US Heffingen B edged Racing Luxembourg B 85-82 in Heffingen after a game of swings and momentum shifts. The hosts blitzed the first quarter 27-14, building a highest lead of 17 (27-10) behind the inside work of Yves Bellwald (15) and early threes from Pit Reiter and Daniel Wampach. Racing responded in the second behind Xavier Engel and Yves Le Sayec to cut it to 48-43 at halftime.
The third quarter flipped the script. From 56-48 down, Racing strung together a 17-2 run capped by an Engel barrage from deep, and led 67-65 entering the fourth. Heffingen briefly slipped after a bench technical to coach Manuel Scholtus at 72-74, but regrouped. Max Schmit (29) delivered the decisive stretch: a personal 6-0 run (three free throws and a three) pushed the hosts to 82-76. Racing clawed back to 83-82 through Wander Nicolas Silvestre Marquez (19) and Ander Prost, yet Schmit calmly sealed it at the line. Le Sayec (19, four threes) fouled out late, a blow to Racing's finish.
Heffingen's standouts were Schmit (Season PPG: 17.0; 1.82m) with 14 made free throws and a clutch triple, Manuel Scholtus (17; Season PPG: 11.48) and Bellwald (Season PPG: 14.11). Wampach added two timely threes. For Racing, Engel (28; Season PPG: 18.9) hit five from long range and fueled the third-quarter surge; Silvestre Marquez (31, DOM) powered inside for 19; Le Sayec's 19 kept them afloat before his fifth foul.
Coach Manuel Scholtus' group extends its form, now 10-1 and still top of M-Division 1. Racing, guided by Pit Schneider, remains third at 7-4, but the slide reaches four straight defeats. Heffingen have won six in a row since their lone loss.
(AI generated)