– David Hein
Two straight losses had some questioning if HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim could be this season’s RASTA Vechta. Well, Crailsheim prevailed in the battle of the new and old Cinderella. The week also saw ALBA BERLIN defeat EWE Baskets Ol-denburg while MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg won yet again.
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:
New Cinderella Crailsheim knocks off old Cinderella Vechta
HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim shrugged off a two-game losing streak and showed they still could be this season’s Cinderella by winning at home 101-88 over last season’s Cinderella story RASTA Vechta. Crailsheim pulled away in the fourth quarter to move to 6-2 while Vechta fell to 5-4 after seeing their five-game winning streak end. Crailsheim out-rebounded Vechta 41-33 including 16 offensive rebounds with six players scoring in double figures. DeWayne Russell led the way with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals and Quincy Ford had 17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals while Jan Span tallied 7 points, 2 rebounds, 10 assists and 2 steals. Ishmail Wainwright was Vechta’s biggest weapon with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block with Steve Vasturia adding 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Vechta add backcourt reinforcement with addition of Jordan Davis
RASTA Vechta added reinforcements for their backcourt as they signed Jordan Davis until the end of the season. The 22-year-old started this season - his first as a professional - with Spanish club BAXI Manresa.
Strong fourth quarter carries Berlin past Oldenburg at home
ALBA BERLIN used a strong fourth quarter to get past EWE Basket Oldenburg at home 90-77. Berlin started the final frame 17-4 and finished the quarter 25-12 to snap a two-game losing streak and move to 6-2. Oldenburg have now lost four of their last six games to fall to 5-4. The main difference in the game was Berlin making 27-of-29 free throws (93.1 percent) compared to 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) for Oldenburg. Martin Hermannsson paced the winners with 18 points and 7 assists as four of the five starters ended in double figures including Rokas Giedraitis with 12 points and 9 rebounds while Luke Sikma had 3 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Rasid Mahalbasic picked up 14 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for Oldenburg with Gerry Blakes scoring 14 points and Tyler Larson collecting 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists in the defeat.
Berlin bring back German big man Radosavljevic for two months
ALBA BERLIN hope to have found a temporary solution to their problems in the low post as they signed German center Bogdan Radosavljevic for two months. The 26-year-old, who will help as Berlin big men Tyler Cavanaugh und Johannes Thiemann are both out injured, made his return to the club against EWE Baskets Oldenburg with 2 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in 6:23 minutes. Radosavljevic was available after his two-month contract with Italian club Happy Casa Brindisi expired. Radosavljevic played with Berlin during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
Ludwigsburg extend winning streak to six games
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg remain one of the hottest teams in the league as they grabbed an 89-84 road victory over s.Oliver Würzburg. Ludwigsburg got two free throws from Khadeen Carrington and Nick Weiler-Babb in the final 12 seconds as well as a big offensive foul drawn by Konstantin Konga in picking up their sixth straight win for an 8-1 record. Würzburg’s three-game winning streak is over and the team fell to 5-4. Ludwigsburg won the rebound battle 36-25 and held Würzburg to 44.3 percent shooting. Carrington led the winners with 23 points while Weiler-Babb had 17 points, Thomas Wimbush 16 points and Marcos Knight picked up 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Luke Fischer was Würzburg’s leading scorer with 20 points while Junior Etou had 15 points and 6 rebounds, Jordan Hulls collected 14 points and 4 assists, Cameron Wells tallied 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals and Skyler Bowlin chipped in 4 points and 10 assists.
Bayern take down MBC in Leipzig, stay undefeated
FC Bayern remained perfect in the easyCredit BBL by taking down SYNTAINICS MBC 96-86 in a road game played at the Arena Leipzig. Bayern nearly blew a 15-point lead, which was down to three points with 4 minutes left, but Paul Zipser nailed a three-pointer and Maodo Lo converted a three-point play to end the comeback attempt and give Bayern an 8-0 record. Bayern shot 63.0 percent from the field while holding MBC to 45.6 percent shooting. Bayern also hit 20-of-29 free throws compared to 6-of-10 for MBC, who have lost seven straight for a 1-8 record. Zipser’s 16 points paced six Bayern players in double figures with Lo collecting 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists and Diego Flaccadori adding 13 points. Strahinja Micovic paced MBC with 16 points and 5 rebounds with Sergio Kerusch pitching in 14 points and 7 rebounds and Michael Gbinije tallying 11 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals.
Ulm roll past Hamburg and former coach
ratiopharm ulm collected their second straight win as they rolled past Hamburg Towers and former head coach Mike Taylor 102-69 at home. Ulm, whom Taylor coached from 2003 to 2011, won the second quarter 32-16 and took the third quarter 32-17 in moving to 3-5 while Hamburg lost their fifth straight and are 1-7. Ulm shot 52.3 percent from the field and won the rebound battle 43-28 and held Hamburg to just 38.3 percent shooting and 15.0 percent on threes. Gavin Schilling had his best game as a professional with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks while Isaiah Briscoe had 14 points and 4 assists. Beau Beech was Hamburg’s top scorer with 12 points and Marvin Ogunsipe had 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Bayreuth continue positive trend with home win over Bonn
medi bayreuth continued their positive trend with an 82-79 home victory over Telekom Baskets Bonn (Highlights). James Robinson and Andreas Seiferth both hit two free throws in the final 10 seconds as Bayreuth have won three of their last four to move to 3-5 while Bonn have dropped six straight and are 1-6. Bayreuth made 69.4.7 percent of their two-point shots while holding Bonn to 43.3 percent from the field. Robinson was top scorer with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists and Reid Travis had 16 points and 5 rebounds. Bonn were paced by Brenden Frazier with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Martin Breunig scored 15 points.
