Basket Esch took a notable 64-51 road win at T71 Dudelange in the return game of the W-U19 Division 1 final phase. It was a sharp turn in this season series, after T71 had won the first three meetings, and it also ended Mike Baseggio's team's 18-game winning run. Basket Esch, coached by Karim Elbaoune, stopped a two-game skid and moved up one place to 5th; T71 remain 1st at 8-1.
The game changed completely by phases. T71 were down 10-14 after one quarter, then looked in control with a 28-19 second period. An 8-0 push helped them create separation, and the hosts reached their highest lead at 38-28 before halftime, going into the break ahead 38-33.
Then came the decisive swing. T71 scored only 3 points in the third quarter, all by captain Alana Krings (Season PPG: 10.75), an 18-year-old 1.65m guard. Basket Esch answered with a 14-3 quarter and, around the break between the third and fourth, produced a 14-0 run from 38-41 to 52-41. From there, the visitors controlled the last period and led by as many as 18 points at 64-46.
Krings finished with 17 points for T71, while Mina Baseggio (Season PPG: 11.89) added 13 and Marie Beffort Neuman (Season PPG: 3.67) had 10. Elsa Guedes (Season PPG: 5.08) scored 7 but foul trouble mattered, and T71's rhythm fell away after halftime.
For Basket Esch, Laure Valentin (Season PPG: 7.50) led with 16 points despite fouling out. Ilaria Tuzze (Season PPG: 4.58) added 12, 16-year-old Emma Wallenborn (Season PPG: 9.94) scored 11, and Estelle Birnbaum (Season PPG: 9.06) brought 7 important points. Lys Valentin also hit a timely fourth-quarter three as Basket Esch's momentum kept growing.
(AI generated)