Telstar Hesperange edged Kordall Steelers 76-75 in a tight M-U16 Division 4 Phase finale game at Holleschb2/terrain 2, with the hosts surviving a furious late charge. Telstar took the first quarter 18-17 and went to halftime level (35-35) after Kordall closed the second with a 4-0 spurt. The third quarter swung Telstar's way: after KDS briefly led 41-41, Telstar closed the period on an 8-0 run to 58-53.
Coach Julien Bordonne's side answered in the fourth. Kevin Heusbourg's layup gave KDS a 62-63 lead, before Telstar strung together six straight points (Beltechi, André, Polad) for 68-63. Then Abriel Adam erupted with a personal 6-0 (2, then 1+3) to flip it to 68-69. From there, 15-year-old Gabriel Marques dos Ramos (PRT) took over: he scored Telstar's final eight points (a two and back-to-back threes) to push the hosts ahead 76-73. KDS clawed back to 76-75 through Mahé Schmitz, but Telstar held on.
Ramos finished with 24 points (six 2s, four 3s) and navigated foul trouble he already had four at the break. Batu Polad (TUR, 14) added 13 (six 2s, 1 FT), while Arthur Beltechi matched his season-high with 12 (six 2s), and Jules André added 12 (six 2s). Axel Hosten chipped in 5, including three free throws.
Kordall's trio was prolific: Schmitz poured in 25 (12 made twos, 1 FT; Season PPG: 13.91), Mickael Pereira Briga had 22 (nine 2s, 4 FTs; Season PPG: 14.73), and Adam added 19 (Season PPG: 23.50), including that key fourth-quarter burst. Heusbourg scored 5 with a timely third-quarter three and the go-ahead basket early in the fourth.
Telstar's largest lead was five (58-53, 68-63); Kordall's peak was three (50-53). Coach Uchenna Agada's timeout at 62-61 steadied the hosts before their 6-0 response. In the standings, Telstar jumps to 3rd (+3), Kordall slips to 4th (-1). The result snaps KDS's three-game winning run and gives Telstar a much-needed boost after a long sequence of losses.
(AI generated)