Black Star Mersch advanced to the M-Coupe des Jeunes semifinals with a 94-77 home win over Telstar Hesperange. The hosts controlled the game's evolution: after an early 5-0 start, they absorbed a 0-5 response and closed the first quarter on a 16-8 push (22-15). Telstar opened Q2 with a 6-0 run to 22-21, but a coach technical on Telstar shifted momentum; Raphael Solomon (16, PHL) sank the ensuing free throws and BSM strung together a 7-0 answer to re-establish control, reaching halftime up 47-37.
The third quarter was decisive. BSM ripped a 15-2 sequence to 64-41, their highest lead (23), behind Sam Tibold (17) at the line and Leandro Da Silva Nunes (16, PRT) from deep. Telstar's best stretch came late, winning the fourth 27-25, but the gap never fell below double digits.
Tibold led Black Star with 19 points, including four straight free throws in the closing minutes; Solomon added 18, steady from the stripe, and Da Silva Nunes contributed 14 with two three-pointers. Rui Dias Dos Santos (11) and captain Trey Sean Boayue (10) rounded out a balanced scoring night. Boayue picked up two quick fouls in Q1 and later fouled out in Q4, but BSM had already built a safe margin.
For Telstar, Raffaele Santi (17, ITA) poured in 28 points and sparked several mini-runs (two late free throws, then back-to-back field goals, and a final three). Shay Matthew Colgan added 13, Ceylian Lortilloir 10, and Samuel Rehak 12 including three consecutive free throws in Q1 that briefly put Telstar ahead 7-6. Foul trouble hurt the visitors: key starters Jules Cochet and Rehak fouled out, as did Grégoire Leclercq and Juan Joyner Lopes, which thinned rotations in the second half.
Coach Jérôme Hansen's team managed the game with composure, especially from the line, while Telstar under coach Uchenna Agada fought to the end but couldn't erase the third-quarter damage.
(AI generated)