What a week of thrillers in the easyCredit BBL. Ty Brewer threw down a dunk at the buzzer to give SYNTAINICS MBC a win over BG Göttingen and their new coach Mikko Riipinen. ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES rallied for two incredible comebacks before getting a double overtime victory over EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Oh, and Basketball Löwen Braunschweig remained the hottest team in the league and are second after beating ratiopharm ulm.
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 (www.heinnews.com) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
Brewer dunk at buzzer gives Wolves win over Göttingen, new coach Riipinen
SYNTAINICS MBC snapped a three-game losing streak by beating BG Göttingen and newly appointed head coach Mikko Riipinen in a thriller 93-91 thanks to a Ty Brewer dunk in the final second. The hosts looked like it took control of the game with a 29-16 third quarter and led by as many as 12 points in the final frame. Göttingen fought back into the game with an 18-6 run to tie the game 88-88. Charles Callison’s triple for the home side was equalized by three free throws by Tra Holder with 5.7 seconds to play. Ty Brewer ended up winning the game with a dunk with 0.4 seconds left after Callison stole the in-bounds pass with 3.8 seconds to go. The hosts improved to 8-8 while Göttingen lost their sixth straight for a 1-13 mark. Wolves shot 55 percent for the game compared to 49 percent for Göttingen. Callison finished with 22 points, Tyren Johnson had 16 points and Martin Breunig added 14 points and 4 rebounds in the win. Holder paced Göttingen with 22 points and 5 assists, Jimmy Boeheim had 16 points and Demajeo Wiggins tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Göttingen fire Foucart, bring in head coach Riipinen
BG Göttingen could not wait any longer and reacted to their horrible start to the season by firing head coach Olivier Foucart and replacing him with Mikko Riipinen. Göttingen managed only one victory in 13 games with Foucart at the helm this season for last place in the league. The Belgian coach has been with the team since 2021 and served two years as assistant to Roel Moors. Foucart took over as head coach when Moors left to coach Telekom Baskets Bonn in the summer of 2023. Riipinen, who was born in Norway to Finnish parents but started living in Sweden at age 2, coached Norrkoping Dolphins to the last four Swedish champions and the league-cup double the past two seasons. He also coaches the Swedish national team. Göttingen are in danger of being relegated to the ProA for the second time following 2012.
Göttingen add guard reinforcements with signing of Shaver
BG Göttingen added more help in their fight to stave off relegation by signing guard Marcus Shaver until the end of the season. The 26-year-old comes to Göttingen from Turkish second division side Kapakli Spor.
Braunschweig keep rolling, down Ulm to jump to second place
The hottest team in the easyCredit BBL is Basketball Löwen Braunschweig after they took down ratiopharm ulm 98-89 at home in the top matchup of the week to send the hosts into second place. Braunschweig led nearly the entire game and were up by as many as 13 points. Ulm temporarily cut the deficit to two points early in the fourth quarter but never threatened the rest of the way. Braunschweig have won their last two games and eight of the last nine for a 10-5 mark. Ulm are also 10-5 after seeing their three-game winning streak snapped. Braunschweig shot 67 percent on two points while Ulm slumped to 20 percent from long range. Braunschweig were paced by Ferdinand Zylka with 19 points off the bench while TJ Crockett had 17 points, Luka Scuka collected 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Barra Njie tallied 13 points and 8 assists. Justinian Jessup had 21 points as Ulm’s leading scorer while Alfonso Plummer and Nelson Weidemann both scored 12 points.
