMB, coach Lisa Hilges' group started strong and led by as many as 10, with Brian O'Neill (Season PPG: 19.43; 35, France) driving to 18 points. Daniel Gohlhausen (BSMB) added 16, while Pol Rodesch (Season PPG: 17.22) and Yann Marc Fischels chipped in 13 each. Foul trouble hurt the hosts late: Rodesch and O'Neill both fouled out in the fourth, and Erik Daling (BSMB) was also disqualified for five fouls, blunting Mersch's finishing options. GREB captain Robyn Schumacher exited with five fouls, but the visitors' depth held.
Winners in a close game, GREB collect their third victory of the season after a rough run and climb two places to 8th. BSMB remain winless (0-10) but showed long stretches of control and defensive energy early.
Top performers
- GREB core: Pividor 22 (six 3s), Wensveen 22, Y. Peffer 17, Demuth 17. Among the other options: Lelan Dederichs-Blake (GREB) added 2.
- BSMB core: Gohlhausen (BSMB) 16, Rodesch 13, Fischels 13. Among the other options: O'Neill 18, Daling (BSMB) 6.
(AI generated)