– David Hein
Every team in the easyCredit BBL finally has a victory as RASTA Vechta finally joined the winning column by defeating Brose Bamberg. MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg got past ratiopharm ulm thanks to a buzzer-beater by Jordan Hulls while FC Bayern Munich struggled to knock off promoted side NINERS Chemnitz.
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:
Vechta down Bamberg at home for first win of season
RASTA Vechta have finally tasted victory for the first time this season in the easyCredit BBL as they downed Brose Bamberg 90-82 at home for their first win. Vechta led by 13 points in the third quarter and held on to move to 1-11 - though they did beat JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers in the MagentaSport BBL German Cup group phase earlier in the season. Bamberg have now lost four of five games to drop to 5-7. Vechta shot 53.4 percent for the game including 55.6 percent - 15-of-27 - on three-pointers plus they won the rebound battle 36-26. Jean Salumu did it all for the winners with 25 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks while Josh Young collected 16 points and 8 assists, Dennis Clifford added 14 points and 7 rebounds and Robin Christen chipped in 12 points with 4 three-pointers and 6 rebounds. Bamberg’s leading scorer was Devon Hall with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists while Dominic Lockhart tallied 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and Christian Sengfelder scored 14 points.
Bamberg snaps four-game skid with late run at Ulm in Round 8 makeup
Brose Bamberg snapped a four-game losing streak by coming back to beat ratiopharm ulm 74-67 on the road thanks to a 13-0 run to finish the Round 8 makeup game. Neither team led by more than seven points and Ulm could not score in the final 5 minutes in falling to 5-5 while Bamberg improved to 5-6. Bamberg made up for hitting just 17.4 percent on three-pointers by shooting 60.5 percent from close range and holding Ulm to just 34.4 percent for the game. Chase Fieler led the way with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks while Kenneth Ogbe scored 12 points and David Kravish picked up 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Andi Obst paced Ulm with 15 points and Dylan Osetkowski was held to 10 points.
Bamberg add size with Shevon Thompson
Brose Bamberg added some size to their frontcourt by signing Shevon Thompson until the end of the season. The 2.13 meter big man comes to Freak City from Spanish side Fuenlabrada, where he averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 11 games. The Jamaica native played with Filou Oostende in the Basketball Champions League alongside his new Bamberg teammate Chase Fieler.
Hulls’ buzzer-beater gives Ludwigsburg thrilling win over Ulm
Jordan Hulls scored a put-back at the buzzer to give MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg a thrilling 89-87 home victory over ratiopharm ulm. The hosts led 87-82 with 17 seconds left but watched as Ulm evened the game. Jaleen Smith then went the length of the court and launched a three-pointer, which was off-target but put in by Hulls to extend Ludwigsburg’s winning streak to nine games and an 11-1 record while Ulm have dropped five of six games for a 6-5 record. The league leaders committed only seven turnovers and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to give them 19 more shots than Ulm. Barry Brown led all scorers with 19 points while Smith compiled 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Jonas Wohlbarth-Bottermann picked up 14 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block and Hulls collected 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Thomas Klepeisz paced Ulm with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists while Troy Caupain scored 15 points and 4 assists, Andi Obst had 12 points and 4 rebounds and Dylan Osetkowski was held to 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting plus 6 turnovers.
Bayern need comeback to beat Chemnitz in Lucic’s return
FC Bayern Munich struggled more than they would have hoped but managed to beat promoted side NINERS Chemnitz 77-76 at home in the return of Vladimir Lucic. Bayern led in the second quarter by 13 points but trailed in the final period by as many as eight points with Joe Lawson giving Chemnitz the lead 76-75 with 38 seconds left. After Bayern failed to convert, Nick Weiler-Babb blocked Marcus Thorton’s shot and Paul Zipser drained two free throws with 2.8 seconds left for the win and a 8-2 record for Bayern with Chemnitz’s two-game winning streak ending for a 3-8 mark. Bayern took the battle of the glass 42-33 including 16 offensive rebounds and held Chemnitz to just 37.1 percent on two-pointers. Weiler-Babb was fantastic all game with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks while Zipser had 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks and Lucic scored 9 points in his first game since November 22. Jan-Niklas Wimberg paced Chemnitz with 16 points and 6 rebounds, Terrell Harris collected 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Thornton added 13 points and 5 assists.
