Opening win: Sparta beat AS Soleuvre 86-72

Sparta opened the new championship with an 86-72 win over AS Soleuvre at the Centre Sportif Atert. Going into the game as clear favourites, Sparta ultimately fulfilled that role, although the performance over the full 40 minutes still left room for improvement.

The foundations for the win were laid in the opening quarter. Sparta came out aggressively and took the first ten minutes 27-15. Soleuvre responded in the second quarter (18-23), cutting the gap to 45-38 at halftime.

After the break, Sparta took firmer control again. A 23-14 third quarter stretched the lead to 68-52. Soleuvre edged the final period 20-18, but the result was no longer seriously in doubt. Final score: 86-72.

AJ John led Sparta with 26 points. Max Logelin added 17 and Yannick Verbeelen scored 10. Sparta also hit ten three-pointers as a team compared with six for Soleuvre. For the visitors, Gerald Drumgoole scored 26, Gilles Weis 14 and Christian Parker 12.

In the end, it was a deserved opening win. Against an opponent Sparta entered the game expected to beat, securing the result was the main objective. The next step will be to produce the same level of control more consistently over the full game. Next up: away to Amicale Steesel on Saturday, 26 September.