Sparta Bertrange C edged Black Frogs Schieren 66-61 after a momentum swing that flipped a 17-point first-quarter deficit. Schieren opened at full throttle (28-11 after 10 minutes), fueled by captain Mathis Kraus (19) and Milo Reiser (13), with Nick Yan Marcel Kraus (18) adding range. Coach Alexandre Pereira Meireles' team led 33-13 mid-second, but the visitors answered with a decisive burst before the break. Konstantinos Laliotis (Season PPG: 12.36) buried two triples and kept attacking, while Markos Kolias Despotopoulos (15, GRC) added nine in the period; Sparta won Q2 by 24-10 to trail just 38-35 at halftime.
The third quarter swung both ways: Laliotis briefly put Sparta in front (38-40), then Nick Kraus drilled three triples in the period to restore a 53-44 cushion. Sparta replied through a key spell by Loïc Schmit (15), who scored three field goals in a row, cutting it to 55-52 entering Q4.
Coach Isabelle Grainne Mulcahy's side claimed its first lead early in the fourth (55-56) and closed with a 14-6 quarter. Kolias delivered in crunch time with a go-ahead two, a timely three and late free throws (4/4 in the final minutes). Laliotis finished with a game-high 20, Kolias 19; Schmit and Giulio Sartorati (Season PPG: 3.31) chipped in 8 each, Claudio Sartorati added 4, and Mert Bugra Kuzu (Season PPG: 5.40) had 5. For Schieren, beyond the Kraus duo and Reiser, Rick Marth (5) and Jomari Nicolas Llarena (4) contributed, with Marlow Isaac Panella (17) steady at the line early.
Sparta have now beaten Schieren twice this season and are on a two-game winning run. The result lifts Sparta to 2nd in the Phase 2 classification (+3), while Schieren drop to 4th (-1). Highest lead: Schieren +17 in Q1; crucial swing: Sparta's 2nd-quarter surge and Kolias' late sequence sealed the close game for the visitors.
(AI generated)