Basket Esch C controlled the second half to win 85-70 at Nitia Bettembourg B in the M-Division 2 championship round. NITB started well (23-22 after Q1), riding a burst from Pinto (NITB) with two baskets in a row and Horsmans (NITB) drilling backtoback threes. Kambala (Season PPG: 18.13) answered repeatedly inside and from the line, keeping LALC attached.
The second quarter swung back and forth. After Butler (Season PPG: 3.80) opened with a three for 26-22, LALC reeled off a 9-0 run (Sowa, Kambala, Marschal), before Picco David (Season PPG: 11.43) strung together buckets to pull NITB level. Marteling (NITB) hit from deep and halftime arrived at 43-43.
Coach Burg Raoul's side broke it open after the break: Sowa (Season PPG: 10.50) and Da Cruz (Season PPG: 7.88) struck, Kambala continued to score at the rim, and LALC led 61-54 after three. The knockout came early in Q4 when Cimino (24, FRA) and Burg (Season PPG: 6.00) hit consecutive threes; Reis (Season PPG: 7.50) added five points in a row. LALC's largest lead reached 18 (65-83). For NITB, Dawir (NITB) and Almeida (Season PPG: 10.00) scored late, and Picco David sank four straight free throws across quarters.
Top scorers:
- LALC: Kambala 20, Sowa 20, Marschal (Season PPG: 15.29) 12, Burg 9, Cimino 6, Reis 8, Da Cruz 6.
- NITB: Dawir 13, Pinto 12, Picco David 12, Horsmans 8, Marteling 7, Eric Picco (Season PPG: 9.00) 5, Mendes Araujo (35, PRT) 4, Almeida 4, Butler 3, RodriguesOtto (NITB) 2.
LALC make it four wins in a row and climb to 1st (7-1). NITB remain 8th (2-5) after a fourth straight loss. Coach Jonathan Mechin's group battled for a half but couldn't stem the early fourth-quarter avalanche.
(AI generated)