Basket Esch won 82-73 at home in a matchup that carried weight near the top of the M-U16 Division 1 table. Esch moved up to 2nd place (+2) at 4-1, while Etzella stayed 3rd at 3-2.
The game changed direction several times. Etzella briefly went in front 14-13 in the first quarter behind captain Seid Muratovic (Season PPG: 31.20), but Basket Esch answered well and closed the period 25-18. The home side then absorbed Etzella's early second-quarter push, when the gap was cut to 25-22, and rebuilt control through a strong stretch from Edmilson Vieira Miguel (Season PPG: 16.80), Moussa Borsoi (Season PPG: 6.20) and Yann Conan (Season PPG: 12.80). At halftime, Esch led 44-31.
Stéphane Feller's team reached its highest lead at 52-35 in the third quarter, with Miguel and Euricky Semedo da Veiga (Season PPG: 14.00) keeping the offense efficient. Etzella then produced its best phase. Muratovic scored heavily and Lou dos Santos (Season PPG: 16.40) added pace and pressure, helping Thierry Kremer's side win the quarter 26-16 and come back to 60-57.
The fourth quarter stayed tight. Etzella came within 62-61 and later 66-65, so the winner was still undecided. Esch responded with the crucial run of the night, a 12-0 burst from 66-65 to 78-65. Miguel was central again, Borsoi added inside scoring, and Ihsane Adam Moulai-Souiga (LAL) supplied a useful free throw. Etzella still had a last push, with Dos Santos scoring 8 straight team points late, but Miguel sealed the game.
Miguel finished with 25 points, his season high, while Borsoi added 13 and Semedo 12. For Etzella, Muratovic delivered 30 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter, and Dos Santos added 18. Adam Ajdinovic (Season PPG: 10.20) and Yona Posing (Season PPG: 5.40) gave solid support during Etzella's comeback.
(AI generated)