Bamberg
Brose Bamberg wins nail-biter against Ludwigsburg only after overtime
Brose Bamberg managed to defeat the visitors from MHP Ludwigsburg by 93:91 after overtime in a truly nerve-tingling game of basketball and three-point festival. The team of Head Coach Ainars Bagatskis had itself to blame for the fact that it needed five extra minutes to clinch victory just 48 hours before its next Champions League game: The home side missed 15 free throws and in regular time squandered a seven-point lead (75:68) shortly before the end.
Teams coached by John Patrick have for years played the same aggressive, physically intense basketball: always close to the opposing player and on the verge of fouling in defense and, in attack, no organized combinations, but instead quick shots. That was Patrick’s tactic in Göttingen and Würzburg – and he has stuck to it at Ludwigsburg for the past five years. The newly formed team of Brose Bamberg seemed to be taken completely by surprise by that in the first period. In particular, Bamberg’s new players were induced to lose possession too many times, which Ludwigsburg capitalized on to move ten points ahead. Bamberg trailed by 17:29 after 12 minutes. A thunderous slam-dunk by Cliff Alexander (11 points) to make it 22:29 was like a rallying call for the home side, who now skillfully exploited Ludwigsburg’s aggression and gratefully accepted the fouls it was awarded. Thirteen out of 15 of Bamberg’s free throws in the second period dropped and, after six in a row by Zisis, Rice and Heckmann, Bamberg equalized through Kulboka’s lay-up (31:31). Top scorer Augustine Rubit (15 points) added his first five points of the encounter to put his side 41:36 in front at the break.
Bagatskis’ team seemed to have the game under control in the third quarter. Bamberg went 63:53 ahead thanks to some great moves by Augustine Rubit. However, Ludwigsburg irritated its opponents by draining five buckets from downtown in the final period. As a result of that – and two unnecessary turnovers – Bamberg’s 75:68 lead dwindled to 78:76 with seconds remaining. Heckmann, Zisis and Rice stopped Ludwigsburg’s last attack three times with a tactical foul, but Jordan Crawford managed to break his way through to the basket. His shot missed, but the former Bamberg player Trevor Mbakwe tipped the ball in to tie the scores at 78:78 in the final second. The visitors went ahead in overtime (85:87), but Rubit with free throws and the strong Elias Harris (11 points) with a lay-up turned the game around. With 19 seconds to go, Patrick Heckmann sealed victory with a three to make it 92:87; in addition, Heckmann (12 points) was the only Bamberg player to score all his free throws (7/7). A better shooting percentage from the line would have cinched the win for Bamberg before overtime. Bamberg were awarded 55 free throws (a new record for the German league), but only 40 hit their mark.
Ainars Bagatskis commented: “We still have to work on a few finesses to optimize our game. We need to play with more consistency and cleverness. We have to stop movements and make good and smart fouls in some situations against such athletic and aggressive teams. But this victory will strengthen us nevertheless. But we can’t celebrate, as the next game is coming right up. Dijon is also such an incredibly aggressive side and is one of the best teams in the French league at the moment.”
Bamberg already faces its next game tomorrow (Wednesday) against the leaders of Champions League Group C, JDA Dijon (tip-off: 8 p.m.). Brose Bamberg has to win to avoid a poor start to the Champions League with two losses at home.
For more information visit www.brosebamberg.de, www.easycredit-bbl.de and http://www.championsleague.basketball/de.