Rostock rallies twice late in double overtime thriller over Oldenburg
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES won an absolute thriller of a game as they rallied for two unlikely comebacks and ended up beating EWE Baskets Oldenburg 122-118 at home in double overtime. The 240 points is the most points scored in a game this season and ranks 10th all-time in league history. Rostock led by eight points in the second quarter but then fell behind by 12 points in the fourth quarter with 9 minutes to go. The Oldenburg lead was still 6 with under a minute left but Robin Amaize scored two quick baskets and after a second Rostock steal, Bryce Hamilton’s jumper with 14 seconds remaining tied it at 88-88 to send the game to overtime. Oldenburg again led by 6 points, this time with only 37 seconds to go. But Malik Osbourne and JeQuan Lewis knocked down triples to tie it 102-102 and force a second extra session. Rostock converted on 9 of 10 possessions in the second overtime including all four free throws in the final 8 seconds to get the win. Rostock have won four of five games and three straight at home for an 8-8 record while Oldenburg fell to 7-9 - still winless on the road at 0-8. Rostock committed only 14 turnovers in 50 minutes of play and shot 68 percent on two-pointers. Amaize finished with 24 points off the bench, Hamilton had 23 points, D’Shawn Schwartz added 21 points and Lewis chipped in 18 points, 9 assists and 4 steals for the winners. Geno Crandall had a monster game of 28 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists while Justin Jaworski had 22 points and Norris Agbakoko contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Rostock bring in Osbourne after departure of Omenaka
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES reacted to the departure of Godwin Omenaka to China by bringing in big man Malik Osbourne. The 26-year-old American last played with CSP Limoges in France and knows the Bundesliga as he played 24 games for NINERS Chemnitz in 2023.
Steinbach outshines Grünloh in front of NBA scouts, but Vechta down Würzburg
RASTA Vechta earned a strong victory in their challenge for the playoffs as they defeated FIT/One Würzburg Baskets 86-74 on the road in a showdown of two of Germany’s top young big men. Vechta took the lead for good in the second quarter and pulled away in the third frame to move to 8-6 after back-to-back wins while Würzburg fell to 9-6 after a second straight loss. Vechta committed only 12 turnovers and held the hosts to just 40 percent overall shooting. Brandon Randolph led Vechta with 18 points and Joel Aminu and Tyger Campbell both had 14 points while 19-year-old center Johann Grünloh was limited to 4 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks as he dealt with a wrist injury. Jhivvan Jackson scored 20 points with 7 rebounds, Mike Lewis had 14 points and Würzburg’s 18-year-old power forward Hannes Steinbach collected 10 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. A total of 12 NBA scouts as well as Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields were at the Tectake Arena to watch the game and Germany's two prospects.
Vechta keep Bothwell until season’s end, Griciunas leaves team
RASTA Vechta decided to extend the contract with Mike Bothwell until the end of the season. The 24-year-old shooting guard joined Vechta in mid-October on a three-month deal as a reaction to the team’s injury issues. Benas Griciunas meanwhile has left the club.
Kessens shines in debut as Berlin crush Heidelberg at home
Don’t look now but ALBA BERLIN are creeping back towards the .500 mark after rolling to a 92-65 home victory over MLP Academics Heidelberg for their third straight win. Berlin pulled away for good with a 28-15 third quarter to improve to 7-8 while Heidelberg have fallen to 9-6 after back-to-back losses. Berlin held Heidelberg to just 34 percent shooting on two-pointers and took the rebound battle 49-30. Matt Thomas hit 4 three-pointers for 18 points, Gabriele Procida had 15 points, Yanni Wetzell picked up 11 points and 8 rebounds and Michael Kessens chipped in 10 points and 14 rebounds in his first game for ALBA. Alex Barcello paced Heidelberg with 19 points and Michael Weathers had 13 points in the loss.
Frankfurt surprise Bonn on road for important win in relegation fight
SKYLINERS picked up an important victory in the battle against relegation by surprising Telekom Baskets Bonn 77-70 on the road to snap a four-game losing streak. Frankfurt, who were playing without Jordan Theodore, Trey Calvin and Booker Coplin, wasted an 11-point lead they built in the opening frame and trailed in the second quarter. A 23-15 third period helped open a 12-point lead with 9 minutes left. Bonn charged back to tie the game with a 12-0 run only to have David Muenkat hit a triple and Malik Parsons score Frankfurt’s final 6 points in the closing 82 seconds. Frankfurt moved to 4-12 - three wins ahead of last placed BG Göttingen - while Bonn dropped their second straight game for an 8-8 mark. The guests survived 21 turnovers by holding Bonn to just 33 percent shooting. Parsons scored 22 points and Patrick Heckmann had 12 points for the winners. Darius McGhee had 24 points in the loss and Phlandrous Fleming scored 12 points.