Hamburg roll past Crailsheim, snap guests’ win streak
Hamburg Towers rolled past HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim 89-72 at home to snap the guests’ seven-game winning streak. Hamburg were up 26-15 after 10 minutes and never looked back in moving to 8-3 while Crailsheim are now 10-2. Crailsheim committed 19 turnovers and shot just 42.4 percent including 26.7 percent on three-pointers. Maik Kotsar paced the winners with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, Terry Allen tallied 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and TJ Shorts, Max DiLeo and Bryce Taylor all had 12 points. Tim Coleman and Jamuni McNeace both scored 12 points for Crailsheim while Trae Bell-Haynes picked up 9 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.
Hamburg bring in German big man Richter from Giessen
Hamburg Towers have found a new German big man as they signed Johannes Richter until the end of the season. The 27-year-old arrives in Hamburg after previously playing with JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers. The Towers needed a German center after both Hendrik Drescher and Hans Brase went out for the season with injuries.
Under-manned (and over-worked) Berlin keep winning, down Giessen
ALBA BERLIN once again shrugged off their injury concerns and hectic schedule by defeating JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers 92-82 at home to extend their winning streak to four games. Berlin led by eight points at halftime and held Giessen at bay the rest of the way to move to 8-1 despite playing without head coach Aito Garcia Reneses as well as Marcus Eriksson, Peyton Siva, Luke Sikma und Niels Giffey - in their fourth game in eight days. Berlin forced 21 Giessen turnovers and the guests made just 5-of-8 free throws. Simone Fontecchio led Berlin with 18 points, Maodo Lo had 11 points and Johannes Thiemann picked up 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Giessen, who dropped to 2-10, wasted an outstanding showing by Scottie James with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals while Brandon Thomas scored 15 points and Ferdinand Zylka added 12 points in the loss.
Würzburg finish with 15-0 run, down Bonn for another road victory
s.Oliver Würzburg continued their excellent season on the road as they defeated Telekom Baskets Bonn 89-77 thanks to a 15-0 run to close the game. Bonn led by nine points in the fourth quarter but Würzburg tallied the final 15 points of the game in the final 134 seconds to move to 4-7 including 4-2 away from home. Bonn have lost two straight to fall to 3-8. Würzburg were on fire, hitting 63.6 percent from the field including 72.2 percent on two-pointers. Alex King scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for Würzburg while Cameron Hunt had 16 points and 4 assists and Brekkott Chapman scored 15 points. Chris Babb was Bonn’s top scorer with 17 points and Josh Hagins poured in 14 points.
Würzburg part ways with Persons
s.Oliver Würzburg have parted ways with guard Tayler Persons. The 25-year-old playmaker had come to Würzburg from Netherlands top flight side ZZ Leiden but was unable to live up to expectations, averaging 11.2 points, 4.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds in nine league games.
Oldenburg use big fourth to beat Bayreuth, extend streak to five wins
EWE Baskets Oldenburg used a big fourth quarter to carry them to an 80-73 home victory over medi bayreuth and extend their winning streak to five games. Oldenburg blew a 13-point second quarter lead but dominated the final frame 31-20 to move to 9-2 with Bayreuth falling to 4-7. Oldenburg committed only 11 turnovers and Keith Hornsby drained 5 three-pointers in scoring 24 points with 6 rebounds. Nathan Boothe chipped in 17 points and 4 rebounds and Rasid Mahalbasic collected 8 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in the win. Bayreuth, who were playing without injured top scorer Frank Bartely, were paced by Derek Pardon with 16 points and 7 rebounds while Matthew Tiby had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Bastian Doreth picked up 10 points and 8 assists.
