Sparta Bertrange won 35-24 away at BC Mess in a game that stayed tight for three quarters before the visitors separated late. In the updated Phase 1 table, Sparta moved up three places to 2nd, while BC Mess is 5th.
BC Mess started better and led 6-3 after the first quarter. Kaly Bara (MES) gave the home side early rhythm with 4 quick points, and Laura Meysembourg (MES) closed the period with a basket. Mess also reached the game's first clear margin at 14-9 in the second quarter, with Bara again carrying the scoring.
The key shift came before halftime. Sparta answered that 5-point deficit with an 8-2 finish to move in front 17-16. Marie-Fleur Flechtner (SPA) and Andriana Lalioti (SPA) were central in that stretch, combining for the last 8 Sparta points of the half.
The third quarter remained competitive. Nina Fiorenza (SPA) scored 4 points in a row to push Sparta ahead 21-16, but Mess stayed close through Flàvia Rodrigues Borracci (MES), Yuki Bara (MES) and Chloé Berg (MES). At 23-27 going into the last period, the game was still open.
Sparta then controlled the fourth quarter 8-1. After Mess reduced it to 24-29 on a Meysembourg free throw, Sparta closed on a 6-0 run through Eshetha Thokala (SPA), Maya Gaudnek (SPA) and Lena Hoffmann (SPA). That gave Sparta its highest lead at the finish.
For Mess, Bara (MES) led all home scorers with 10 points, ahead of Meysembourg (MES) with 5 and Rodrigues Borracci (MES) with 4. For Sparta, Flechtner (SPA) scored 7, while Thokala (SPA) and Camille Blau (SPA) added 6 each. Sparta's balance showed in six players scoring at least 2 points, and the visitors also had a clear edge at the line, 8 made free throws against 2 for Mess. Laurent Cames' side also reacted well after its previous loss, collecting its first win of the season.
(AI generated)
BC Mess