Amicale Steesel edged Basket Esch 38-36 in Steinsel to reach the Coupe Cadettes final after a tight, defensive semifinal settled in the closing minute.
Esch started sharper and led 8-12 after the first quarter, fuelled by an early triple from Laure Valentin and 5 points from captain Emma Wallenborn (16, 1.68m). A 7-0 Esch burst in the second stretched the gap to 13-21, their biggest lead, before Nina Bintz (AMI) stopped the slide with a three. Esch's momentum was briefly checked by an unsportsmanlike foul on Wallenborn late in the half, and it was 17-21 at the break.
The game turned after halftime. Lily Wittwer (17, 1.80m) took over the third quarter with 9 points, including a late three, and Kathryn Jo Missavage (18, 1.80m) added two free throws to complete a 5-0 close to the period and put Amicale ahead 30-29.
The fourth was a sequence of lead changes. Treyscha Boayue (Season PPG: 10.40) opened with a basket for 32-29, but Esch answered through Wallenborn, Alma Maria Eudier and Anaïs Gocel to move in front 34-35, then 34-36 after a Wallenborn free throw. With the game on the line, Wittwer tied it at 36-36 and Missavage hit the decisive two for 38-36. Both benches, Paul Missavage for Amicale and Karim Elbaoune for Esch, burned time-outs in the final minute, but the score held.
Top performers
- Amicale: Wittwer 16 points despite foul trouble, Boayue 8, Missavage 7 including the game-winner; Bintz added a key three and Zoë Quinn scored early.
- Esch: Wallenborn 12 (including a three and late free throws), Valentin 9, Estelle Birnbaum (Season PPG: 12.20) hit a second-quarter triple; Gocel, Petra Oroz (18, HRV) and Eudier chipped in timely twos.
Amicale Steesel advance to the Coupe Cadettes final after closing the game on a 4-0 run.
(AI generated)
Amicale Steesel