Résidence Walferdange controlled Sparta Bertrange 71-57 in the M-U16 Division 1 Phase finale at atert/terrain1, built on a commanding 30-12 first quarter. Nojus Banys (Season PPG: 22.55) opened the game with the first five points and poured in 13 in the opening period, with Jokubas Toliusis (Season PPG: 15.91) adding steady scoring to push the lead to 18 by the horn.
Sparta steadied in the second quarter (29-25). Loïc Schmit hit from deep, Maximilaan Flechtner (Season PPG: 15.82) answered with a three and multiple trips to the line, and captain Thandizo Jon Zulu (Season PPG: 18.92) chipped in at the stripe and in transition. Still, Résidence maintained a 41-55 halftime cushion. The third quarter slowed (6-8), but Banys delivered a quick late burst free throw followed by a three to re-establish the 18-point maximum at 45-63. Early in the fourth, Zulu authored a 4-0 personal run, yet Matas Sendzikas (Season PPG: 21.41) and Rafael Dos Santos Antonio (Season PPG: 19.08) kept Résidence comfortably ahead to the finish.
Shooting profile underlined the difference: Résidence made 25 two-pointers, 4 threes and 9 free throws; Sparta replied with 18 twos, 3 threes and 12 free throws. Banys led all scorers with 26 (3 triples, 5 FTs). Toliusis added 13, Luis Leocadio Botelho 11 and Dos Santos Antonio 11 (he received a T1 in the second quarter), while Sendzikas had 10. For Sparta, Flechtner matched Zulu at 20 points each Flechtner with seven free throws plus a three and five twos; Zulu battled to 20 despite four fouls. William Scarsbrook added 6.
Résidence, coached by Raul Leandro Birenbaum, is on a three-game winning streak and climbs to first in the Phase finale (2-0, ranking gain +2). Sparta, under Christian Michael Wulff, sees a six-game run halted and sits third (1-1, +1). Résidence also completed the season sweep after the 79-46 win in Phase 1. The largest lead was 18 points, reached at the end of Q1 and again late in Q3.
(AI generated)