– David Hein
What a week in the easyCredit BBL as we saw three rounds of games - Round 17, 18 and 19 - which were highlighted by NINERS Chemnitz picking up three wins in five days, knocking off both FC Bayern Munich and Brose Bamberg in the waning seconds. Bamberg bounced back to beat ALBA BERLIN - using just seven players - while Berlin downed HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim. All the while, league leadings MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg just keep on winning. By the way, we broke down this week’s action by clubs.
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:
Chemnitz with a week for the ages - upsetting Bamberg and Bayern in waning seconds
NINERS Chemnitz experienced a week for the ages as the promoted side won three games in the span of five days including knocking off Brose Bamberg and FC Bayern Munich in thrilling fashion. The week started with Chemnitz snapping a three-game losing streak with an 89-77 home win over RASTA Vechta. Terrell Harris led the way with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Chemnitz topped that as Marcus Thornton had 23 points and drained a three-pointer with 2 seconds left for an 85-82 home win over Bamberg. As if the week wasn’t amazing enough, Chemnitz overdid themselves again by coming back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Bayern at home 85-83 on Dominque Johnson’s three-pointer at the buzzer. Thornton collected 21 points and 11 assists and George King added 17 points and 9 rebounds. Chemnitz fans go into the FIBA national team break in Seventh Heaven with a week they will never forget - and their team at 7-11 just outside the playoffs.
Berlin shut down Bell-Haynes, can overcome decimated Bamberg
ALBA BERLIN started the week with a convincing 101-77 victory at HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim but finished with a disappointing 78-67 loss at Brose Bamberg - having knocked off medi bayreuth 80-68 at home in between. Berlin shut down Crailsheim’s MVP candidate Trae Bell-Haynes to just 3 points before he fouled out after less than 17 minutes. Maodo Lo had 19 points and 4 assists to lead six players in double figures. Lo added 23 points and 6 assists in the win over Bayreuth - as the only player to play more than 24 minutes. Against Bamberg, who played only seven players, Berlin’s starters combined for only 36 points and watched Bamberg go on a 15-5 run in the final four minutes, snapping an 11-game winning streak to fall to 15-2.
Bell-Haynes bounces back to lead Crailsheim to two wins
HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim could not handle ALBA BERLIN in their showdown of top-three teams but they bounced back with two wins to stay in second place. Berlin held Trae Bell-Haynes to just 3 points on five shots though he did have 10 assists before fouling out after less than 17 minutes in a 101-77 home loss. Elias Lasisi and Jamuni McNease both had 14 points off the bench. Bell-Haynes showed against Basketball Löwen Braunschweig why he’s a leading MVP candidate with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in a 75-69 home victory. Bell-Haynes added 16 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals in a 109-81 road win over BG Göttingen - in which Bogdan Radosavljevic scored a career-high 28 points to go with10 rebounds and 4 assists as Crailsheim hit the century mark for the sixth time this season for a 16-3 record including six wins in the last seven games.
Smith, Ludwigsburg roll on - win streak reaches 15
There remains no stopping MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg as Jaleen Smith guided the team to two victories - extending their winning streak to 15 games. The league leaders were paced by Smith with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals in an 81-74 home win over Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Things were much easier in Round 18 as Desi Rodriguez scored 20 points and Smith collected 18 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals in an 84-66 win at RASTA Vechta to move to 17-1. Ludwigsburg’s Round 19 game at s.Oliver Würzburg was postponed.
Vechta losing continues with three defeats
RASTA Vechta’s on-going struggles continued as they lost all three games this past week. Missing Dennis Clifford, Philipp Herkenhoff and Jean Salumu, Vechta lost 89-77 at NINERS Chemnitz despite Will Vorhees picking up 21 points and 9 rebounds while Stefan Peno added 15 points, 5 assists and 8 steals - the eight steals being the most in the easyCredit BBL since John Goldsberry on October 14, 2006. Vorhees had 19 points against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg but the rest of the starters had just 11 points in an 84-66 home loss. Vechta finished the week with an 80-71 home loss to Basketball Löwen Braunschweig to fall to 3-16 with a five-game losing streak despite 16 points from Josh Young.
