Another major surprise this week in the easyCredit BBL as RASTA Vechta upset FC Bayern Munich … again, after beating the champs in December. Round 20 also saw Basketball Löwen Braunschweig add another win to their current roll while SKYLINERS grabbed a massively important win over BG Göttingen in the relegation battle.
In this section, we break out our English language skills and inform you about the latest news from the German easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. If you’re short on time but still want your fill of Germany’s top basketball league then you are in the right place. Every week David Hein (takingthecharge.substack.com) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
Vechta shock Bayern - again
RASTA Vechta shocked FC Bayern Munich for the second time this season with a 79-65 victory for their fifth straight home win. Vechta, who beat Bayern 78-77 at the buzzer in Round 10 in early December in Munich, led most of the first half but were down by one point early in the second half. Vechta blew the game open with a 15-2 run to close the third quarter and moved to 11-7 while Bayern dropped to 12-5 to snap a three-game win streak. Vechta committed only 9 turnovers and held Bayern to just 35 percent shooting, including 24 percent from long range. Jayden Gardner paced the winners with 19 points and 8 rebounds, Joschka Ferner scored 12 points and Brandon Randolph added 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Carsen Edwards was Bayern’s top scorer with 17 points, Niels Giffey had 12 points and Andreas Obst scored 11 points.
Braunschweig keep rolling, cruise past Chemnitz for 11th win in last 13 games
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig remain the hottest team in the league as they pulled away from NINERS Chemnitz 95-83 on the road. The game was close for the first 23 minutes until the guests went on a 15-2 run to decide the contest. Braunschweig have won 11 of their last 13 games for a 13-6 record while Chemnitz dropped their third in the last four games for a 10-8 mark. Braunschweig shot 63 percent on two-pointers and scored 20 fast break points. Arnas Velicka came off the bench for 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, Barra Njie had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists and TJ Crockett added 15 points. Braunschweig’s starting five combined for only 36 points. Victor Bailey was Chemnitz’s leading scorer with 28 points and Will Christmas had 17 points in the loss.
Chemnitz add dynamic Gilyard to playmaking
NINERS Chemnitz added some help at the playmaker spot with the signing of Jacob Gilyard. The 26-year-old American, who has played 42 NBA games, stands just 1.75 meter making him the shortest player currently in the league and the shortest player in NINERS’ history. Chemnitz brought in Gilyard after originally having signed Khyri Thomas, who returned to the United States for personal reasons. Chemnitz will likely add another player to help make up for the injury loss of Aher Uguak.
Rostock rally from 22 points down, keep Würzburg reeling
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES rallied from 22 points down to defeat FIT/One Würzburg Baskets 97-93 on the road and keep up their momentum while sending the hosts to their fifth straight loss. Würzburg built a 59-40 lead at halftime and the cushion was 64-42 early in the second half. But then Rostock took control and held Würzburg to just one point in the final 2 minutes and Bryce Hamilton and D’Shawn Schwartz hit big three-pointers down the stretch for the win. Rostock have now won three straight and six of the last seven games for a 10-8 record and Würzburg dropped to 9-9. Rostock shot 59 percent from the floor including 70 percent on two-pointers. Hamilton paced five Rostock players in double figures with 28 points, Malik Osbourne scored 17 points and JeQuan Lewis had 15 points and 9 assists. Würzburg’s 18-year-old talent Hannes Steinbach continues to shine with 19 points and 5 rebounds off the bench and Jhivvan Jackson added 17 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.
Frankfurt survive for second win over Göttingen in relegation battle
SKYLINERS took a major step towards staving off relegation as they defeated BG Göttingen 95-94 at home for their second win over the last-placed team. Frankfurt opened a 10-point lead and pushed the advantage to 13 points in the second quarter and it was still 84-74 with 3 minutes to go. Göttingen made things interesting in the final minute, trailing by 2 points until Jordan Theodore made all four free throws in the final 43 seconds. Frankfurt have won back-to-back games after four straight losses for a 5-12 record while Göttingen dropped to 1-16 with a nine-game losing streak. Frankfurt shot 53 percent from the field including 50 percent from long range to survive Göttingen grabbing 19 offensive rebounds for 21 second chance points. Malik Parsons flirted with a triple-double as he had 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, Trey Calvin scored 19 points and Jordan Theodore tallied 16 points and 10 assists. Kostja Mushidi poured in 29 points, Tra Holder had 24 points and Demajeo Wiggins added 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Frankfurt strengthen backcourt with Marcus Domask
SKYLINERS made their third addition of the season as they strengthened their backcourt with the signing of Marcus Domask. The 24-year-old American, who can play shooting guard and small forward, penned a deal until the end of the season with an option for next season. Domask will help fill in for Frankurt’s personnel problems including Trey Calvin’s injury as well as the uncertainty about Booker Coplin with a positive doping test.
