Etzella Ettelbruck edged Basket Esch 61-58 in the M-U16 Division 1 Phase finale (round-robin, game 1) in Esch/ho4, reversing the trend after two three-point losses to Esch earlier this season.
The game swung wildly early. Esch blitzed to an 18-3 start in the first quarter behind a scorching Maël Gevrey (20 points; Season PPG: 12.45) who poured in 12 in the opening period. Etzella answered immediately with a 10-0 run to close the gap, and Esch still led 23-18 after Q1 and 37-30 at halftime. The third quarter belonged to Etzella's patience: Ben Schock opened the half with back-to-back baskets and later added another to keep chipping away. A technical foul on Esch's Edmilson Miguel in the third underscored rising tension, but Esch still clung to a 45-42 advantage after three.
The fourth quarter delivered the decisive blows. Ben Schock scored four in a row to pull Etzella within one (49-48) before lead changes piled up. Seid Muratovic (14, MNE) buried a key three for 50-51, and at 56-56 Ben drilled a clutch triple before Gilles Schock added a basket for 56-61. Those two plays were the game-winners in a one-possession finish. Esch's Gabriel Thomas (10; Season PPG: 9.82) tied it at 56-56 and Gevrey kept them in range, but Etzella closed it out.
Etzella's trio led the way: Gilles Schock 19 (Season PPG: 17.00), Ben Schock 19 (Season PPG: 14.18), and Muratovic 15 (Season PPG: 15.62), with Lou Dos Santos adding 6 including a late three. For Esch, Miguel scored 9, Paul Blettery and Euricky Semedo 6 each, Alexandre Kremer 5. Key Etzella scorers survived foul trouble (Gilles and Muratovic finished on four fouls).
Under coach Thierry Kremer, Etzella climbs to 3rd (1-0) in the Phase finale standings; Esch, coached by Vincent Gevrey, sits 4th (0-1). Esch had won six in a row earlier this season; Etzella halted them again in another tight three-point game.
(AI generated)
Basket Esch