Bamberg lose at Chemnitz but then down Berlin with just 7 players
Brose Bamberg had a roller-coaster week as they first beat FRAPORT SKYLINERS 86-76 but then lost 85-82 at NINERS Chemnitz only to bounce back with an impressive 76-67 home victory over ALBA BERLIN - with just seven players playing. Michele Vitali, David Kravish and Devon Hall combined for 65 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists as Bamberg needed to come back from 18 points down to beat Frankfurt. Bamberg couldn’t stop Chemnitz’s shooters - 60.9 percent on three-pointers - as Marcus Thornton hit the game-winning three-pointer with 2 seconds left, wasting Hall’s 20 points. Bamberg fielded only seven players but used a 15-5 fourth quarter run to beat Berlin. Vitali had 18 points as Bamberg moved to 9-11 - alternating wins and losses in last six games.
Bayern fall apart late against Chemnitz after two wins
FC Bayern Munich were the unwilling partners in one of the most thrilling sensations of the season as they fell apart late in losing 85-83 at NINERS Chemnitz in Round 19 after having picked up two wins. Bayern led by 14 points in the fourth quarter but watched as Dominique Johnson drained the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to fall to 14-4. Jalen Reynolds, Nick Weiler-Babb and Vladimir Lucic combined for 49 points while the starting five picked up just 29 points. Bayern’s week started with an 81-77 road win over ratiopharm ulm as Lucic scored 17 points and the team committed just 7 turnovers. In Round 18, Bayern rolled past FRAPORT SKYLINERS 84-58 at home. Reynolds and Paul Zipser both had 17 points while the teenage trio of Sasha Grant, Matej Rudan and Jason George combined for 12 points and 8 rebounds in more than 50 minutes.
Babb steps up as Bonn get two wins
Telekom Baskets Bonn got a big week from Chris Babb to pick up two victories and edge closer to the playoffs race. Babb collected 21 points and 6 assists in a 78-71 win at Hamburg Towers. Isaiah Philmore scored 15 points and Leon Kratzer added 14 points and 9 rebounds as Bonn survived 24 turnovers. Bonn made it three straight wins as Babb scored 24 points in an 83-66 home triumph over SYNTAINICS MBC to move to 6-11.
Würzburg have two games postponed
s.Oliver Würzburg did not play this week as both of their games were postponed. They were scheduled to play at SYNTAINICS MBC in Round 18 and at home against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg in Round 19. Würzburg are riding a four-game losing streak at 5-11.
Würzburg add reinforcements for low post with Holloway
s.Oliver Würzburg did not play any games this week but they made news as they added reinforcement around the basket with the signing of Murphy Holloway. The 30-year-old big man signed a deal until the end of the season after most recently playing in Bahrain.
Oldenburg get game-winner from Hornsby, lose to Giessen
EWE Basket Oldenburg have Keith Hornsby to thank for two victories in a week which also saw the club suffer a tough home loss. Oldenburg started the week by knocking off Hamburg Towers 89-88 in a tight battle that was decided on Hornsby’s game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. Rickey Paulding led the way with 18 points. Oldenburg couldn’t keep up the momentum as they lost to JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers 97-93. Nathan Boothe scored 21 points but Oldenburg wasted an 11-point third quarter lead. Oldenburg managed to bounce back with a 91-82 victory at medi bayreuth thanks to 25 points from Hornsby. Phil Pressey added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists as Oldenburg moved to 15-4 - just 2-2 in the last four games.
Ulm bounce back with two wins after home loss to Bayern
ratiopharm ulm started the week with a tough 81-77 home loss to FC Bayern Munich in which Dylan Osetkowski led the way with 12 points. But Jaka Lakovic’s men bounced back with two victories - 93-64 at home over BG Göttingen and 87-68 at FRAPORT SKYLINERS for a 12-7 record. Against Göttingen, Troy Caupain scored 17 points while Per Günther had 16 points and 4 assists as one of three Ulm players with double figures off the bench. Andi Obst was perfect shooting (6-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 on free throws) as he and Thomas Klepeisz both hit 5 three-pointers in scoring 19 points against Frankfurt.
Frankfurt waste big lead to Bamberg, drop three straight
FRAPORT SKYLINERS came into the week having won two of their last three but then dropped all three games - 86-76 at home to Brose Bamberg, 84-58 at FC Bayern Munich and 87-68 at home versus ratiopharm ulm. The loss to Bamberg was bitter as Frankfurt led by 18 points in the third quarter. Rasheed Moore, Matt Mobley and Michael Kessens combined for 55 points but the rest of the team only had 23 points. Frankfurt lost the second quarter 24-4 to Bayern and Quantez Robertson (13 points) was the only player more than 8 points. Moore had 18 points in the loss to Ulm as Frankfurt dropped to 7-12.
