BG Göttingen seem to have ratiopharm ulm’s number as they stopped the hottest team in the league with their second win over them in two months. Don’t look now but EWE Baskets Oldenburg have scored 100-plus points three times in the last four games for three wins under new coach Ingo Freyer. This week also saw Vladimir Lucic sign an extension with FC Bayern Munich until 2025; and SYNTAINICS MBC center John Bryant picked up his 400th block in the easyCredit BBL.
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:
Göttingen finally return to action and beat red-hot Ulm - again
BG Göttingen finally returned to action and did so in style in knocking off red-hot ratiopharm ulm 91-87 at home - for their second win over Ulm this season after December 30’s 88-86 victory. Göttingen’s last game came on January 23 and their previous game before that was on January 12. But Roel Moors’ team snapped Ulm’s six-game winning streak. Göttingen seem to be Ulm’s kryptonite as Jaka Lakovic’s team has won their last 10 games in Germany besides their two losses against Göttingen. ALBA BERLIN were the last team to beat Ulm domestically on November 21. Göttingen used a 29-10 second quarter to take a 15-point lead and the hosts were still leading by 12 points with under 4 minutes to play. Ulm went on an 11-0 run to pull within 84-83 with 38 seconds left, but Göttingen made all five of their free throws in the final 25 seconds including one on Kamar Baldwin’s three-point play with 15 seconds to play to secure the win. Göttingen moved to 11-7 and Ulm are 14-6. Göttingen hit 14 three-pointers and held Ulm to just 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from long range. Harald Frey poured in 21 points with 5 assists in his first game while Baldwin finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Semaj Christon collected 26 points and 7 assists in the loss and Sindarius Thornwell scored 17 points.
Oldenburg high-octane offense produces another win, leaves cellar
EWE Baskets Oldenburg have turned up their offense big time and it gave them another victory as they rolled past SYNTAINICS MBC 110-93 at home to leave the cellar of the standings. In the fourth game since Ingo Freyer took over as head coach, Oldenburg eclipsed the 100-point mark for the third time for three wins. The team had not scored 90 points in a game before the coaching change. Oldenburg gained control of the game in the second quarter and built the lead to as many as 31 points before MBC made it a bit more respectable with a 31-14 fourth quarter. Oldenburg improved to 5-15 and MBC dropped to 6-13. MBC actually outshot Oldenburg 59.7 percent to 52.0 percent but committed 21 turnovers and allowed the hosts to hit 16 three-pointers. Max Heidegger and Michal Michalak both scored 21 points for the winners, Bennet Hundt picked up 18 points and 6 assists and Martin Breunig added 16 points. Kostja Mushidi poured in 22 points to lead MBC, who also had Jamel Morris score 18 points and Goran Huskic tally 4 points, 8 rebounds and 13 assists.
Bryant swats himself into 400-block club
The two-time league MVP John Bryant passed a major mark in SYNTAINICS MBC’s loss to EWE Baskets Oldenburg as he swatted two shots to become the first player in league history with 400 blocks - since the start of data collection in 1998. Bryant is the overwhelming leader in the easyCredit BBL’s all-time list of shot-blockers ahead of Daniel Theis (249), Tibor Pleiß (214), Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (204) and Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (203).
Oldenburg outlast Frankfurt in offensive spectacle in Round 16 makeup
EWE Baskets Oldenburg have now collected two wins in their last three games as they outlasted FRAPORT SKYLINERS 110-103 in an offensive spectacle in a Round 16 makeup game. Oldenburg led by 16 points in the third quarter and held on in the fourth for a 4-15 record while Frankfurt have lost three straight for a 5-13 mark. Oldenburg shot 58.2 percent for the game including 67.6 percent on two-pointers and they held the hosts to just 36.0 percent from long range. Max Heidegger led the way with a big double-double of 27 points and 11 assists while Michal Michalak scored 23 points, Phil Pressey had 18 points and both Rickey Paulding and Alen Pjanic chipped in 11 points. Jamel McLean paced Frankfurt with 21 points and Will Cherry scored 19 points.
