AS Soleuvre B edged Sparta Bertrange C 74-70 in a close Phase finale game and finally got the better of Sparta after two earlier losses against the same opponent this season.
The game started with a strong Soleuvre burst. Coach Luc Loesch's team won the first quarter 25-12 and built the game's highest lead at 13 points. Samuel Carvalho Ribeiro (Season PPG: 6.59) set the tone early, while Tim Heiderscheid (Season PPG: 3.71) and Leo Loesch (Season PPG: 5.69) added quick scoring.
Sparta reacted well in the second period. Leopold Aina (Season PPG: 10.11) went on a roll with repeated inside finishes, and 14-year-old Spaniard Ramoni Albiol Sanchez (Season PPG: 15.50) kept the pressure on. Soleuvre still led 44-37 at halftime, but the balance had changed.
The third quarter was Sparta's best stretch. After Soleuvre moved to 46-37, Sparta answered with a 12-0 run to take a 49-46 lead. Aina and Albiol Sanchez carried that sequence, and the visitors kept pushing until the score was tied 55-55 going into the last quarter.
The decisive moments came in the fourth. Sparta briefly led 57-55, but Soleuvre replied with an 8-1 run for 63-58, then later another 6-0 push from 63-62 to 69-62. Heiderscheid was decisive there, first with a three for 60-58 and then with the final three-pointer for 74-70 after Sparta had closed to 71-70. Sriram Satagopam, 15-year-old German player for SOLB (Season PPG: 5.44), gave important support with 17 points.
Top scorers were Albiol Sanchez with 25 and Aina with 24 for Sparta, while Carvalho Ribeiro had 20, Heiderscheid 17 and Satagopam 17 for Soleuvre. In the new table, Sparta are 3rd after gaining one place, while Soleuvre stay 5th.
(AI generated)