Kordall Steelers overpowered Bascharage Hedgehogs 78-53 in the M-U14 Division 4 Phase finale, completing a head-to-head sweep after their 56-54 win earlier in the season. Coach Arnaud Stéphane Sirjean's side controlled the game evolution: after an early 4-4 tie, Kordall built a 12-20 first-quarter lead, with Liam Alexander Jovanovic hitting an important triple. Bascharage briefly rallied in the second behind three inside baskets from Gregor Tomac to reach 20-26, but Kordall answered with an 8-2 burst and went to halftime up 24-36.
The decisive stretch came right after the break. The Steelers opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run, fueled by Jovanovic and captain Jayson Otiu, and never looked back. Auric Kirsch steadied Bascharage with four points in a row (two free throws and a layup), yet Kordall still led 42-59 after three. An unsportsmanlike foul on Antonio Cavuoto came late in the period but did not shift momentum. In the fourth, Jovanovic scored five straight (a layup and a three) to push the gap to +22; Adham Asfarelouldidi (12, France) added a triple as the visitors stretched their highest lead to +25 at the buzzer.
Kordall's balance was clear: Jovanovic poured in 28 (Season PPG: 18.40) on 9 two-pointers, 3 threes and a free throw, Otiu added 14 (Season PPG: 13.75), and Asfarelouldidi had 13 (Season PPG: 11.58). Matteo Cavuoto (KDS) chipped in 9. For Bascharage, Kirsch led with 17 (Season PPG: 17.56), Tomac scored 10, while Karlo Saric (Season PPG: 11.18) had 8 and Léi Bernard (Season PPG: 5.20) added 6.
Shot profile told the story: Kordall made 31 two-pointers and 4 threes, while Bascharage hit 22 two-pointers and no threes; free throws went 4 made for Kordall, 9 for Bascharage. The Steelers move to 3-0 and second place in the Phase finale, extending their winning streak to three. Bascharage falls to 0-3. Coach Nicolas Schaefer's group fought to the end but could not close the gap after the third-quarter surge.
(AI generated)