Chemnitz shut down Ludwigsburg, stay in running for home court
NINERS Chemnitz put on an impressive defensive display as they shut down MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 74-56 at home to remain in the running for home court advantage in the playoffs. Chemnitz never trailed and pulled away for good with a 26-15 third quarter for their third straight win and a 14-6 record while Ludwigsburg fell to 13-7. Chemnitz survived 21 turnovers thanks to hol-ding Ludwigsburg to just 30.2 percent shooting, including 16.0 percent from long range. The hosts also dominated the glass 44 to 31. Jonas Richter and Eric Washington both scored 12 points to lead Chemnitz and Niklas Wimberg had 11 points. Justin Simon and Jonah Radebaugh both picked up 12 points in the loss.
Berlin race away from Crailsheim in possible German Cup final matchup
ALBA BERLIN set a new club record in assists as they raced away from HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim 106-84 at home in a matchup that could come again next weekend in the final of the MagentaSport BBL Pokal German Cup. The game was tight until Berlin went on a 24-6 run in the third quarter to ease to a 13-5 record and Crailsheim fell to 11-7. Berlin shot 55.2 percent for the game including 51.9 percent on three-pointers while dishing out a club record 35 assists and committing only 6 turnovers. Crailsheim hit just 35.0 percent from long range. Oscar da Silva and Yovel Zoosman both scored 15 points for Berlin, who had Jonas Mattisseck pick up 13 points, Tim Schneider add 12 and Luke Sikma chip in 10 points and 6 assists. T.J. Shorts was Crailsheim’s leading scorer with 18 points and 6 assists and Fabian Bleck had 13 points.
Late run helps Bonn put away Braunschweig for good
Telekom Baskets used a late run to put away Basketball Löwen Braunschweig for good in a 95-77 road victory. Braunschweig raced away to a 10-point lead in the first quarter but Bonn led in the second quarter and took control of the game in the third quarter and decided it with a 16-0 fourth quarter surge. Bonn returned to second place with a 15-6 record with Braunschweig falling to 8-12. Bonn’s defense slowed Braunschweig to just 27.8 percent from three-pointers and the guests shot a blistering 71.9 percent on two-pointers. Skyler Bowlin hit 5 three-pointers to score 19 points with 7 assists and paced six Bonn players in double figures. Javontae Hawkins scored 16 points and Tyson Ward had 12 points. Martin Peterka scored 18 points as Braunschweig’s leading scorer.
Hamburg prevail in shootout at home over Würzburg
Hamburg Towers and s.Oliver Würzburg provided the league with an offensive show unlike many seen before with Hamburg prevailing 113-103 at home in a game where it seemed neither team could miss. Hamburg had a big second quarter to take initial hold of the game and then built a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter to move to 11-9 and Würzburg dropped to 4-15. Both teams were on fire on offense with Würzburg shooting 69.1 percent for the game - including 60.0 percent from long range - and Hamburg made 61.6 percent of their shots and 53.3 percent on three-pointers. But Hamburg dominated the glass 29 to 17 including 15 offensive rebounds. Maik Kotsar had a monster double-double of 30 points and 12 rebounds while Justus Hollatz ad-ded 18 points and 6 assists for the winners and Caleb Homesley picked up 13 points and 7 assists. Cameron Hunt paced Würzburg with 23 points and Luciano Parodi had a double-double of his own with 18 points and 10 assists.
Bayern blow out Frankfurt with just nine players
FC Bayern Munich shrugged off playing just nine players as the blew out FRAPORT SKYLINERS 72-53 at home for their fifth straight victory. Bayern were never threatened as they took the first quarter 19-4 and did not look back for a 16-4 record in first place. Frankfurt have lost four in a row and are 5-14. Frankfurt shot just 33.9 percent from the field including hitting just 2-of-21 (9.5 percent) from long range. Bayern were paced by Othello Hunter’s 14 points with Deshaun Thomas scoring 11 points and Joshua Obiesie pitching in 7 points and 10 rebounds. Matt Haarms scored 12 points and Jamel McLean had 11 points in the loss.