Frankfurt grab home win over Göttingen
FRAPORT SKYLINERS used a big third quarter to roll past BG Göttingen 81-63 at home. Frankfurt outscored Göttingen 25-9 in the third quarter for their third win in four games for a 5-6 record and dropped Göttingen to 3-8. Frankfurt took the rebound battle 43-30 with 14 offensive rebounds and held Göttingen to just 35.1 percent shooting. Matt Mobley torched Göttingen for 30 points while Michael Kessens added 12 points and 7 rebounds and Quantez Robertson collected 7 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Tai Odiase was Göttinen’s top scorer with 14 points and 4 rebounds and Harper Kamp had 10 points.
MBC bring back Turudic until at least mid-February
SYNTAINICS MBC brought back a familiar face to help in the low post as they signed Benedikt Turudic until the FIBA national team window in mid-February. The club has an option to extend until the end of the season. The 23-year-old Turudic started the season with BG Göttingen but was released after four games. He is returning to MBC, for whom he played the last four seasons - even in the ProA in 2016-17. Turudic will replace AJ Brodeur, whose short-term contract runs out in mid-January.
Remaining Round 12 game: Braunschweig host MBC on January 14
The remaining game in Round 12 will be played on January 14 with Basketball Löwen Braunschweig hosting SYNTAINICS MBC.
Player of the Week
Player of the Week honors go to Scottie James of JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers, who had an efficiency of 32 against ALBA BERLIN as he scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shots and 5-of-6 free throws to go with 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Bastian Doreth, medi bayreuth
Doreth could not keep Bayreuth from losing to EWE Baskets Oldenburg though he did collect 10 points, 2 rebounds and 8 assists.
F: Jan-Niklas Wimberg, NINERS Chemnitz
Wimberg was excellent in Chemnitz’s big fight against FC Bayern Munich with 16 points on 5-of-6 shots including 3-of-3 three-pointers and 6 rebounds.
F: Paul Zipser, FC Bayern Munich
Zipser collected 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and the game-winning free throws with 2.8 seconds left in the win over NINERS Chemnitz.
F: Alex King, s.Oliver Würzburg
King drained 4 three-pointers in scoring a team-high 18 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 assists in the win over Telekom Baskets Bonn.
C: Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
WoBo played a major role in Ludwigsburg’s tight win over ratiopharm ulm with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block.
Young Guns
Kay Bruhnke, 19, SG, medi bayreuth
Bruhnke knocked down 2 three-pointers as he scored 6 points and had 1 rebound in 9:42 minutes for Bayreuth against EWE Baskets Oldenburg.
Malte Delow, 19, SG, ALBA BERLIN
Delow was very productive in his 8:42 minutes in Berlin’s win over JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers with 2 points on 1-of-3 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Sasha Grant, 18, SF, FC Bayern Munich
Grant played 9:56 minutes against NINERS Chemnitz and made 2-of-3 shots - including 1-of-2 three-pointers - and his one free throw for 6 points.
Hollatz Check
Every season we pick a German youngster to follow over the course of the season and this season we will report every week on what Justus Hollatz has done for Hamburg Towers. The 19-year-old point guard has been excelling this season, but he played a season-low 2:36 minutes in the game against HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim. Still he scored 3 points on 1-of-1 shooting and 1-of-3 free throws and also collected 2 assists.
Germans Abroad
Jonathan Baehre is putting a solid season together for Clemson University as the 24-year-old power forward is averaging 5.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20 minutes a game. Baehre is a former youngster in the Frankfurt club ranks who went to high school in the U.S. state of Georgia and then spent two seasons at the University of North Carolina - Asheville before transferring to Clemson and sitting out the 2018-19 season.
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