AB Contern opened the W-U19 Division 1 Phase finale with a 71-63 home win over Basket Esch at Contern/Central, climbing to the top of the group (1-0) while Esch starts 0-1. It is Contern's third head-to-head victory over Esch this season (76-52, 62-52, 71-63).
The game swung dramatically. Esch burst out 6-0 and closed the first quarter 21-8, their largest lead at +13, powered by early baskets from Marcia Cristina Rocha Fernandes, Petra Oroz and Laure Valentin, with Ilaria Tuzze adding free throws and a mid-range make. Contern steadied in the second period behind long-range makes from Julie Braun Silva and Joyce Alliaume, plus two quick scores by Lisa Zoller, trimming the gap to 26-36 at halftime.
Coach Fabienne Fuger's side flipped the game with a 25-11 third quarter. From 28-38 down, Contern authored an 18-4 surge to 46-42, driven by Zoé Moes and Braun Silva. Moes strung together mini-runs on her own four straight points to pull within 34-40 and later five in a row to turn 40-42 into a 43-42 lead. Contern entered the fourth up 51-47. Early in Q4 Zoller hit from deep for 54-47, Ajla Adrovic answered from distance for Esch, but a 7-0 Contern burst (Joyce Alliaume 2, Lou Alliaume 3, Moes 2 plus two free throws soon after) stretched it to 65-52, matching the game's largest margin (+13) before Esch closed late.
Top performers
- Contern: Julie Braun Silva 19, Zoé Moes 17, Joyce Alliaume 12, Lou Alliaume 10, Lisa Zoller 7.
- Esch: Ajla Adrovic (15) 14, Estelle Birnbaum (14) 12, Ilaria Tuzze 7, Laure Valentin 7, Petra Oroz (18, HRV) 6, Rocha Fernandes (PRT) 6, Emma Wallenborn (1.68m) 6.
Valentin and Zoller navigated foul trouble (4 each) without fouling out. Contern halts a two-game slide; Esch drops a second straight. Coach Karim Elbaoune's team set the early tone, but Contern's third-quarter run defined the outcome.
(AI generated)