Bayern extend with Lucic until 2025
FC Bayern Munich locked a major piece for the long-term success of the club as they agreed to a three-year extension with Vladimir Lucic. The 32-year-old Serbian international will now stay in Munich until the end of the 2024-25 season - which would be his ninth campaign with Bayern
Undermanned Bamberg hold off returning Giessen on road
Brose Bamberg survived massive personnel problems as they fended off JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers 92-89 on the road. The game, which was Giessen’s first since January 22, was close throughout with the biggest lead being seven points and there being 19 lead changes and 12 ties. After Kendale McCullum put Giessen up 86-85 with 57 seconds to play, Omar Prewitt made four free throws and then Christian Sengfelder hit two free throws with 6 se-conds left to secure the win. Bamberg moved to 9-11 and Giessen fell to 4-14. Bamberg overcame Giessen’s 23 fast break points to 5 for the guests as Oren Amiel’s team shot 51.7 percent from the field while holding Giessen to 44.8 percent. Bamberg played only seven players with Tomas Kyzlink scoring 22 points, Prewitt adding 19 points and Sengfelder hitting for 18 points. McCullum flirted with a triple-double with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals, and Nuni Omot picked up 26 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
Bayreuth bounce back from slow start, beat Heidelberg at home
medi bayreuth bounced back from a slow start to the game and ended up be-ating MLP Academics Heidelberg 85-79 at home. Heidelberg had a hot start and went up 13 points in the first quarter. Bayreuth took the lead in the third quarter and won the game with a 10-0 run to improve to 10-10 while Heidelberg have lost four in a row for a 6-14 mark. Both teams were hot from long range - 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) each - but Bayreuth made 53.3 percent on two-pointers compared to 42.9 percent for Heidelberg, who also lost the rebound battle 38-26. Sacar Amin poured in 22 points in the win and Martynas Sajus had 19 points, Terry Allen scored 14 points and Janari Joesaar picked up 4 points and 13 rebounds. Robert Lowery was Heidelberg’s top scorer with 17 points and Jordan Geist had 15 points.
Player of the Week
The Player of the Week honors for Round 21 go to Maik Kotsar from Ham-burg Towers for his outstanding showing in their win over s.Oliver Würzburg. The center scored 30 points on 14-of-15 shooting and 2-of-3 free throws to go with 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for an efficiency of 43.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Justus Hollatz, Hamburg Towers
Hollatz played a major role in Hamburg knocking off s.Oliver Würzburg as he collected 18 points with 3 three-pointers, 1 rebound, 6 assists and 1 steal.
G: Bennet Hundt, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Hundt was a non-factor in Oldenburg’s win over FRAPORT SKYLINERS with 1 rebound and 1 assist in 5 minutes, but he starred in the team’s other victory over SYNTAINICS MBC. The playmaker scored 18 points with 3 three-pointers to go with 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.
G: Kostja Mushidi, SYNTAINICS MBC
Mushidi continues to be an offensive force in his return to the league as he poured in 22 points in the loss to EWE Baskets Oldenburg while also chipping in 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
F: Oscar da Silva, ALBA BERLIN
da Silva was outstanding in Berlin’s win over HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim as he had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks.
F: Jonas Richter, NINERS Chemnitz
It’s hard not to mention Christian Sengfelder with his 18 points and 9 rebounds in Brose Bamberg’s win over JobStairs GIESSEN 46ers, but Richter deserves the spot as he collected 12 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist in Chemnitz’s big win over MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg.
Young Guns
Radii Caisin, 20, SG, SYNTAINICS MBC
Caisin set a new career high in scoring with 15 points in the loss to EWE Baskets Oldenburg. He made 5-of-9 shots (0/3 threes) and 5-of-6 free throws to go with 4 rebounds in 25:46 minutes - also a career high.
Luc van Slooten, 19, SF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
van Slooten played 24:44 minutes against Telekom Baskets Bonn and scored 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting (1/3 threes) and 1-of-2 free throws while also picking up 1 rebound and 1 assist.
Sananda Fru, 18, PF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
The 18-year-old big man played his sixth game in his young career and total-led 2 points on 1-of-1 shooting, a career-high 3 rebounds and 1 block in a career-high 14:21 minutes against Telekom Baskets Bonn. Fru had played a total of just 13:25 minutes in his previous five games, and he has now scored in his last three appearances.
Tischlers Watch
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig are all over this edition of the Weekly News and of course we also look every week at the 21-year-old twins Nicholas and Brandon Tischler. Nicholas started the game against Telekom Baskets Bonn and played 27:16 minutes, but he struggled shooting at 0-of-7 (0/4 threes) and 1-of-2 free throws for 1 point while picking up 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Brandon scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shots (1/1 threes) and 3-of-4 free throws and chipped in 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 19:20 minutes.
Germans Abroad
Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis used to be teammates way back early in their careers in Germany at Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Now they can say they have been traded for one another as Theis returns to the Boston Celtics as Schröder heads to the Houston Rockets along with Enes Kanter Freedom and Bruno Fernando.
