US Heffingen moved up one place to 3rd in M-U14 Division 4: Phase finale with a 73-55 home win over leaders Kordall Steelers, avenging the earlier 67-60 defeat in the first meeting. KDS stayed 1st at 5-1, but their five-game winning run ended, while Heffingen now has three straight wins.
The game turned quickly after KDS had a short 4-2 lead. Coach Andrej Gruskovnjak's team closed the first quarter in control at 23-14, with Mett Dostert and Mex Steinmetz setting the tone. Early in the second period, Heffingen produced an 11-0 surge from 23-14 to 34-14, with Léini Dostert scoring six points in a row inside that stretch. At halftime, the gap was already 44-23.
The third quarter kept the same rhythm. Heffingen answered nearly every Kordall basket and stretched the margin to its highest point at 61-35. A late scoring correction removed two Heffingen points, but the home side still entered the last quarter fully in command. KDS won the fourth 20-12, yet the comeback never became a real threat.
Steinmetz (Season PPG: 23.29) led Heffingen with 20 points despite four fouls. Captain Mett Dostert (Season PPG: 15.93) added 19, including three 3-pointers, and Léini Dostert (Season PPG: 9.00) scored 15. Tim Kass (Season PPG: 6.69) contributed 10, and Simon Hari, 14, from Germany, added 7.
For Kordall, captain Jayson Otiu (Season PPG: 14.20) finished with 23 points, while Liam Jovanovic (Season PPG: 17.92) and Adham Asfarelouldidi, 12, from France (Season PPG: 12.67), each scored 14. Those three provided 51 of KDS's 55 points. Asfarelouldidi fouled out late, which hurt the visitors' push in the final quarter.
(AI generated)