Heidelberg down Ludwigsburg to snap three-game losing skid
MLP Academics Heidelberg snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 86-73 at home. Heidelberg took the second quarter 27-15 and led by 12 points. Ludwigsburg trimmed the gap to two points late in the third quarter but could not get back ahead in the final frame. Heidelberg improved to 10-7 and Ludwigsburg are now 10-9 after four losses in the last six games. Heidelberg limited the guests to just 38 percent shooting and converted 29 of 36 free throws to just 15 of 21 for Heidelberg. Ryan Mikesell paced the winners with 19 points, Michael Weathers had 18 points and Bakary Dibba chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds. Ezra Manjon scored 17 points and Jacob Patrick and Yorman Polas Bartolo both had 13 points.
Bamberg win back-to-back games, Oldenburg lose again on road
Bamberg Baskets collected a dominant 103-85 home victory over EWE Baskets Oldenburg to keep the guests reeling on the road. Bamberg pulled away with a 21-4 run in the second quarter for their second straight win after four consecutive losses for an 8-10 record. Oldenburg fell to 9-10 including a 1-9 mark on the road. Bamberg shot 57 percent on three-pointers compared to just 26 percent for Oldenburg. Kyle Lofton came off the bench for Bamberg with 17 points while Noah Locke and Ibrahim Watson both scored 16 points and Filip Stanic tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds. Artur Kononxtsuk had 16 points, Justin Jaworski scored 13 points and Aleksandar Zecevic, Geno Crandall and Alen Pjanic all chipped in 11 points in the loss.
Berlin stop two-game skid, beat Hamburg at home
ALBA BERLIN returned to the win column as they defeated Veolia Towers Hamburg 92-77 at home. Berlin took the first quarter 31-18 and never looked back to snap a two-game losing skid for an 8-10 record. Hamburg are also 8-10 after having won four of the last five games. Berlin took the rebounds battle 44-26 with a 12-5 advantage on offensive rebounds while shooting 65 percent on two-pointers. Matt Thomas came back for his first game since January 18 for 22 points, David McCormack scored 16 points and Will McDowell-White chipped in 12 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Johnathan Stove scored 13 points and Brae Ivey picked up 12 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in the loss.
Ulm don't allow a three-pointer in second half in blowout of Wolves
ratiopharm ulm kept up the pressure on the leaders in the league as they blew out SYNTAINICS MBC 92-66 at home. In front of more than 20 NBA scouts, Ulm raced ahead by 14 points in the first quarter but then fell behind briefly in the second quarter. The hosts took over the lead for good with a 29-11 third quarter for a 12-6 record with their fifth win in the last seven games and the Wolves fell to 9-10 after two straight losses. Ulm kept the guests to just 13 percent on three-pointers, including 0 of 12 from long range in the second half. Alfonso Plummer led the way with 18 points, Ben Saraf had 17 points and 7 assists and Justinian Jessup picked up 13 points. Spencer Reaves was the only player from the guests in double figures with 12 points.
Player of the Week
The top performance for Round 20 came from Bryce Hamilton of ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES for his 31 efficiency against FIT/One Würzburg Baskets. The Player of the Week scored 28 points on 9 of 13 shots - including 6 of 8 on three-pointers - and 4 of 5 free throws to go with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 turnovers.
German Top Five of the Week
F: Kostja Mushidi, BG Göttingen
Mushidi poured in 29 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in a tight loss to SKYLINERS.
F: Joschka Ferner, RASTA Vechta
Ferner hit 4 three-points for 12 points and added 3 rebounds in a big win over FC Bayern Munich.
F: Hannes Steinbach, FIT/One Würzburg Baskets
Steinbach had yet another big game with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists and 1 block in a loss to ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES.
F: Lorenz Brenneke, SKYLINERS
Brenneke totaled 12 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block against BG Göttingen.
C: Filip Stanic, Bamberg Baskets
Stanic tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in a win over EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
Young Guns
Jacob Patrick, 21, SG, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
Patrick scored 13 points - one off his season high - on 3 of 7 shots (2/5 threes) and 5 of 5 free throws to go with 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal against MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Adrian Petkovic, 20, PG, Bamberg Baskets
Petkovic is back on this list after he played 17:22 minutes against EWE Baskets Oldenburg and had 7 points on 1 of 2 threes and 4 of 4 free throws, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Martin Kalu, 20, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Kalu set career highs with 16:32 minutes and 9 points on 4 of 6 shots (1/3 three-pointers) and 3 rebounds against NINERS Chemnitz.
Germans Abroad
The NBA trade deadline was out of this world for Dennis Schröder as the German national team captain was on four different teams in a span of 24 hours. He went from Golden State to Miami as part of the Jimmy Butler trade. The German veteran then was sent to the Utah Jazz and finally he finished the 24 hour stretch as a member of the Detroit Pistons in another trade.
