As clear as the first semi-final was on Saturday, the second duel in the Coque between Sparta and Esch was even closer on Sunday. In an offensively strong first quarter, both teams had absolutely no problems at the start. After ten minutes, Esch had a remarkable hit rate of 62, Bartringen 52 percent. However, the team from the Minette metropolis gained the first major advantage, turning the ball around excellently. Shortly before the first quarter break, Esch also led by five points (24:29). Coach Vincent Gevrey’s team repeatedly impressed with precise passes that the trio Liktharovich, Jaksic and Nibbelink sank.
Bartringen, for its part, swapped a professional player during the winter break – Quezada for Davenport. For the Sparta ladies it was the first official game that they played with their new addition. Not everyone had really gotten used to the rhythm of their new teammate. In addition to King, however, it was Jenna Wolf who showed an irresistible knack from distance and almost every attempt ended up in the basket.
Sparta is coming back
So Sparta held on, even though Esch pulled away for the first time with seven points in the third quarter after an unsportsmanlike foul on Katia Jemming (49:56, 24′). But the duo King and Wolf were there every time the game threatened to tip over to Escher’s side. With her fifth three-point basket, Wolf cut the score to two units (58:60) just before the last quarter break. While Esch was now having more and more difficulty against his opponent’s zone, losing the ball unnecessarily and barely scoring, Cathrin Wolff equalized (60:60) and Quezada even put her team in the lead eight minutes before the end (62:60).
The young Escher team became visibly more nervous, which Bartringen took advantage of through Wolf and Mersch (66:61, 35′). Shortly afterwards, Jaksic kept her team’s hopes alive with a three-pointer (66:64). The decision should then only be made in the final phase. Wolff conceded her fifth penalty two minutes before the end, Jaksic then equalized from the free throw line (68:68) and gave Esch the lead with a counterattack (68:70, 1:25 left). King also equalized (70:70), but did not convert her free throw. The Escher women botched their attack 42 seconds before the end, while Quezada prevailed under the boards (72:70). A basket with a foul, and other than King, the Bartringen newcomer confidently converted the free throw (73:70, 21 seconds left). Esch had another opportunity, but Torresani grabbed the important defensive rebound, and the game’s MVP, Jenna Wolf, secured Sparta’s place in the final at the free throw line.
After last year’s defeat in the final, Sparta will have another chance to win the cup on February 7th. The opponent is T71 Dudelange, who are still unbeaten this season.
