T71 Dudelange controlled AB Contern 66-54 at grimler/central to book a place in the Minis Cup semi-finals. The hosts set the tone late in the first quarter: after Contern's early 2-3 edge, captain Noah Baseggio (T71, 13) strung together five consecutive points to flip the score to 10-7, helping T71 close Q1 up 16-13.
Game flow swung again early in Q2 when Max Muller (CON) scored four in a row for a 16-17 lead. Alain Schaeffer's team answered with the key push of the half, a 10-1 run powered by Ivan Barbic (T71, 13, Croatia) with back-to-back twos, followed by baskets from Charel Krings and Ben Kloos for 26-18. Contern trimmed it to 26-22 before Jules Wirion (T71) delivered two baskets in succession for 30-22. Halftime: 30-25.
The third quarter decided it. From 32-30, T71 rattled off an 8-0 burst through Pol Guedes and Kloos to 40-30. Ian Hulten (T71) added a timely three, Krings hit from deep, and Kloos scored again for a 50-35 lead at the buzzer, T71's largest cushion of about +15 arriving early in the fourth (52-37).
Jeff Bevilacqua's Contern made their push in the last period: Muller drained a three and Samuel Bevilacqua (CON) hit from long range to reach 58-49, while Gabriel Rasque Schmitt (CON) picked up points at the line. T71 kept control through Kloos and Guedes, and Krings' late free throws. Barbic committed two quick fouls in a row in the fourth, but T71's margin held.
Top performers:
- T71: Ben Kloos (T71) led with 17, Pol Guedes (T71) added 12, Charel Krings (T71) 8 including a three and late free throws, and Baseggio (T71) 7 with a pivotal first-quarter stretch. Hulten (T71) hit a key three; Wirion (T71) scored back-to-back in Q2.
- Contern: Max Muller (CON) poured in 21, Rasque Schmitt (CON) had 15, Samuel Bevilacqua (CON) 9 with two triples. Felix Zoller (CON) scored 4, David Lopes (CON) 5.
Notable foul sequences: Lex Chiarandini (CON) picked up two P2 fouls in quick succession early and finished with four; none fouled out.
(AI generated)