Hamburg lose at buzzer, finish week with win at Giessen
Hamburg Towers at least finished the week strong after suffering two tough losses before that. Hamburg battled with EWE Baskets Oldenburg on the road but ended up losing 89-88 as Keith Hornsby hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. Maik Kotsar’s 21 points were wasted while Kam Taylor collected 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Hamburg then could not take advantage of 24 turnovers by Telekom Baskets Bonn in losing 78-71 at home despite 15 points each from Jordan Swing and Justus Hollatz. Hamburg will head into the FIBA national team break with their heads up as they booked a 95-78 win at JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers. TJ Shorts had 22 points and 9 assists and Terry Allen scored 20 points as Hamburg moved to 10-7.
Brauschweig defeat Vechta after two losses
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig also ended the week on a high note as they knocked off RASTA Vechta 80-71 on the road after two losses before that. The week started with an 81-74 defeat at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg as the 32 combined points from Karim Jallow and Lukas Meisner were not enough because Braunschweig committed 21 turnovers. Jallow scored 18 points in Braunschweig’s 75-69 loss at HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim as they shot just 14.3 percent from long range. Jallow tallied 18 points again but this time it ended in a win, with Meisner chipping in 16 points as Braunschweig used a 17-3 third quarter run to move to 6-9.
Braunschweig add former Lithuania elite talent Velicka
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig continued with their efforts to build a winner with young talent as they signed Arnas Velicka until the end of the season. The 21-year-old guard was regarded as one of Lithuania’s top young talents when he left his homeland for Barcelona. He eventually returned to Lithuania and played this season with French side Chalon.
Giessen snap losing skid, fall at home to Hamburg
JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers’ week was an up and down as they ended their six-game losing streak but then lost at home. Brandon Thomas scored 25 points and Brandon Bowman had 19 points as Giessen beat EWE Baskets Oldenburg 97-93 on the road in Round 18. Giessen could not keep up the momentum as they were defeated 95-78 at home by Hamburg Towers. Thomas had 18 points and Jonathan Stark picked up 17 points and 5 assists but Giessen committed 21 turnovers in falling to 3-15.
Bayreuth get swept with three losses
It was a week to forget for medi bayreuth as they dropped three games to lose ground on the playoffs race. Osvaldas Olisevicius picked up 26 points and 8 rebounds in an 82-80 home defeat against BG Göttingen. Marcus Tiby was the leading scorer with 12 points in Bayreuth’s 80-68 loss at ALBA BERLIN. Olisevicius poured in 22 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists as Bayreuth lost again, 91-82 at home to EWE Baskets Oldenburg to fall to 6-13.
Göttingen cannot build on Kamp’s game-winner
BG Göttingen started the week on a high but failed to finish strong with two losses. Tai Odiase, Aubrey Dawkins and Rihards Lomazs combined for 60 points and Luke Nelson had 14 points and 9 assists in Göttingen’s 82-80 road victory over medi bayreuth. Harper Kamp won the game with his score after three offensive rebounds on the final possession. Göttingen then lost 93-64 at ratiopharm ulm as their starting five combined for only 23 points. Roel Moors’ men lost their final game before the FIBA national team break as the 42 combined points from Nelson and Dawkins were not enough in a 109-81 home loss to HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim to fall to 6-13.
MBC drop sole game at Bonn, losing skid now 6 games
SYNTAINICS MBC had just one game this week but they could not grab a victory as they lost 83-66 at Telekom Baskets Bonn in Round 19. Aleksandar Marelja scored 21 points and Shavon Coleman had 13 points, 5 assists and 5 steals as MBC fell to 5-12 with a six-game losing streak. MBC’s Round 18 home game against s.Oliver Würzburg was postponed.
Player(s) of the Week(s)
With three rounds of action, there are three Player of the Week awards to hand out - two of them going to Brose Bamberg players. Round 17’s top performance came from Bamberg’s big man David Kravish in a win over FRAPORT SKYLINERS. Kravish collected an efficiency of 40 as he had collected 22 points on 8-of-8 shooting and 6-of-6 free throws, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steals and 5 blocks. Maodo Lo of ALBA BERLIN and Jaleen Smith of MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg shared Round 18 honors with an efficiency of 29. Lo scored 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 6-of-6 free throws to go with 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal against medi bayreuth while Smith poured in 18 points on 7-of-12 shots and 2-of-2 free throws as well as 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. And Round 19’s top player was Christian Sengfelder in Bamberg’s win over ALBA BERLIN. The big man played all 40:00 minutes and had an efficiency of 42 as he picked up a career high 31 points on 12-of-20 shots and 3-of-3 free throws, a career-high 17 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Maodo Lo, ALBA BERLIN
Lo returns to this list after an outstanding week. He had 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal against HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim, picked up 23 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steals versus medi bayreuth and added 3 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal against Brose Bamberg.
