Basket Esch C controlled BBC Dikrich 81-59 in Diekirch, building a lead early and never relinquishing it. The first quarter was balanced to 6-6 before Esch found rhythm inside through Alim Durovic and Berin Hajdarpasic to close 11-18. Dikrich reacted strongly to start the second: Mathis Kesseler (Season PPG: 16.5) scored three baskets in a row for a 6-0 run to 17-18. Coach Hamid Ait-Mesbah's team answered immediately; Hajdarpasic strung together multiple 2-point field goals and, with Durovic, pushed the gap to 27-40 at halftime. A Dikrich timeout at 23-30 did little to slow Esch's momentum.
The third quarter featured the decisive stretch: from 39-52, Esch reeled off eight unanswered points to 39-60, with Hajdarpasic and Durovic alternating at the rim. The visitors' largest lead reached +24 at 53-77 in the fourth, shortly after a timeout by Esch at 46-64. Neither side made a three-pointer; nearly all production came from 2-point range, with Dikrich adding five free throws and Esch one.
Top performers
- Basket Esch C: Berin Hajdarpasic (32 pts; Season PPG: 11.73) dominated inside and scored in back-to-back sequences across Q2 and Q3; Alim Durovic (22 pts; Season PPG: 16.38) was a constant outlet; Gabriel Stefan Kühne (12 pts; Season PPG: 8.73) added steady support. Elias Stanislaw Muszalski (LALC) chipped in 6.
- BBC Dikrich: the 13-year-old Kesseler powered the hosts with 26; Michele LAFORGIA (12, ITA; 22 pts; Season PPG: 20.67) provided consistent finishing; Louis Dichter (5 pts; Season PPG: 10.38) added early free throws and drives.
Esch end a four-game losing streak and move to 5th (+1) at 1-4, while Dikrich slide to 6th (-1), also at 1-4. Coach Rui Brito Roberto's side had their best spell early in Q2, but Esch's repeated interior scoring runs set the tone for the remainder.
(AI generated)