Basket Esch controlled AB Contern 86-72 at Contern/Central in the W-Enovos League 2nd Round (Aller, game 5). After an even 22-22 first quarter sparked by two early threes from Caileigh Ann Walsh (23, 1.91m, USA) Vincent Gevrey's team broke the game in the second with a 27-14 segment, hitting from deep and building a highest lead of 17 (32-49) before halftime.
Contern, guided by Fabienne Fuger, opened the third with a Walsh triple for 39-49, but Esch answered 7-0 (Jovana Jaksic, then a three from the same player and Tatsiana Likhtarovich) to 39-56. A third-quarter unsportsmanlike foul on Jaksic briefly gave Contern a lifeline (free throw), only for Jaksic to respond immediately with another three. After 30 minutes Esch still led 65-55.
In the fourth, Contern twice came back within single digits 63-72 and later 69-77 after a Walsh three but Eden Nibbelink's two threes in the period and Kyra Coulon's trips to the line kept the cushion. Likhtarovich then closed the night with five points in a row to finish it off. A bench technical (B1) was assessed to Gevrey in Q3 but had no lasting impact on momentum.
Shooting told the story: Esch delivered excellent free throws (9/10, 90%) and good three-point accuracy (9/23, 39%). Contern's free throws were good (18/24, 75%), but the hosts struggled at 2P (43%) and 3P (8/27, 30%). Despite a 45-31 rebounding advantage, Contern's 21 turnovers versus only 5 for Esch, and a 14-2 steals gap, flipped possession value.
Standouts
- Esch: Jaksic (24 pts, 9/16 2P, 2/6 3P, 7 steals; Season PPG: 20.71) drove both ends; Likhtarovich (14 pts; Season PPG: 17.87, RPG: 5.31, AssPG: 5.00) sealed it late; Nibbelink (14) hit four threes. From the other group, Coulon added 17 (4/4 FT), Jemming 6 and Fonseca 9 gave timely scoring.
- Contern: Walsh erupted for 34 (Season PPG: 25.19, RPG: 8.69). Stefanie Grace Kulesza posted 21 points and 10 rebounds (Season PPG: 21.31). From the other unit, Esmeralda Skrijelj (Season PPG: 10.63) orchestrated with 10 assists and 17 rebounds, while Ana Petrova drilled a key third-quarter three.
Esch move up to 4th (+1) while Contern remain 3rd. Esch are now on a two-game winning run.
(AI generated)