Basket Esch B edged BC Mess 61-59 in Mondercange after a tight finish, climbing to 10th in W-Nationale 2, while Mess remains 12th.
Game evolution
- Q1 was balanced (17-16), with a late 5-0 answer from Esch B to cut Mess's early eight-point push.
- Mess surged after the break between quarters: an 8-0 run to start Q2 built a 25-16 lead, later peaking at +11 (34-23). At halftime it was 34-25.
- Esch B flipped the game in Q3 with a 17-6 period. Bruna Filipa Fonseca Cracel (21, 1.71m, PRT) strung together four straight points, and captain Cathy Hoffmann splashed a triple for 39-40. Mess lost Caroline Pantaleoni to fouls late in the quarter after three personals in Q3 alone.
- The fourth stayed within one possession most of the way. Hannah Pauly briefly restored a Mess lead with a three (45-44), but free throws carried Esch B. From 57-56 down, the visitors closed a 5-0 run (Fonseca 2+1, then Rocana Burgund with two more free throws). Burgund added the final four points for Esch B before Lynn Thilges scored at 59-61.
Top performers
- Esch B: Rocana Burgund (21, 1.80m) poured in 24, including 10 points at the line, plus two made threes and four 2s. Fonseca Cracel added 14 and key late free throws. Hoffmann (Season PPG: 5.43) hit two threes for 8. Veteran Cynthia Dohn (44) chipped in four free throws in the last quarter. Coach Raouf Hatira's group leaned on composure at the stripe late.
- Mess: Thilges led with 19 (six 2s, one 3, four freebies; Season PPG: 12.89). Pauly had 14 with two threes (Season PPG: 7.73). Pantaleoni scored 11 (Season PPG: 11.00) before fouling out, a turning point for coach Joao Carlos Santiago Janeiro's rotation. Aileen Lucius added 6; Chiara Reuland 5.
Form and standings
Esch B returned to winning ways after two defeats and moves to 10th. Mess, with one win in 11 outings, stays at the bottom.
(AI generated)