Amicale Steesel controlled Etzella Ettelbruck 79-50 in Steinsel in the M-U14 Division 3 Phase finale, turning a balanced first half into a one-sided second under coach Danièle Stoffel-Adam.
Game evolution
- Etzella opened 0-4 and 2-6 behind Mustafa Yakta Inal, but Amicale replied with a 6-0 burst on back-to-back threes from Maxime Kapgen and captain Harons Rafaels Faduls to take their first lead (10-9). First quarter closed 18-14.
- At halftime Amicale was up 33-25 after steady scoring from Aiden Riley Smith and Levi Lepage Post, while Lenny Weber kept Etzella close despite picking up two quick personals in the first quarter.
- The decisive stretch came in the third: Amicale won the period 27-12. Kapgen and Faduls ignited the run, Charel Patz strung together five straight Amicale points (a three then a two), and Phil Linckels added two late threes. Amicale closed the quarter on a 10-1 surge for 60-37.
- In the fourth, Weber briefly sparked Etzella with two consecutive triples, but Amicale's depth (Erik Hruban and Smith) and control of the tempo kept the margin safe.
Top performers
- Amicale: Smith (18 pts, Season PPG: 11.55) led the way, with Kapgen (15, Season PPG: 12.91) and Faduls (14, Season PPG: 8.92) key in the pivotal third. Patz added 11 (Season PPG: 9.17). Among the internationals, Smith (13, CAN) and Hruban (6 pts; Season PPG: 3.00, 13, CZE) complemented a strong local core (Kapgen, Faduls, Lepage Post, Linckels).
- Etzella: Weber (18, Season PPG: 14.17) and Inal (18, Season PPG: 14.70; 13, TUR) carried the scoring, with Lenn Dos Santos adding 9.
Notes and context
- Etzella's Weber committed two fouls in a row early but still produced a scoring flurry in the fourth with back-to-back threes.
- Amicale closed the third quarter on a 10-1 run and reached their largest lead at the final buzzer (+29).
- This result flips the season's previous meeting, when Etzella had won 74-62.
- In the Phase finale table, Amicale climbs to 3rd (+2), while Etzella sits 6th. Coach Dragana Zoric's side showed bursts but could not match Amicale's third-quarter spurt.
(AI generated)