Sparta Bertrange punched their ticket to the W-LALUX Ladies Cup final with a 75-70 comeback over Basket Esch at the Coque in front of 1,500 spectators. Esch controlled the first half behind efficient inside scoring (21/34 on 2s, 62% - good), taking a 47-41 lead at the break. Sparta stayed in touch thanks to perimeter firepower: Jenna Wolf (27, 1.69m) and Jordan Alexis King (24, 1.81m, USA) combined for early threes, and King's 5-point burst late in Q1 helped limit the damage.
The third quarter swung on game management and composure. Despite an unsportsmanlike foul on Adryana Michelle Quezada (24, 1.79m, USA), Sparta trimmed the gap to 58-60 after 30 minutes, with Wolf's timely three and King's shot-making keeping Mike Feyder's side within one possession.
The fourth quarter delivered drama. Sparta moved 66-61 ahead, but a pivotal sequence saw captain Cathrin Wolff commit P2, P2 and a T1 in a row; Jovana Jaksic (33, 1.77m) buried four straight free throws and soon added a basket for a 70-68 Esch lead. From there, Sparta closed with a 7-0 run: King tied it, Quezada scored inside, then Wolf sealed it at the line. Esch also lost key frontcourt piece Eden Elizabeth Nibbelink (26, 1.80m) to five fouls during the closing minutes.
For Sparta's non-local leaders, King was MVP with 26 points (5/10 3s - good), 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, while Quezada added 21 points and dominated the glass with 8 offensive rebounds. Among the local rotation, Wolf hit 19 points with an excellent 5/9 from three. For Esch's non-local scorers, Jaksic led with 25 points (7/9 on 2s - excellent), and Tatsiana Likhtarovich (37, 1.78m, BLR) added 18 with 5 assists. Among the locals, Kyra Coulon (21, 1.78m) chipped in 8.
Team-wise, Sparta's edge came from the arc (10/27, 37% - good) and on the boards (36-28, including 10 offensive). Esch's 3-point woes (5/31, 16%) and 57% at the line proved costly. Coach Mike Feyder's group advances to the final; Vincent Gevrey's Esch bow out after a tight battle.
(AI generated)