Bamberg still perfect on the road, win at Frankfurt
Brose Bamberg remained perfect on the road in the easyCredit BBL with an 87-72 victory at FRAPORT SKYLINERS. Bamberg took control of the game in the second quarter in moving to 5-0 away from Freak City and 7-2 all told. Frankfurt have dropped two straight to sit at 3-6. Bamberg converted on 56.0 percent of their threes compared to 36.4 percent for Frankfurt. Tre McLean led Bamberg with 16 points and 5 rebounds off the bench while Nelson Weidemann tied a career-high 14 points and Kam Taylor had 13 points and 4 assists. Frankfurt were paced by Matthew McQuad with 19 points while Quantez Robertson had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block.
Bamberg part ways with Michael Carrera
Brose Bamberg are returning to the player market in search of a power forward after they agreed with Michael Carrera to part ways. The Venezuelan was the last acquisition before the season and the club determined it was looking more for a power forward who can help out at center than Carrera’s ability to help out at the small forward position. The 26-year-old averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the easyCredit BBL and 3.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the Basketball Champions League.
Giessen pick up back-to-back wins, snap Göttingen win streak
JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers picked up back-to-back wins for the first time this season as they grabbed a 90-63 victory at BG Göttingen. Giessen ran away with a 20-0 run to end the first quarter and were never challenged after that in moving to 3-5 while Göttingen saw their two-game winning streak snapped in dropping to 2-7. Giessen out-rebounded the hosts 36-26 and held Göttingen to just 40.4 percent shooting, including 16.7 percent on threes. Alen Pjanic paced Giessen with a career high 20 points with 4 three-pointers to go with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while Teyvon Myers had 16 points and 6 assists and John Bryant added 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Dennis Kramer tallied 18 points as Göttingen’s only player in double figures.
Player of the Week
DeWayne Russell takes Player of the Week honors this week for his outstanding showing for HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim in their win over RASTA Vechta. Russell scored 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 6-of-7 free throws with 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals for an efficiency of 31.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Maodo Lo, FC Bayern Munich
Lo played a major role in Bayern defeating SYNTAINICS MBC with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
F: Paul Zipser, FC Bayern Munich
Zipser continued his excellent season as he was Bayern’s top scorer with 16 points on 6-of-9 shots and 2-of-2 free throws to go with 2 rebounds and 3 assists against SYNTAINICS MBC.
F: Alen Pjanic, JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers
Pjanic had one of his best games as he scored a career high 20 points with 4 three-pointers as well as picking up 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 0 turnovers off the bench versus BG Göttingen.
F: Gavin Schilling, ratiopharm ulm
The 24-year-old took advantage of Ulm’s blowout of Hamburg Towers as he set career highs with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks to go with 2 assists.
C: Dennis Kramer, BG Göttingen
Kramer grabbed his spot on the Top Five after a strong showing against JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers as he tied a career high with 18 points and grabbed 3 rebounds.
LIVE auf https://t.co/Wdl4ni5vXn: Unser aktuel-ler Topscorer Dennis Kramer (14 Punkte) trifft bisher 7/7 aus dem Feld. Nach 25 Minuten steht es 39:60. #veilchenimblut #wirsindgöttingen #easycreditbbl #basketball #göttingen pic.twitter.com/bRwT733KtF
— BG Göttingen (@BGGoettingen) November 23, 2019
Young Guns
Nelson Weidemann, 20, PG, Brose Bamberg
Weidemann had a very strong game against FRAPORT SKYLINERS as he tied a career high 14 points on 4-of-6 shots, including 3-of-4 three-pointers and 3-of-4 free throws. He also had 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 block in 21:16 minutes.
Bennet Hundt, 21, PG, BG Göttingen
Hundt continues to adapt to his role as reserve point and he picked up 6 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists and 1 steal in 21:47 minutes against JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers.
Kresimir Nikic, 20, C, ALBA BERLIN
Nikic is not a young German but the 20-year-old Croatian once was one of the highest regarded bigs in Europe. He made his season league debut with Berlin against EWE Baskets Oldenburg and picked up 6 points on 1-of-1 shots and 4-of-4 free throws to go with 1 rebound and 2 blocks in 9:00 minutes - setting career highs in points and blocks. He played two games in 2017-18 and appeared in one playoff game last season.
LIVE-VIDEO: Nel-son Weidemann zahlt weiterhin das Vertrauen zurück, bei @BroseBamberg zu starten ... mit dem Dunk nach aggressivem Drive. #easyCreditBBL pic.twitter.com/ExkiHoGYgf
— easyCredit BBL (@easyCreditBBL) November 23, 2019
Mattisseck Check
Jonas Mattisseck did a good job in avoiding any major mistakes for ALBA BERLIN against EWE Baskets Oldenburg as the 19-year-old scored 7 points on 3-of-7 shots including 1-of-3 three-pointers to go with 1 assist, 1 block and 0 turnovers in 20:09 minutes off the bench.
Germans Abroad
Quirin Emanga left the MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg youth system to try NCAA basketball in the United States and get a college education. The 19-year-old guard made his NCAA debut for Northeastern as he collected 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals against Holy Cross.
Quirin Emanga with the steal and dunk pic.twitter.com/y5XCzBnfji
— Northeastern Men’s Basketball (@GoNUmbasketball) November 20, 2019
