Musel Pikes C edged Sparta Bertrange C 61-57 at Atert after a tense finish. Sparta burst out 7-0 behind Danny Weiwers (Season PPG: 18.00) and Maxime Biname (Season PPG: 8.83), but the first quarter settled at 14-14. The game flipped in Q2: from 19-14 up, Sparta conceded an 11-0 run as Musel's Pit Klopp (Season PPG: 3.75) tied and then pushed ahead, and Sven Klauner (Season PPG: 4.50) drilled back-to-back threes for 31-21. Musel took a 33-24 lead to halftime.
Sparta, powered by Gil Bové (Season PPG: 11.33), chipped away after the break, but Klauner's third triple restored a 10-point cushion (48-38) late in Q3. In Q4 Musel stretched it to 52-42, only for Sparta to rally: Kevin Andrade Alves (Season PPG: 7.38) scored at the line and at the rim, and Bové's free throw tied it 57-57 inside the last minute after a technical on Paul Heinesch. Musel closed it with poise: Christian Heinesch (Season PPG: 11.70) hit the go-ahead layup and Max Kreutz (Season PPG: 11.90) knocked down two free throws. Heinesch and Kreutz were the game winners in the clutch.
For the domestic core, Musel leaned on Chris Konsbruck (Season PPG: 11.25), who led with 15 before fouling out in the fourth, supported by Heinesch (11) and Kreutz (7, including a key three). From the non-domestic contingent, Krzystof Radzimski (34, POL) added timely points and free throws. Klausner's nine came exclusively from deep and swung the second quarter. For Sparta, Bové's 18 anchored the offense, with Biname (13) steady and Weiwers adding 10; Andrade Alves had 6 in the last period. Luca Gomes fouled out in the closing minutes, hurting Sparta's late defense.
Coach Ottmar Niederprum's side has now won back-to-back games after a rough stretch and climbs to 9th (+2). Sparta, despite the loss, sits 8th (+1).
(AI generated)