G: Per Günther, ratiopharm ulm
Günther had a strong week for Ulm, starting it with 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists against FC Bayern Munich. The veteran followed that with 16 points and 4 assists against BG Göttingen and then had 11 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists versus FRAPORT SKYLINERS.
F: Karim Jallow, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Jallow continued his superb season with three strong games - two of them going to waste in losses. He scored 17 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg and then picked up 18 points and 5 rebounds against HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim. Jallow’s efforts were rewarded against RASTA Vechta as he had 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in the win.
F: Jan-Niklas Wimberg, NINERS Chemnitz
It was the week of Chemnitz and Wimberg played a major role in the promoted side getting three wins. He started with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks against RASTA Vechta. Wimberg then picked up 8 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block versus Brose Bamberg, and he finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block in the shocking win over FC Bayern Munich.
C: Christian Sengfelder, Brose Bamberg
What a week for Sengfelder, who set new career highs in points and rebounds with 31 points and 17 rebounds - as well as 1 assist and 1 steal without a turnover in 40:00 minutes against ALBA BERLIN. Before that, Sengfelder collected 13 points and 9 rebounds against FRAPORT SKYLINERS and then had 14 points and 7 rebounds against NINERS Chemnitz.
Young Guns
Lukas Herzog, 19, PG, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
Herzog leads the same trio as last week as he helped Ludwigsburg to two wins. He picked up 7 points on 2-of-5 shooting - including 1-of-3 on three-pointers, 1 assist and 1 steal in 14:49 minutes against Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. In Round 18, Herzog scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shots - 2-of-6 three-pointers - and 1-of-2 free throws to go with 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 turnover in 21:14 minutes against RASTA Vechta.
Jonas Mattisseck, 21, PG, ALBA BERLIN
Mattisseck started the week by scoring 6 points on 2-of-8 shots - 2-of-5 three-pointers - to go with 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in 22:11 minutes against HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim. He followed that with 3 points on 1-of-7 three-pointers, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 16:35 minutes versus medi bayreuth. In the Round 19 loss to Brose Bamberg, Mattisseck went scoreless on 0-of-6 three-pointers but did have 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 16:47 minutes.
Luc van Slooten, 18, SF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Van Slooten had an up and down week. Against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg, he went scoreless on 0-of-3 three-pointers but had 3 assists in 12:54 minutes. He missed both of his shots against HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim but picked up 1 assist in 10:14 minutes. Van Slooten had more production against RASTA Vechta with 5 points on 2-of-6 shots - 1-of-4 three-pointers - 1 rebound and 3 assists in 12:27 minutes.
Hollatz Check
Justus Hollatz came back from a week with limited playing time with a solid week of production off the bench for Hamburg Towers. He scored 5 points on 1-of-5 shots - 0-of-2 three-pointers - and 3-of-4 free throws to go with 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 turnover in 18:13 minutes against EWE Baskets Oldenburg. In 23:54 minutes against Telekom Baskets Bonn, Hollatz collected 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting - 2-of-6 three-pointers - and 3-of-3 free throws, 3 assists and 3 steals. He finished off the week with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting - 2-of-4 three-pointers - and 1-of-2 free throws, 4 rebonds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 26:20 minutes against JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers.
German Cup TOP FOUR set for April 17-18 - final group game won’t be played
The MagentaSport BBL German Cup Top Four has been rescheduled and will take place on April 17-18 in the Munich Audi Dome. The games on Saturday April 17 will have ratiopharm ulm face FC Bayern Munich while BG Göttingen will take on reigning champions ALBA BERLIN. The two winners will play for the crown on April 18. Berlin will enter the competition having played only two of their three scheduled group stage games. Berlin and their opponents for the final game EWE Baskets Oldenburg agreed to not play the game as Berlin had already qualified for the Top Four.
Die Bayreuther starten aggressiv ins vierte Viertel, dementsprechend gut tut dieser Dreier von Jonas Mattisseck! Die Schlussphase gegen @medibayreuth gibt’s weiter live bei #MagentaSport. pic.twitter.com/CCY52j57C0
— ALBA BERLIN (@albaberlin) February 12, 2021
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