Racing Luxembourg edged Kordall Steelers 53-51 in a tight W-U16 Division 3 game and took the win in the closing minutes. The result lifts RAC to 4th place (+1) at 1-1, while KDS drop to 5th (-1) and are now on a three-game losing streak.
Game evolution mattered throughout. KDS started 2-0, then RAC answered to go 8-2, but the home side closed the first quarter with a 9-1 run for 11-9. In the second period, Racing produced a 9-2 stretch to move in front 18-13, their first real control of the evening. KDS answered through Lea Njia Nouemsi (13, KDS), who scored five straight points to pull her team back to 18-18, and the teams reached halftime level at 24-24.
Racing, coached by Wojciech Daniel Kubis, opened the third quarter with a 6-0 burst for 30-24, matching their highest lead of the game at six points. Kordall, under Gianluca Pellegrino Ombroni, stayed in it behind Ema Babacic (14, KDS) and Nouemsi, and tied it again at 40-40 entering the last quarter.
KDS then looked close to taking it after moving ahead 46-42 and later 50-47. The decisive moment came with Racing's 6-1 finish: Liv Elizabeth Engman (15, RAC) scored to cut the gap, Bella Madeleine Kraama (15, RAC) tied it at 51-51 and then hit the winning basket for the final 53-51.
Babacic led all scorers with 21 for KDS, with Nouemsi adding 20; together they supplied 41 of the team's 51 points. For RAC, Julie Obertin (14, RAC) had 15, Annabel Maria Mason Mateos (15, RAC) added 12, and the away side benefited from more balanced support. Obertin remained decisive despite reaching four fouls in the third quarter, while Diana Lopes Campelo (13, KDS) picked up four fouls between the second and third periods.
(AI generated)