BC Mess edged T71 Dudelange 60-55 in a tight M-U14 Division 1 Phase 2 contest decided by second-half control and interior scoring. Mess led 18-17 after the first quarter, but T71's steadier second period put the visitors up 28-26 at halftime. Coach Fernand Musquar's team flipped the game with a 20-11 third quarter, opening the half on an 11-3 surge built on paint touches and transition, and carrying a 46-39 advantage into the last period their largest lead.
The matchup of styles was clear: Mess scored all their field goals inside the arc (27 two-pointers) plus 6 free throws, while T71 stayed close with 17 two-pointers, 5 threes and 6 free throws. That 10-basket advantage at two points was only partly offset by the visitors' five triples.
Fabio Freymann (Season PPG: 18.5) paced Mess with 16 points and seven after the break, including the final basket for 60-55. Louis Clemes (Season PPG: 9.6) added 12, and captain Noa Priso Dikoumé (13, FRA; Season PPG: 14.6) contributed 11, repeatedly answering T71's pushes. Nils Muller (Season PPG: 18.1) hit two key free throws for 54-49, and Eli Nosbusch (Season PPG: 5.9) chipped in 8.
For T71, Ivan Barbic (13, HRV; Season PPG: 10.4) scored 15 and Noah Baseggio (Season PPG: 14.11) struck twice from deep in the fourth to trim the gap to one possession at 58-55. Ben Stork added 10. Starter Ben Kloos (Season PPG: 12.4) fouled out late, a blow to T71's closing offense; multiple teammates also reached four fouls, limiting aggression in the final minutes. Coach Alain Schaeffer's group kept firing from outside, but Mess found enough answers at the rim.
With the win, BC Mess move up to 2nd place (+1) at 4-1, while T71 remain 4th at 2-3.
(AI generated)