Nitia Bettembourg B edged Kordall Steelers B, 64-62, in a game that swung several times and was decided in the final seconds. The visitors jumped out 0-6 and 2-10 behind an assertive start from Jacques Jaeger (32), taking the first quarter 13-18. Kordall replied with a crisp 10-0 burst early in the second sparked by Ermin Babic (Season PPG: 22.29), Raphaël Kemmer (Season PPG: 13.36) and Djessi Fernandes turning 13-20 into 23-20 and leading 34-31 at halftime.
After the break, Noah Zucca (Season PPG: 18.38) drove Kordall to +5 (43-38), but Owen Chen (Season PPG: 11.20) buried a key three and Elvin Muhovic (13 pts) kept Nitia's offense steady to slip ahead 50-51 by the end of the third. Early in the fourth, Nelson Pinto (Season PPG: 10.57) and Wesley Almeida (Season PPG: 11.00) pushed Nitia to +6 (54-60). Anderson Alix Borbon (32, 1.88m) then strung together several one-point trips, and Kemmer hit a clutch three to tie it at 61-61. After Muhovic split at the line (61-62), Kemmer leveled again, but David Picco (Season PPG: 12.09) delivered the game-winner for 62-64.
Top performers
- Nitia: Jaeger led with 17 and set the early tone; Muhovic added 13 despite late foul trouble; Picco had 9 including the decisive basket; Pinto 8 and Chen 7 (with a momentum-shifting triple).
- Kordall: Balanced scoring Babic 12, Zucca 12, Kemmer 12 (big shots late), Borbon 10, with timely twos from Ulryc Marchand and Michal Robert Druz?d.
Key stretches included Nitia's 2-10 opening and Kordall's 10-0 answer in Q2. Nitia's largest lead was eight in the first and six in the fourth; Kordall's peaked at five. Kordall's Djessi Fernandes picked up two quick fouls late, and Elhan Hadzajlic had two in a short second-quarter spell; Muhovic reached three but stayed on the floor.
This result splits the season head-to-head (KDSB had won 78-70 in the first meeting). Under coach Jonathan Mechin, Nitia climbs to 5th (7-6) and extends its winning streak to five. Coach Antonio Alexandre Bento dos Reis Pires' Steelers are 7th (6-7) and drop a second straight.
(AI generated)