Men A · Match report
Sparta fight all the way back but fall to Bonn (80-86)
Down by 19, Sparta clawed all the way back to 80-80 against Bonn on Sunday before the German visitors closed it out 86-80. AJ John led all Sparta scorers with 29.
Two days after the narrow loss to Ettelbruck, Sparta welcomed German side Bonn to the Centre Sportif Atert on Sunday - and produced a game that looked lost for long stretches but still came down to the final possessions.
Bonn started far the better side. The first quarter went 19-26, and the visitors kept pressing in the second: 35-52 at the break, with the deficit reaching as much as 19 points (36-55).
A completely different Sparta came out after halftime. The third quarter went 26-15 to the hosts and the gap shrank possession by possession. In the fourth, they finally drew level: a Max Logelin three put Sparta ahead for the first time all game at 78-76, and Jarvis Williams tied it at 80-80.
That was where the scoring stopped. Sparta didn't add a point over the last four minutes, while Bonn closed the game out from the free-throw line, with Willoughby and Paulo converting every trip. Final score: 80-86.
Top scorers for Sparta: AJ John with 29 points (including three from beyond the arc), Jarvis Williams with 18, Max Logelin with 15 and Yannick Verbeelen with 13. For Bonn, Willoughby led the way with 24, followed by Von Saldern (16) and Paulo (12).
Two defeats in two days, but both in tight games against strong opposition - solid preparation for the new season.