Frankfurt extend Heckmann until season’s end
SKYLINERS agreed to extend the contract with Patrick Heckmann until the end of the season. The 32-year-old German forward arrived in Frankfurt in November on a deal until mid-February but he was able to convince management he should be retained for the remainder of the season.
Bonn bring Latvian shooter Lomazs back to Germany
Telekom Baskets Bonn added reinforcements for the outside game with the signing of Latvian shooter Rihards Lomazs until the end of the season. The 28-year-old knows the German league as he played for BG Göttingen during the 2020-21 season and for EWE Baskets Oldenburg in 2022-23. The Latvian international started this season in Turkiye with Merkezefendi Belediyesi.
Chemnitz down Hamburg for third straight win
NINERS Chemnitz has notched up the standings in the league thanks to a three-game winning streak after beating Veolia Towers Hamburg 69-60 at home. Chemnitz broke the game open with a 14-4 run in the third quarter to improve to 9-6 while Hamburg saw their two-game winning streak snapped for a 6-9 mark. Chemnitz held the guests to just 32 percent shooting, including a lowly 13 percent from long range. Aher Uguak tallied 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Victor Bailey had 18 points and Will Christmas chipped in 7 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Kur Kuath collected 16 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks and Brae Ivey had 14 points in the loss.
Player of the Week
Geno Crandall takes the honors for Player of the Week for Round 17 with an efficiency of 27 in EWE Baskets Oldenburg’s double overtime loss at ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES. Crandall scored 28 points on 9 of 19 shots (3/8 threes) and 7 of 12 free throws to go with 6 rebounds, 13 assists and 2 steals.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Joel Aminu, RASTA Vechta
Aminu helped Vechta get a big win over FIT/One Würzburg Baskets with 14 points with 4 three-pointers, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
G: Ferdinand Zykla, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Zykla drained 4 three-pointers for 19 points to go with 4 rebounds in Braunschweig’s win over ratiopharm ulm.
F: Robin Amaize, ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES
Amaize is back on this list after collecting 24 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block in the double overtime thriller over EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
F: Hannes Steinbach, FIT/One Würzburg Baskets
A week after he had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists against EWE Baskets Oldenburg, the 18-year-old Steinbach tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks versus RASTA Vechta.
C: Norris Agbakoko, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
It was tough not taking Michael Kessens who had 10 points and 14 rebounds in his debut for ALBA BERLIN, but Agbakoko tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds in the double overtime game against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES.
Young Guns
Sananda Fru, 21, PF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Fru scored 11 points on 5 of 5 shooting and 1 of 1 free throws and added 4 rebounds and 1 block in 27:55 minutes against ratiopharm ulm.
Johann Grünloh, 19, C, RASTA Vechta
Grünloh played 22:51 minutes despite dealing with a wrist injury and picked up 4 points on 1 of 5 shooting (0/1 threes) and 2 of 2 free throws, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks against FIT/One Würzburg Baskets.
Elias Rapieque, 20, SF, ALBA BERLIN
Rapieque played 17:35 minutes against MLP Academics Heidelberg and scored 2 points on 1 of 5 shots (0/3 threes) to go with 5 rebounds, which tied his career high, and 4 assists, which set a new career high.
Germans Abroad
Christian Sengfelder continues to have a strong first professional season outside of Germany with JDA Dijon Bourgogne. The 29-year-old is averaging 12.4 points on 53 percent three-point shooting and 3.9 rebounds in the French league and is collecting 13.3 points on 44 percent from long range plus 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the FIBA Europe Cup. Sengfelder recently scored 28 points against EuroLeague side LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and poured in 29 points with 8 rebounds in a FIBA Europe Cup game against Kalev/Cramo.
