Basketball: BBC Bayreuth disappoints in Paderborn

BBC Bayreuth produced yet another disappointing performance on the road at Gartenzaun 24 Baskets Paderborn in the BARMER 2nd German Basketball League Pro A this evening, losing 80:84 despite leading for a long time during the game.

The BBC started with Marios Giotis, Selim Fofana, Philip Jalalpoor, Aaron Carver and Esa Ahmad at the penultimate club in the table from East Westphalia. The game got off to an even start, with the score tied 4:4 after Selim Fofana's first three from Bayreuth. Paderborn led 10:9 after five minutes, but Shane Gatling then put Bayreuth 13:12 in front for the first time. The game remained close and the BBC was 21:18 ahead after ten minutes in an open and fast-paced encounter.

The BBC started the second quarter with a three by Philip Jalalpoor to make it 24:18. The home side then closed the gap to 23:24 and the BBC's Head Coach Mladen Drijencic called a timeout. Bayreuth then extended its lead again to 29:23. The BBC was 34:29 in front after 15 minutes. Bayreuth was ultimately 44:38 ahead at half-time. The BBC had a clear advantage in the first 20 minutes, especially in terms of rebounds, while Paderborn had fewer turnovers.

Paderborn kam im dritten Abschnitt wieder etwas auf 43:48 heran, dann zog Bayreuth wieder auf 54:45 davon. Es folgten fünf Punkte in Serie der Gastgeber zum 50:54, Mladen Drijencic unterbrach den Paderborner Lauf mit einer Auszeit. Das Spiel war in der Phase von relativ vielen Ballverlusten geprägt. Die Ostwestfalen kamen weiter auf 52:55 und 56:57 heran. Dann zogen die Gäste das Tempo wieder an, Philip Jalalpoor stellte mit einem Dreier auf 62:56 für den BBC, es folgte eine Paderborner Auszeit, um den Bayreuther Spielfluss auszubremsen. Zum Ende des Viertels lag der BBC mit 65:59 vorne.

Paderborn quickly cut the deficit to 63:65 and 65:67 in the final quarter, but Nicolas Buchholz brought Paderborn closer again with a three to make it 71:72. Hutton Yenor then gave the home side the lead for the first time again with 73:72. The lead now changed back and forth. Zachary Chappell made it 77:75 in Paderborn's favour with a free throw. The home side was 77:76 in front with three minutes remaining, after which Nicolas Buchholz drained a three to make it 80:76. Paderborn had taken up the fight and showed its will. With the home side 82:78 in front, Marios Giotis had to limp off the court. The game finally ended 84:80 in Paderborn's favour, with neither side scoring any more points in the final 48 seconds. After the defeat, the BBC finishes the first half of the Pro A season in ninth place with nine wins from 17 games and thus outside the playoff places.

BBC Bayreuth's best scorer was Esa Ahmad with 23 points, ahead of Aaron Carver with 18. Aaron Carver grabbed the most rebounds with eleven, finishing the game with a double-double. Quashawn Lane was the best scorer for Gartenzaun 24 Baskets Paderborn with 18 points, while Lars Lagerpusch was the home side's best rebounder with five buckets.

BBC Bayreuth will resume the main round on Wednesday, 7 February in Bayreuth against Medipolis SC Jena. Tip-off is at 7 pm.